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CONTAINING 

Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 

OF THE COUNTY, 

Together with Biographies of all the 



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ioveriiors of the itate, and of the f resioerifs 

OI= THE UNITED STHTES. 



CHICAGO: 

BIOGRAPHICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY. 

1891. 



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JHK greatest uf Englisli historians, Macaui.ay-, and oneof tbe most brilliant writers of 
the present century, has said : '^fhe history of a country is best told inarecord of the 
lives of its people." In conformity with this idea the PoRTHArr and Biographical 
Rkooki) of tills county has been prepared. Instead of going to musty records, and 
taking therefrom dry statistical matter that can be appreciated by but few, our 
eorj)s of writers have gone to the people, the men and women who have, by their 
enterprise and industry, brought the county to a rank second to none among tliose 
comprising this great and noble State, and from their lips have the story of their life 
struggles. No more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an intelli- 
gent public. In this volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the 
imitation of coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in poverty, by 
industry and economy have accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limited 
advantages for securing an education, iiave become learned men .and women, with an 
intlnenec extending throughout the length and breadth of the land. It tells o/ men who 
have risen from the lower walks of life to eminence !is statesmen, and wiiose names have 
become famous. It tells of those iu every walk in life who have striven to succeed, and 
records how that success has usually crowned their efforts. It tells also of many, very 
many, who, not seeking the applause of the world, have pursueil "the even tenor of their way," content 
to have it said of them as Christ said of the woman performing a deed of mercy — "they have done what 
they could." It tells how that many in the pride and strength of young manhood left the plow and the 
anvil, the lawyer's office and the counting-room, left every trade and profession, and at their country's 
call went forth valiantly "to do or die," and how through their efforts the Union was restored and peace 
once more reigned in the land. In the life of ever}' man and of every woman is a lesson that should not 
be lost upon those who follow after. 

Coming generations will ai)preciate this vuhnne and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from the fact 
that it contains so much that would never tiiid its way into public records, and which would otherwise be 
inaccessible. Great care has been taken iu the compilation of the work and every opportunity possible 
given to those represented to insure correctness in what has been vvritten, and the publishers flatter them- 
selves that they give to their readers a work with few errors of consequence. In addition to the biograph- 
ical sketches, portraits of a number of representative citizens are given. 

The faces of ?o:ue, and biographical sketches of many, will be missed in this volume. For this the 
publishers are not to blame. Not having a [iroper conception of the work, some refused to give the 
information necessary to compile a sketch, while others were indifferent. Occasional!}' some member of 
the family would opixise the enterprise, and on account of such opposition the support of the interested 
one would be withheld. In a few instances men could never be found, though repeated calls were made 
at their residence or place of business. 

n r^ . . ,Q,>, CHAPIMAN BROS. 

Chicaoo, October, l«l»l. 




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FI/iST PRESIDENT. 




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HE Father of oar Country was 
^SLl'orn in ^Vestmorland Co., Va., 
Fel). 2 2, 1732. His parents 
were Augustine and Mary 
(Ball) Washington. The family 
to which he belonged hns not 
'J been satisfactorily traced in 
England. His great-grand- 
father, John Washington, em- 
igrated to Virginia about 1657, 
and became a prosperous 
* planter. He had two sons, 
Lawrence and John. The 
former married Mildred Warner 
and had three children, Joh 1. 
Augustine and Mildred. Augui- 
line, tlie father of George, first 
married Jane Butler, who bore 
him four children, two of whom, 
Lawrence and Augustine, reached 
maturity. Of si.\ children by his 
second marriage, George was the 
eldest, the others being Betty, 
Samuel, John Augustine, Charles 
and Mildred. 
Augustine Washington, the father of George, died 
in 1743, leaving a large landed property. To his 
eldest son, Lawrence, he bequeathed an estate on 
the Patomac, afterwards known as Mount Vernon, 
and to George he left the parental residence. George 
received only such education as the neighborhood 
schools afforded, save for a short ti'ne after he left 
sciiool, when he received private instruction in 
mathemai'cs. His spellinsi v/as rather defective 



Remarkable stories are told of his great physica: 
strength and development at an early age. He was 
an acknowledged leader among his companions, and 
was early noted for that nobleness of character, fair- 
ness and veracity which characterized his whole life. 

When George was i4years old he had a desire to go to 
sea, and a midshipman's warrant was secured for him, 
but through the opposition of his mother the idea was 
abandonad. Two years later he was appointed 
surveyor to the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. In 
this business he spent three years in a rough frontier 
life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very 
essential to him. In 175 r, though only 19 years of 
age, he was ap|)ointed adjutant with the rank of 
major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for 
active service against the French and Indians. Soon 
after this he sailed to the West Indies with his brother 
Lawrence, who went there to restore his health. They 
soon returned, and in the summer of 1752 Lawrence 
died, leaving a large fortune to an infant daughter 
who did not long survive him. On her demise the 
estate of Mount Vernon was given to George. 

Upon the arrival of Robert Dinwiddle, as Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia was 
reorganized, and the province divided into four mili- 
tary districts, of which the northern was assigned to 
Washington as adjutant general. Shortly after this 
a very perilous mission was assigned him and ac- 
ceiJted, which others had refused. This was to pro- 
ceed to the French post near Lake Erie in North.- 
western Pennsylvania. The distance to be traversed 
was between 500 and 600 miles. A\'inter was at hai-.d, 
and th.e journey was to be made without mi!it:iry 
escort, through a territory occupied by Indians. The 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



irip was a perilous one, and several limes he came near 
losing his life, yet he returned in safety and furnished 
a full and useful report of his expedition. A regiment 
of 300 men was raised in Virginia and put in com- 
mand of Col. Joshua Fry, and Major Washington was 
commissioned lieutenant-colonel. Active war was 
then begun against the French and Indians, in which 
Washington took a most important part. In the 
memorable event of July 9, 1755, known as Brad- 
dock's defeat, Washington was almost the only officer 
of distinction who escaped from the calamities of the 
day with life and honor. The other aids of Braddock 
were disabled early in the action, and Washington 
alone was left in that capacity on the field. In a letter 
to his brother he says: "I had four bullets through 
my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped 
unhurt, though death was levelinu my companions 
on every side." An Indian sharpshooter said he was 
not born to be killed by a bullet, for he had taken 
direct aim at him seventeen times, and failed to hit 
him. 

After having been five years in the military service, 
and vainly sought promotion in the royal army, lie 
took advantage of the fall of Fort Duquesne and the 
expulsion of the French from the valley of the Ohio, 
to resign his commission. Soon after he entered the 
Legislature, where, although not a leader, he took an 
active and important part. January 17, 1759, he 
married Mrs. Martha (Dandridgc) Custis, the wealthy 
widow of John Parke Cu.tis. 

When the British Parliament had closed the port 
'if Boston, the cry went up throughout the provinces 
that "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all." 
It was then, at the suggestion of Virginia, that a Con- 
gress of all the colonies was called to meet at Phila- 
delphia,Sept. 5, 1774, to secure their common liberties, 
peaceably if possible. To this Congress Col. Wash- 
ington was sent as a delegate. On May 10, 1775, the 
Congress re-assembled, when the hostile intentions of 
England were plainly apparent. The battles of Con- 
cord and Lexington had been fought. Among the 
first acts of this Congress was the election of a com- 
mander-in-chief of tiie colonial forces. Tliis high and 
responsible office was conferred upon Washington, 
who was still a member of the Congress. He accepted 
it on June 19, but upon the express condition that he 
receive no salary. He would keep an exact account 
of expenses and expect Congress I0 pay them and 
nothing more. It is not the object of this sketch to 
trace the military acts of Washington, to whom the 
fortunes and liberties of the people of this country 
were so long confided. The war was conducted by 
him under every possible disadvantage, and while his 
forces often met with reverses, yet he overcame every 
obstacle, and after seven years of heroic devotion 
and matchless skill he gained liberty for the greatest 
nation of earth. On Dec. 23, 1783, Washington, in 
a parting address of surpassing beauty, resigned his 



commission as commander-in-chief of the army to 
to the Continental Congress sitling al Annapolis. He 
retired immediately to Mount Vernon and resumed 
his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all 
connection with public life. 

In February, 1789, Washington was unanimously 
elected President. In his presidential career he was 
subject to the peculiar trials incidental to a new 
government ; trials from lack of confidence on the part 
of other governmenls; trials from want of harmony 
between the different sections of our own country; 
trials from the impoverished condition of the country, 
owing to the war and want of credit; trials from the 
beginnings of party strife. He was no partisan. His 
clear judgment could discern the golden mean; and 
while perhaps this alone kept our government from 
sinking at the very outset, it left him exposed to 
attacks from both sides, which were often bitter and 
very annoying. 

At the expiration of his first term lie was unani- 
mously re-elected. At the end of this tenn many 
were anxious that he be re-elected, but he absolutely 
refused a third nomination. On the fourth of March, 
1797, at the expiraton of his second term as Presi- 
dent, he returned to his home, hoping to pass there 
his few remaining yeais free from the annoyances of 
public life. Later in the year, however, his reix)se 
seemed likely to be interrupted by war with France. 
At the prospect of such a war he was again urged to 
take command of the armies. He chose his sub- 
ordinate officers and left to them the charge of mat- 
ters in the field, which he superintei.dcd from his 
home. In accepting the command he made the 
reservation that he was not to be in the field until 
it was necessary. In the midst of tliese preparations 
his life was suddenly cut off. December i 2, he took 
a seveie cold from a ride in the rain, which, settling 
in his throat, produced inflammation, and terminated 
fatally on the night of the fourteenth. On the eigh- 
teenth his body was borne with military honors to its 
final resting place, and interred in the family vault at 
Mount Vernon. 

Of tlie character of Washington it is impossible to 
speak but in terms of the highest resjiect and ad- 
miration. The more we see of the operations of 
our government, and the more deeply we feel the 
difficulty of uniting all opinions in a common interest, 
the more highly we must estimate the force of his tal- 
ent and character, which have been able to challenge 
the reverence of all parties, and princii)les, and na- 
tions, and to win a fame as extended as the limits 
of the globe, and which we cannot but believe will 
be as lasting as the existence of man. 

The person of Washington was unusally ta/i, erect 
and well proportioned. His muscular strength was 
great. His features were of a beautiful symmetry. 
He commanded respect without any appearance ol 
haughtiness, and ever serious without Wipgdull. 




vt* t ^ Ji*-* 





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SECOND PRESIDENT. 



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OHN ADAMS, the second 
President and the first Vice- 
' President of the United States, 
was born in Braintree ( now 
Quincy ),Mass., and about ten 
'■*-' miles from Boston, Oct. 19, 
1735. His great-grandfather, Henry 
Adams, emigrated from England 
about 1640, with a family of eight 
sons, and settled at Braintree. The 
parents of John were John and 
Susannah (Boylston) Adams. His 
father was a farmer of limited 
means, to which he added the bus- 
iness of shoemaking. He gave his 
eldest son, John, a classical educa- 
tion at Harvard College. John 
graduated in 1755, and at once took charge of the 
school in Worcester, Mass. This he found but a 
■'sci-.ool of affliction," from which he endeavored to 
gain ielief by devoting himself, in addition, to the 
study of law. For this purpose he placed himself 
under the tuition of the only lawyer in the town. He 
had thought seriously of the clerical profession 
but seems to have been tvirned from this by what he 
termed " the frightful engines of ecclesiastical coun- 
jils, cf diabolical malice, and Calvanistic good nature,'* 
of the operations of which he had been a witness in 
his native town. He was well fitted for the legal 
l^rofession, possessing a clear, sonorous voice, being 
ready and fluent of speech, and having quick percep- 
tive powers. He gradually gained practice, and in 
1764 married Abigail Smith, a daughter of a minister, 
and a lady of superior intelligence. Shortly after his 
marriage, (i7''>5), the attempt of Parliamentary taxa- 
tion turned him from law to politics. He took initial 
steps toward holding :i town meeting, and the resolu- 




'^^TpP^i 



tions he offered on the subject became very jxjpulai 
throughout the Province, and were adopted word for 
word by over forty different towns. He moved to Bos- 
ton in 1768, and became one of the most courageous 
and prominent advocatesof the popular cause, and 
was chosen a member of the General Court (the Leg- 
lislature) in 1770. 

Mr. Adams was chosen one of the first delegate.^ 
from Massachusetts to the first Continental Congrets, 
which met in 1774. Here he distinguished himselt 
by his capacity for business and for debate, and ad- 
vocated the movement for independence against th; 
majority of the members. In May, 1776, he moved 
and carried a resolution in Congress that the Colonies 
should assume the duties of self-government. He 
was a prominent member of the committee of Jive 
appointed June 11, to prepare a declaration of inde- 
pendence. This article was drawn by Jefferson, but 
on Adams devolved the task of battling it through 
Congress in a three days debate. 

On the day after the Declaration of Independence 
was passed, while his soul was yet warm with tha 
glow of excited feeling, he wrote a letter to his wife 
which, as we read it now, seems to have been dictated 
by the spirit of prophecy. "Yesterday," he says, "the 
greatest question was decided that ever was debated 
in America; and greater, perhaps, never was or wil 
be decided among men. A resolution was passed 
without one dissenting colony, ' that these United 
States are, and of right ought to be, free and inde- 
pendent states.' The day is passed. The fourth of 
July, 1776, will be a memorable epoch in the history 
of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated 
by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary 
festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of 
deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty 
God. It ought to be solemnized with [X)mp, show% 



1 



24 



JOHN ADAMS. 



jjames, siiorts, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations 
fioin one end of the continent to the other, from this 
time forward for ever. You will think me trans[X3rted 
with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of 
the toil, and blood and treasure, that it will cost to 
maintain this declaration, and support and defend 
these States; yet, through all the gloom, I can see the 
rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is 
worth more than all the means; and that posterity 
will triumph, although you and I may rue, which 1 
hope we shall not." 

In November, 1777, Mr. Adams was appointed a 
delegate to France and to co-operate with Bemjamin 
Franklin and Arthur Lee, who were then in Paris, in 
the endeavor to obtain assistance in arms and money 
from the French Government. 'I'his was a severe trial 
to his patriotism, as it separated him from his home, 
compelled him to cross the ocean in winter, and ex- 
posed himlo great peril of capture by the British cruis- 
ers, who were seeking him. He left France June 17, 
1779. In September of the same year he was again 
chosen to go to Paris, and there hold himself in readi- 
ness to negotiate a treaty of peace and of commerce 
with Great Britian, as soon as the British Cabinet 
might be found willing to listen to such proposels. He 
sailed for France in November, from there he went to 
Holland, where he negotiated important loans and 
formed important commercial treaties 

Finally a treaty of peace with England was signed 
Jan. 21, 1783. The re-action from the e.xcitement, 
toil and anxiety through which Mr. Adams had passed 
threw him into a fever. After suffering from a con- 
tinued fever and becoming feeble and emaciated he 
was advised to goto England to drink the waters of 
Bath. While in England, still drooping anddespond- 
ing, he received dispatches from his own government 
urging the necessity of his going to Amsterdam to 
negotiate another loan. It was winter, his health was 
delicate, yet he immediately set out, and through 
storm, on sea, on horseback and foot,he made the trip. 

February 24, 1785, C'ongress appointed Mr. Adams 
envoy to the Court of St. James. Here he met face 
to face the King of England, who had so long re- 
garded him as a traitor. As England did not 
condescend to appoint a minister to the United 
States, and as Mr. Adams felt that he was accom- 
plishing but little, he sought permission to return to 
jiis own country, where he arrived in June, 1788. 

When Washington was first chosen President, John 
Adams, rendered illustiious by his signal services at 
home and abroad, was chosen Vice President, .^gain 
at the second election of Washington as President, 
Adams was chosen Vice President. In 1796, Wash- 
ington retired from public life, and Mr. Adams was 
elected President, though not without much opposition. 
Serving in this office four vears,he was succeeded by 
Mr. Jefferson, his opponent in politics. 

While Mr. Adams was Vice President the great 



French Revolution shook the continent of Europe, 
and it was upon this point which he was at issue with 
the majority of his countiymen led by Mr. Jefferson. 
Mr. Adams felt no sympathy with the French people 
in their struggle, for he had no confidence in their 
[Xjwer of self-government, and he utterly abhored the 
classof atheist philosophers who he claimed caused it. 
On the other hand Jefferson's sympathies were strongly 
enlisted in beh.ilf of the French people. Hence or- 
iginated the alienation between these distinguished 
men, and two powerful parties were thus soon organ- 
iy.ed, Adams at the head of the one whose sympathies 
were with England and Jefferson led the other in 
sym|)athy with France. 

The world has seldom seen a spectacle of more 
moral beauty and grandeur, tlian was presented by the 
old age of Mr. Adams. The violence of party feeling 
had died away, and he had begun to receive that just 
appreciation which, to most men, is not accorded till 
after death. No one could look upon his venerable 
form, and think of what he had done and suffered, 
and how he had given up all the prime and strength 
of his life to the public good, without the deepest 
emotion of gratitude and respect. It was his peculiar 
good fortune to witness the complete success of the 
institution which he had been so active in creating and 
supporting. In 1824, his cup of happiness was filled 
to the brim, by seeing his son elevated to the highest 
station in the gift of the people. 

The fourth of July, 1826, which completed the half 
century since the signing of the Declaration of Inde- 
l)jndence, arrived, and there were but three of the 
signers of that immortal instrument left upon the 
earth to hail its morning light. And, as it is 
well known, on that day two of these finished their 
earthly pilgrimage, a coincidence so remarkable as 
to seem miraculous. For a few days before Mr. 
Adams had been rapidly failing, and on the morning 
of the fourth he found himself too weak to rise from 
his bed. On being requested to name a toast for the 
customary celebration of the day, he exclaimed " In- 
dependence FOREVER." When the day was ushered 
in, by the ringing of bells and the firing of cannons, 
he was asked by one of his attendants if he knew 
what day it was? He replied, "O yes; it is the glor- 
ious fourth of July — God bless it — God bless you all." 
In the course of the day he said, " It is a great and 
glorious day." The last words he uttered were, 
"Jefferson survives." But he had, at one o'clock, re- 
signed his spirit into the hands of his God. 

The personal apjiearance and manners of Mr. 
Adams were not particularly prepossessing. His face, 
as his ]iortrait manifests,was intellectual ard expres- 
sive, but his figure was low and ungraceful, and h'', 
manners were frequently abrupt and uncourteous. 
He had neither the lofty dignity of Washington, not 
the engaging elegance and gracefulness which marked 
the manners and address of Tefferson. 



■^ 




THIRD PRESIDENT. 



27 









HOMAS JEFFERSON was 

,/J burn Ai)ril 2, 1743, at Shad- 
:-''uelI, Albermarle county, Va. 
His parents were Peter and 
Jane (Randolph) Jefferson, 
the former a native of Wales, 
and the latter born in Lon- 
don. To them were born six 
daughters and two sons, of 
whom Thomas was the elder. 
When 14 years of age his 
father died. He received a 
most liberal education, hav-. 
iiig been kept diligently at school 
from the time he was five years of 
age. In 1760 he entered William 
r.nd Mary College. Williamsburg was then the seat 
of the Colonial Court, and it was the obodeof fasliion 
a.id splendor. Young Jefferson, who was then 17 
years old, lived somewhat expensively, keeping fine 
horses, and much caressed by gay society, yet lie 
was earnestly devoted to his studies, and irreproacha- 
able in his morals. It is strange, however, up.der 
such influences,that he was not ruined. In the sec- 
ond year of his college course, moved by some un- 
explained inward impulse, he discarded his horses, 
society, and even his favorite violin, to which he had 
previously given much time. He often devoted fifteen 
hours a day to haid study, allowing himself for ex- 
ercise only a run in the evening twilight of a mile out 
of the city and back again. He thus attained very 
higli hnellectnal culture, alike e.xcellence in philoso- 
phy and the languages. The most difficult Latin and 
Greek authors he read with facility. A more finished 
scholar has seldom gone forth from colleLe halls; and 



there was not to be found, perhaps, in all Virginia, a 
more pureminded, ujjright, gentlemanly young man. 

Immediately upon leaving college he began the 
study of law. Foj th.e short time he continued in the 
practice of his profession he rose rapidly and distin- 
guished himself by his energy and accuteness as a 
lawyer. But the times called for greater action. 
The policy of England had awakened the spirit of 
resistance of the American Colonics, and the enlarged 
views which Jefferson had ever entertained, soon led 
him into active political life. In 1769 he was choseL 
a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses In. 
1772 he married Mrs. Martha Skelton, a very beauti- 
ful, wealthy and highly accomplished young widow 

Upon Mr. Jefferson's large estate at Shadwell, th^rc 
was a majestic swell of land, caMed Monticello, which 
commanded a prospect of wonderful extent and 
beauty. This spot Mr. Jefferson selected for his new 
home; and here he reared a mansion of modest ye' 
elegant architecture, which, ne.vt to Mount Vernon 
became the most distinguished resort in our land. 

In 1775 he was sent to the Cdonial Congress 
where, though a silent member, his abilities as a 
writer and a reasoner soon become known, and he 
was placed upon a number of important committees, 
and was chairman of the one appointed for the draw- 
ing up of a declaration of independence. This com- 
mittee consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, 
Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R. 
Livingston. Jefferson, as chairman, was apjiointed 
to draw up the paper. Franklin and Adams suggested 
a few verbal changes before it was submitted to Con- 
gress. On June 28, a/ew slight changes were made 
in it by Congress, and it was passed and signed July 
4, 1776 What must have been the feelings of that 



28 



THOMAS JEFFERSON. 



man — what the emotions that swelled his breast — 
who was charged with ^he preparation of that Dec- 
laration, which, while it made known the wrongs of 
America, was also to publish her to the world, free, 
i,overign and independent. It is one of tiie most re- 
markable papers ever written ; and did no other effort 
of the mind of its author exist, that alone would be 
sufficient to stamp his name with immortality. 

In 1779 Mr. Jefferson was elected successor to 
Patrick Henry, <.s Governor of Virginia. At one time 
the British officer, Tarleton, sent a secret expedition to 
Moniicello, to capture the Governor. Scarcely five 
minutes elapsed after the hurried escape of Mr. Jef- 
ferson and his family, ere his mansion was in posses- 
sion of the British troops. His wife's healtli, never 
very good, was much injured by this excitement, and 
in the summer of 1782 she died. 

Mr. Jefferson was elected to Congress in 1783. 
Two yeirs later he was appointed Minister Pleni[)0- 
tentiary to France. Returning to the United States 
in September, 1789, he became Secretary of State 
in Washington's cabinet. This position he resigned 
Jan. r, 1794. In 1797, he was chosen Vice Presi- 
dent, and four years later was elected President over 
Mr. Adams, with Aaron Burr as Vice President. In 
1804 he was re-elected with wonderful unanimity, 
and George Clinton, Vice President. 

The early part of Mr. Jefferson's second adminstra- 
tion was disturbed by an event wiiich threatened the 
tran(iuility and peace of the Union; this was the con- 
spiracy of Aaron Burr. Defeated in the late election 
to the Vice Presidency, and led on by an \mprincipled 
ambition, this extraordinary man formed the plan of a 
military expedition intc the Spanish territories on our 
southwestern frontier, for the purpose of forming tliere 
a new republic. This has been generally supposed 
was a mere |)retext ; and although it has not been 
generally known what his real plans were, there is no 
doubt that they were of a far more dangerous 
character. 

In 1809, at the expiration of the second term for 
which Mr. Jefferson had been elected, he determined 
to retire from political life. For a period of nearly 
forty years, he had been continually before the pub- 
.ic, and all that time had been employed in offices of 
the greatest trust and responsibility. Having thus de- 
voted the best part of his life to Ib.e service of his 
country, he now felt desirous of that rest which his 
declining years required, and upon the organization of 
the new administration, in March, 1809, he bid fare- 
well forever to public life, and retired to Monticello. 

Mr. Jefferson was profuse in his hospitality. Whole 
families came in tlieir coaches with their horses, — 
fathers and mothers, boys and girls, babies and 
nurses, — and remained three and even six months. 
Life at Monticello, for years, resembled that at a 
fashionable watering-place. 

Toe fourth of July, i8z6, being the fiftieth anniver- ^ 



sary of the Declaration of American Independence, 
great preiraralions were made in every part of th'.' 
Union for its celebration, as llie r.ation's jubilee, and 
the citizens of Washington, to add to the solemnity 
ot the occasion, invited Mr. Jefferson, as the framet. 
and one of the fetv surviving signers of the L'eclara- 
lioii, to participate in their festivities. But an ill- 
ness, which had been of several weeks duration, and 
had been continually increasing, compelled him to 
decline the invitation. 

On the second of July, the disease under which 
he was laboring left him, but in such a reduced 
state that his medical attendants, entertained nc 
hope of his recovery. From this time he was perfectly 
sensil)le that his last hour was at hand. On thene.x*. 
day, which was Monday, he asked of those around 
him, the day of the month, and on being told it was 
the third of July, he expressed the earnest wish tha' 
he might be permitted lo breathe tie airof the filtietf 
anniversary. His prayer was heard — that day, whose 
dawn was hailed with such rapture through our land, 
burst upon his eyes, and then they were closed for- 
ever. And what a noble consummation of a noble 
life! To die on that day, — the birthday of a nation,- - 
the day which his own name and his own act had 
rendered glorious; to die amidst the rejoicings and 
festivities of a whole nation, who looked up to him, 
as the author, under God, of their greatest blessings, 
was all that was wanting to fill up the record his life. 

Almost at the same hour of his death, the kin- 
dred spirit of the venerable Adams, a.s if to bear 
him company, left the scene of liis earthly honors. 
Hand in hand they had stood forth, the chamjMons of 
freedom; hand in hand, during the dark and des|;er- 
ate struggle of the Revolution, they had cheered and 
animated their desponding countrymen; for half a 
century they had labored together for tiie good of 
the country; and now hand in hand they depart. 
In their lives they had been united in the same great 
cause of liberty, and in their deaths they were not 
divided. 

In person Mr. Jefferson was tall and thin, rather 
above six feet in height, but well formed; his eyes 
were light, his hair originally red, in after life became 
white and silvery ; his complexion was fair, his fore 
head broad, and his whole coni^'enance intelligent and 
thoughtful. He possessed great fortitude of mind as 
well as personal courage ; and '■.:9> command of tem- 
per was such that his oldest and most intimate friends 
never recollected to have seen him in a passion. 
His manners, though dignified, were simple and un- 
affected, and his hospitality was so unbounded that 
all found at his house a ready welcome. In conver- 
sation he was fluent, eloquent and enthusiastic; and 
his language was remarkably pure and correct. He 
was a finished classical scholar, and in his writings is 
discernable the care with which he formed his style 
upon the best mode's of antiquity. 



1 




/ (ZA^ ■- I . xf^ lt<-^^^^^t C'-K 



FOURTH FKfSIDENT. 



i^n^HQES n]:?IDISO]]. 





AMES MADISON, "Father 
of the Constitution," and fourth 
President of the United States, 
was born March i6, 1757, and 
died at his home in Virginia, 
'^'^ June 28, 1836. The name of 
James Madison is inseparably con- 
nected with most of the imix)rtant 
events in that heroic period of our 
country during which the founda- 
tions of this great republic were 
laid. He was the last of the founders 
of the Constitution of the United 
States to be called to his eternal 
reward. 

The Madison family were among 
the early emigrants to the New World, 
landing upon the shores of the Chesa- 
peake but 15 years after the settle- 
ment of Jamestown. The father of 
James Madison was an opulent 
planter, residing ui»n a very fine es- 
tate called "Montpelier," Orange Co., 
Va. The mansion was situated in 
the midst of scenery highly pictur- 
esque and romantic, on the west side 
of South-west Mountain, at the fool of 
Blue Ridge. It was but 25 miles from the home of 
Jefferson at Monticello. The closest personal and 
political attachment existed between these illustrious 
men, from their early youth until death. 

The early education of Mr. Madison was conducteci 
mostly at home under a private tutor. At the age of 
18 he was sent to Princeton College, in New Jersey. 
Here he applied himself to study with the most im- 




prudent zeal; allowing himself, for months, but three 
hours' sleep out of the 24. His health thus became so 
seriously impaired that he never recovered any vigor 
of constitution. He graduated in 177 i, with a feeble 
body, with a character of utmost purity, and with a 
mind iiighly disciplined and richly stored with learning 
which embellished and gave proficiency to his subsf ' 
quent career. 

Returning to Virginia, he commenced the study of 
law and a course of extensive and systematic reading. 
This educational course, the spirit of the times in 
which he lived, and the society with which he asso- 
ciated, all combined to inspire him with a strong 
love of liberty, and to train him for his life-work ot 
a statesman. Being naturally of a religious turn of 
mind, and his frail health leading him to think that 
his life was not to be long, he diiected especial atten- 
tion to theological studies. Endowed with a mind 
singularly free from passion and prejudice, and with 
almost unequalled powers of reasoning, he weighed 
all the arguments for and against revealed religion, 
until his faith became so established as never to 
be shaken. 

In the spring of 1776, when 26 years of age, he 
was elected a member of the Virginia Convention, to 
frame the constitution of the State. The next year 
(1777)1 lie was a candidate for the General Assembly. 
He refused to treat tiie whisky-loving voters, and 
consequently lost his election ; but those who had 
witnessed the talent, energy and public spirit of the 
modest young man, enlisted themselves in his behalf, 
and he was appointed to the Executive Council. 

Both Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson were 
Governors of Virginia while Mr. Madison remained 
member of the Council ; and their annreciation of his 



32 



JAMES MADISON. 



'.ntcllectual, social and moral worth, contributed not 
a little to his sabsequent eminence. In the year 
1780, he was elected a member of the Continental 
Congress. Here he met the most illustrious men in 
our land, and he was immediately assigned to one of 
ihe most conspicuous positions among them. 

for three years Mr. Madiscn continued in Con- 
gress, one of its most active and influential members. 
In the year 1784, his term having expired, he was 
elected a member of the Virginia Legislature. 

No man felt more deeply than Mr. Madison the 
utter inefficiency of the old confederacy, with no na- 
tional government, with no ix)wer to form treaties 
which would be binding, or to enforce law. There 
was not any State more prominent than Virginia in 
Ihe declaration, that an efficient national government 
must be formed. In January, 1786, Mr. Madison 
carried a resolution through the General Assembly of 
Virginia, inviting the other States to apix)int commis- 
sioners to meet in convention at AnnajKilis to discuss 
this su'.jject. Five States only were represented. The 
convention, however, issued another call, drawn up 
by Mr. Madison, urgmg all the States to send their 
delegates to Philadelphia, in May, 1787, to draft 
a Constitution for the United States, to take the place 
of that Confederate League. The delegates met at 
ihe time ap|X)inted. Every State but Rhode Island 
•-vas represented. George Washington was chosen 
president of the convention; and the present Consti- 
tution of the United States was then and there formed. 
There was, perhaps, no mind and no pen more ac- 
tive in framing this immortal document than the mind 
and the pen of James Madison. 

The Constitution, adopted by a vote 81 to 79, was 
to be presented to the several States for acceptance. 
But grave solicitude was felt. Should it be rejected 
we should be left but a conglomeration of independent 
States, with but little power at home and little lespect 
abroad. Mr. Madison was selected by tne conven- 
tion to draw up an address to the [)eople of the Uraied 
States, exix)unding the principles of the CcriStituiicn, 
and urging its ado[)tion. There was great opixjsition 
to it at first, but it at length triumphed over all, and 
went into effect in 1789. 

Mr. Madison was elected to the House of Repre- 
sentatives in the first Congress, and soon became the 
avowed leader of tlie Republican ptrty. While in 
New York attending Congress, he met Mrs Todd, a 
young widow of remarkable power of fascination, 
wliom he married. She was in person and character 
queenly, and probably no lady has thus far occupied 
so (jrominent a position in the very peculiar society 
whicli has constituted our republican court as Mrs. 
Mndison. 

Mr. Madison served as Secretary of State under 
Jefferson, and at the close of his administiation 
was chosen President. At this time the encroach- 
ments of England had brought us to the verge of war. 



British orders in council destioyed our commerce, and 
our flag was e.\iK)sed to constant insult. Mr. Madison 
was a man of peace. Scholarly in his taste, retiring 
in his disiX)sition, war had no charms for him. But the 
meekest spirit can be roused. It makes ones blood 
boil, even now, to think of an American ship brought 
to, ujwn the ocean, by the guns of an English cruiser. 
A young lieutenant steps on board and orders the 
crcw to be paraded before him. With great nonchal- 
ance he selects any number whom he may please to 
designate as British subjects ; orders them down the 
ship's side into his boat; and places them on the gun- 
deck of his man-of-war, to fight, by compulsion, the 
battles of England. This right of search and im- 
pressment, no efforts of our Government could induce 
the British cabinet to relinquish. 

On the 1 8th of June, 181 2, President Madison gave 
his apptoval to an act of Congress declaring war 
against Great Britain. Notwithstanding the bitter 
hostility of the Federal party to the war, the country 
in general approved; and Mr. Madison, on the 4th 
of March, r8i3, was re-elected by a large majority, 
and eiitered uion his second term of office. This is 
not the place to describe the various adventuras of 
this war on the land and on the water. Our infan . 
navy then laid the foandations of its renown in grap- 
pling with the mobt formidable power which ever 
swept the seas. The contest commenced in earnest 
by the appearance of a British flett, early in February, 
1813, in Chesai)eake Bay, declaring nearly the whole 
coast of the L^nited States under blockade. 

The Emperor of Russia offered his services as me 
ditator. America accepted; England refused. A Brit- 
ish force of five thousand men landed on the banks 
of the Patu.xet River, near its entrance into Chesa- 
peake Bay, and marched rapidly, by way of Bladens- 
burg, uix>n Washington. 

The straggling little city of Washington was thrown 
into consternation. The cannon of the brief conflict 
at Bladensburg echoed through the streets of the 
metropolis. The wliole population fled from the city. 
The President, leaving Mrs. Madison in the White 
House, with her carriage drawn up at the doer to 
await his speedy return, hurried to meet the officers 
in a council of war He met our troops utterly routed, 
and he could not go back without danger of being 
captured. But few hours elapsed ere the Presidential 
Mansion, the Capitol, and all the public buildings in 
Washington were in flames. 

The war closed after two years of fighting, and on 
Feb. 13, 1815, the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent. 

On the 4th of March, '1817, his second lerm of 
office expired, and he resigned the Presidential chair 
to his friend, James Monroe. He retired to his beau- 
tiful home at Montpelier, and there passed the re- 
mainder of his days. On June 28, 1836, then at the 
age of 85 years, he fell asleep in death, Mrs. Madi 
son died July 12, 1849. 




^^^ 



? 



^^^ 



FIFTH PRESIDENT. 



35 



^> 




'^ 



^ 



m^ pii^Es n]oi]ROE. ^^fig^" 











C*#' 




AMES MONROE, the fifth 
'residentof The United States, 
'was born in \Vestn)oreland Co., 
Va., April 28, 1758. His early 
life was passed at the place of 
nativity. Hi.; ancestors had for 
many years resided in tlie prov- 
ince in which he was born. When, 
at 17 years of age, in the process 
of completing his education at 
\\'iliiam and Mary College, the Qj- 
lonial Congress assembled at Phila- 
delphia to deliberate \\\yo\\ the un- 
just and manifold oppressions of 
Creat Britian, declared the separa- 
tion of the Colonies, and i)romul- 
gated the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence. Had he been born ten years before it is highly 
probable that he would have been one of the signers 
of that celebrated instrument. At this time he left 
school and enlisted among the patriots. 

He joined the army when everything looked hope- 
less and gloo ny. The number of deserters increased 
fron"i day to day. The invading armies came ix)uring 
in ; and the tones not only favored the cause of the 
mother country, but disheartened the new recruits, 
who were sufficiently terrified at the prospect of con- 
t:;nding with an enemy whom they had been taught 
to deem invincible. To such brave spirits as James 
Monroe, who went right onward, undismayed through 
difficulty and danger, the United States owe their 
[Kjlilical emancipation. The young cadet joined the 
ranks, and esi)oused the cause of his injured country, 
with a firm determination to live or die with her strife 



for liberty. Firmly yet sadly he shared in the inel- 
anciioly retreat from Harleam Heights and White 
I'kiins, and accompanied the disi)irit(d army as it (led 
before its foes through New Jersey. In four mor.llu 
after the Declaration of Independence, the patriots 
iiid been beaten in seven battles. At the battle of 
Trenton he led the vanguard, and, in the act of charg- 
ing upon the enemy he received a wound in the left 
shoulder. 

As a reward for his bravery, Mr. Monroe was pro- 
moted a captain of infantry ; and, having recovered 
from his wound, he rejoined the army. He, however, 
receded from the line of promotion, by becoming an 
officer in the staff of Lord Sterling. During the cam- 
paigns of 1777 and 1778, in the actions of Brandy 
wine, Germantown and Monmouth, he continued 
aid-decamp; but becoming desirous to regain his 
position in che army, he exerted himself to collect a 
regiment for the Virginia line. This scheme failed 
owing to the exhausted condition of the State. Ujxin 
this failure he entered the office of Mr. Jefferson, at 
that period Governor, and pursued, with considerable 
ardor, the study cf common law. He did not, however, 
entirely lay aside the knapsack for the green bag; 
but on the invasions of the enemy, served as a volun 
teer, during the two years of his legal pursuits. 

In 17S2, he was elected from King George county, 
a member of the Leglislature of Virginia, and by that 
body he was elevated to a seat in the Executive 
Council. He was thus honored with the confidence 
of his fellow citizens at 23 years of age ; and having 
at this early period displayed some of that ability 
and aptitude for legislation, wiiich were afterwards 
employed with unremittirg energy for the public good, 



1 



i6 



JAMES MONROE. 



lie was in the succeeding year chosen a member of 
die Congress of the Unilcil States. 
Deeplyas Mr. Monroefi;lt the iinperfei tionsof thcoUl 
!'i)nlederacy, lie was opposed lotlicnew Constitution, 
'.hinking, with many others of *he RepuhHcan party, 
liuit it gave too nuieh |)owi.r to tlie CentralCovcrnnicnt, 
and not enough to the iniUvithial Slates. Still he re- 
tained the esteem of his tiiends who were its warm 
sui)porters, and who, notwithstanding his opposition 
secured its adoption. In 17.S9, he beranie a member 
if the United Slates Senate; which ofhc e he held for 
four years. Every month the line of distinction be- 
tween the two great parties which divided the nation, 
the federal and the Rei)ublican, was growing more 
distinct. The two prominent ideas which now sep- 
arated them were, that the Reixiblican party was in 
sympathy with I'rance, and also in favor of such a 
stiict construction of the Constitution as to give the 
Central Ciovernment as little power, and the Stale 
(lOvernments as much [wwOr, as the Constitution vvould 
warrant. 'l"he Keilcralisls syinpathi/ed with i>",ngland, 
.u\d were in i.wox of a liberal construction of the Con- 
stitution, wliich would give as much ]>ower to the 
Central Ciovernnient as that document could possibly 
authorize. 

■['he leading Federalists and Republicans were 
alike noble liien, consecrating all their energies to the 
good of the nation. Two more honest men or more 
pure patriots than John Adams the Federalist, and 
lames Monroe the Republican, never breathed. In 
building up this majestic i\ation, which is destined 
to eclipse allCirecian and .Assyrian greatness, the com- 
bination of their antagonism was neeiled to create the 
light eiiuilibrium. And yet each in his day was de- 
nounced as almost a demon. 

Washington was then Tresident. England had es- 
poused the cause of the Hourbons against the princi- 
ples of the French Revolution. All Europe was drawn 
into the conflict. We were feeble and far away. 
Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality be- 
tween these contending jiowers. France had helped 
us in the struggle for oiu' liberties. .Ml the despotisms 
of Europe were now combined to prevent the French 
fix)in escaping from a tyranny a thousand-fold worse 
than that which we had endured Col. Monroe, more 
magnanimous than prudent, was anxious that, at 
whatever hazard, we should help our old allies in 
their extremity. It was the impulse of a generous 
and noble nature. He violently opi>osed the Tres- 
ident's proclamation as ungrateful and wanting in 
magnanimity. 

Washington, who could appreciate such a character, 
developed his calm, serene, almost divine greatness, 
by appointing that very James Monroe, who was de- 
nouncing the ix)licy of the Government, as the minister 
of that Ciovernment to the Republic of France. Mr. 
Monroe was welcomed by the National Convention 
in France with the most enthusiastic demonstrations. 



Shortly after his return to this country, Mr. Mon- 
roe was elected Governor of Virginia, and held the 
office for three yeais. He was again sent to France to 
co-operate with Chancellor Livingston in obtaining 
the vast territory then known as the I'rovince of 
Louisiana, wliich France had but shortly before ob- 
tained from Spain. Tlieir united efforts were suc- 
cessful. For the comparatively small sum of fifteen 
millions of dollars, the entire territory of Orleans and 
district of Louisiana were added to tlie United States. 
This w.is probably the largest transfer of real estate 
which was ever made in all the history of the world. 

Fronr France Mr. Monroe went to England to ob- 
tain from that country some recognition of out 
rights as neutrals, and to remonstrate against those 
odious impressments of our seamen. But Eng- 
land was unrelenting. He again returned to Eng- 
land on the same mission, but could receive no 
retlress. He returned to his home and was again 
chosen Governor of Virginia. This he soon resigned 
to accept the position of Secretary of Stale under 
^Lldison. While in this office war with England was 
declared, the Secretary of War resigned, and during 
these trying times, the duties of the War Department 
were also put upon him. He was truly, the armor- 
bearer of President Madison, and the most efficient 
business man in his cabinet. Upon the return ol 
peace he resigned the Department of War, but con- 
tinued in the office of Secretary of State until the ex- 
pir.ition of Mr. Afadison's adminstration. At the elec 
tion heKl the previous autumn Mr. Monroe himself had 
been chosen Fresident with but little o|iposition, and 
upon March 4, 1817, was inaugurated. Four years 
later he was elected for a second term. 

.■\mong the important measures of his Presidency- 
were the cession of Florida to the United States; the 
Missouri Comi)romise, and the " Monroe doctrine.' 

This famous doctrine, since known as the "Monroe 
doctrine," was enunciated by him in 1823. At that 
tinie the United Stales had recognized the independ- 
ence of the South American stales, and did not wish 
to have European powers Umger attempting to sub- 
due (jortions of the American Continent. The doctrine 
is as follows: "That we should consider any attempt 
on the part of European powers to extend their sys- 
tem to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous 
to our peace and safety," and "that we could not 
view any interixssilion for the purixjse of oppressing 
or controlling American governments or provinces in 
any other light than as a manifestation bv European 
powers of an unfriendly dis|X)sition toward the I'nited 
States." This doctrine imuiediatel) affected the course 
of foreign governments, and has become the approved 
sentiment of the United States. 

At the end of his fecond term Mr. Monroe retired 
to his home in Virginia, where he lived until 1830. 
when he went to New York to live with his son-in- 
law. In that city he died.on the 4th of July, 1S31 




J, 5, Ai 



rurtxi 



SIXTH rRESIDRNT. 



J9 










OHN QUINCY ADAMS, the 
,M sixih President of the United 
^Stales, was born in the rural 
home of his honored father. 
John Adams, in Quincy, Mass , 
on the nth cf July, 1767. His 
mother, a woman of exalted 
worth, watched over his childhood 
during the almost constant ab- 
sence of his father. Wlien but 
eight years of age, he stood with 
' *i' his mother on an eminence, listen- 
ing to the booming of the great bat- 
tle on Bunker's Hill, and gazing on 
upon the smoke and flames billow- 
ing up from the conflagration of 
Charlestown. 

When but eleven years old he 
took a tearful adieu of his mother, 
to sail with his fatner for Europe, 
through a fleet ot hostile British cruisers. The bright, 
animated boy spent a year and a half in Paiis, where 
his father was associated with Franklin and Lee as 
minister plenipotentiary. His intelligence attracted 
the notice of these distinguished men, and he received 
from them flattering marks of attention. 

Mr. John Adams had scarcely returned to this 
country, in 1779, ere he was again sent abroad. Again 
lOr.n Quincy accompanied his father. At Paris he 
applied himself with great diligence, for si.x months, 
to 3*udy; then accompained his father to Holland, 
v/here he entered, first a school in Amsterdam, then 
the University at Leyden. About a year from this 
time, in r78i, when the manly boy was but fourteen 
yea's of age, he was selected by Mr. Dana, our mm- 
ister to the Russian court, as his private secretary. 

Tn this school of incessant labor and of enobling 
rulture he spent fourteen months, and then returned 
to Holland through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and 
Bremen. This long journey he took alone, in the 
winter, when in his sixteenth year. Again he resumed 
his studies, under a private tutor, at Hague, Thence, 



in the spring of 1782, he accompanied his father V.- 
Paris, traveling leisurely, and forming acquaintance 
with the most distinguished men on the Con'inent 
examining arcliitectural remains, galleries of paintings 
and all renowned works of art. At Paris he agaii. 
became associated with the most illustrious men of 
all lands in the contemplations of the loftiest temporal 
themes which can engross the human mind. Aftj- 
a short visit to England he returned to Paris, ana 
consecrated all his energies to study until May, 1785, 
when he returned to America. To a brilliant young 
man of eighteen, v<ho had seen much of the world, 
and who was familiar with the etiquette of courts, a 
residence with his father in London, under such cir- 
cumstances, must have been extremely attractive 
but with judgment very rare in one of his age, he pre- 
ferred to return to America to complete his education 
in an American college. He wished then to study 
law, that with an honorable profession, he might b'= 
able to obtain an independent support. 

Upon leaving Harvard College, at the ageof twentj- 
he studied law for three years. In June, :794, be- 
ing then but twenty-seven years of age, he was ap- 
pointed by Washington, resident minister at the 
Netherlands. Sailing from Boston in July, he reacheo 
London in October, where he was immediately admit- 
ted to the deliberations of Messrs. Jay and Pinckney. 
assisting them in negotiating a commercial treaty with 
Gieat Briiian. After thus spending a fortnight i. 
London, he proceeded to the Hague. 

In July, 1797, he left the Hague to go to Portuga' a.- 
minister plenipotentiary. On his way to Portugal 
upon arriving in London, he met with despatches 
directing him to the court of Beiiin, but lequesiii ? 
him to remain in London until he should receive his 
instructions. While waiting he was mairied lo ar. 
American lady to whom he had been previousl} en- 
gaged, — Miss Louisa Catherine Johnson, daughtt- 
of Mr. Joshua Johnson, American consul In london- 
a lady endownd with that beauty and those accom- 
plishment which eminenlly fitted her to irove in tu« 
elevated sphere for which she wm -f^Vwed 



40 



JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 



He reached Berlin with his wife in November, 1797 ; 
wliere he remained until July, 1799, when, having ful- 
lilled all the purposes of iiis mission, he sohcited his 
recall. 

Soon after his return, in 1802, he was chosen to 
I he Senate of Massachusetts, from Boston, and then 
was elected Senator of the United States for six years, 
from the 4th of March, 1804. His reputation, his 
ability and his experience, placed him immediately 
among the most prominent and influential members 
of that body. Especially did he sustain the Govern- 
ment in its measures of resistance to the encroach- 
ments of England, destroying our commerce and in- 
s.iUhigour flag. There was no man in America more 
fiiuiliar with the anogance of the British court upon 
these points, and no one more resolved to present 
a firm resistance. 

In 1809, Madison succeeded Jefferson in the Pres- 
idential chair, and he immediately nominated Joiin 
Qmncy Adams minister to St. Petersburg. Resign- 
ing his professorship in Harvard College, he embarked 
at Boston, in August, 1809. 

While in Russia, Mr. Adams was an intense stu- 
dent. He devoted his attention to the language and 
history of Russia; to the Chinese trade; to the 
European system of weights, measures, and coins; to 
the climate and astronomical observations ; wliile he 
Kept up a familiar acquaintance with the Greek and 
Latm classics. In all the universities of Europe, a 
more accomplished scholar could scarcely be found. 
All through life the Bible constituted an importai.t 
part ot his studies. It was his rule to read five 
chai)ters every day. 

^ On the 4th of March, 1817, Mr. Monroe took the 
Presidential chair, and immediately aiipointed Mr. 
Adams Secretary of State. Taking leave of his num- 
erous friends in public and private life in Europe, he 
sailed in June, 1819, for the United States. On the 
i8th of August, he again crossed the threshold of his 
home in Quincy. During the eight yearsof Mr. Mon- 
roe's administration, Mr. Adams continued Secretarv 
of State. 

Some time before :he close of Mn Monroe's second 
term of oflice, new candidates began to be presented 
for the Presidency. The friends of Mr. .-Xdams brought 
forward his name. It was an exciting campaign. 
Party spirit was never more bitter. Two hundred and 
sixty electoral votes were cast. Andrew Jackson re- 
ceived ninety nine; John Quincy Adams, eighty-four; 
^VllllaIn H. Crawford, forty -one; Henry Clay, thirty- 
se/en. As there was no choice by the people, the 
question went to the House of Representatives. Mr. 
Clay gave the vole of Kentuckv to Mr. Adams, and 
he was elected. 

The friends of all the disappointed candidates now 
:ombined in a venomous and persistent assault upon 
Mr. Adams. There is nothing more disgraceful in 
'H pa-st history of our country than the abuse which 



»vas poured in one uninterrupted stream, upon this 
high-minded, upright, patriotic man. There never was 
an administration more pure in principles, more con- 
scientiously devoted to the best interests of the coun- 
try, than that of John Quincy Adams; and never, per- 
haps, was there an administration more unscrupu. 
lously and outrageously assailed. 

Mr. Adams was, to a very remarkable degree, ab-A 
miious and temperate in his habils; always rising 



stemioi 



early, and taking much exercise. When at his home in 
Quincy, he has been known to walk, before breakfast, 
seven miles to Boston. In Washington, it was said 
that he was the first man up in the city, lighting his 
own fire and applying himself to work in his library 
often long before dawn. 

On the 4th of March, 1829, Mr. Adams retired 
from the Presidency, and was succeeded by Andrew 
Jackson. John C. Calhoun was elected Vice Presi- 
dent. The slavery question now began to assurae 
lx)rtentous magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to 
Quincy and to his studies, which he pursued with un- 
abated zeal. But he was not long permitted to re- 
main in retirement. In November, 1830, he was 
elected representative to Congress. For seventeen 
years, until his death, he occupied the post as repre- 
sentative, towering above all his peers, ever ready to 
do brave battle' for freedom, and winning the title of 
"the old man eloquent." Upon taking his seat in 
the House, he announced that he should hold him- 
self bound to no party. Probably there never was a 
member more devoted to his duties. He was usually 
the first in his place in the morning, and the last to 
leave his seat in the evening. Not a measure could 
be brought forward and escape his scrutiny. The 
battle which Mr. Adams fought, almost singly, against 
the proslavery party in the Government, was sublime 
in Its moral dating and heroism. For persisting in 
presenting petitions for the abolition of slavery, he 
was threatened with indictment by the grand ju^'. 
with expulsion from the Houfe, with assassination 
but no threats could intimidate him, and his final 
triumph was coin|)lele. 

It has been said of President Adams, that when his 
body was bent and his hair silvered by the lapse of 
fourscore years, yielding to the simple faith of a little 
child, he was accustomed to repeat every night, before 
he slept, the pra)er which his mother taught him in 
his infant years. 

On the 2ist of February, 1848, he rose on the floor 
of Congress, with a paper in his hand, to address the 
speaker. Suddenly he fell, again stricken by paraly- 
sis, and was caught in the arms of those aiound him. 
For a time he was senseless, as he was conveyed lo 
the sofa in the rotunda. With reviving conscious- 
ness, he opened his eyes, looked calmly around and 
said " This is the end of earth .-"then after a moment's 
pause he added, '' I am eontcnt" These were the 
last words of the grand "Old Man Eloquent," 



s^- f 





c^^>X/ 



^-cS^^ 



^\ 




SEVENTH PRESIhENT. 



'•13 














(■-■.•a? 







NDREW JACKSON, the 
seventh Presidei.t of the 
"^ United States, was born in 
Waxhaw settlement, N. C, 
March 15, 1767, a few days 
after his father's death. His 
parents were poor emigrants 
from Ireland, and took u|) 
their abode in AVaxhaw set- 
tlement, where they lived in 
deepest poverty. 
Andrew, or Andy, as he was 
universally called, grew up a very 
rough, rnde, turbulent boy. His 
features were coarse, his form un- 
gainly; and there was but veiy 
little in his character, made visible, which was at- 
tiaclive. 

When only thirteen years old he joined the volun- 
teers of Carolina against the British invasion. In 
1781, he and his brother Robert were captured and 
imprisoned for a time at Camden. A British officer 
ordered him to brush his mud-spattered boots. " I am 
a prisoner of war, not your servant," was the reply of 
the dauntless boy. 

The brute drew his sword, and aimed a desperate 
Dlow at the head of the helpless young prisoner. 
Andrew raised his hand, and thus received two fear- 
ful gashes, — one on the hand and the other ujwn the 
head. The officer then turned to his brother Robert 
"yith the same demand. He also refused, and re- 
ceived a blow from the keen-edged sabre, which quite 
disabled him, and which probably soon after caused 
his death. They suffered much other ill-treatment, and 
were finally stricken with the small-pox. Their 
mother was successful i-o obtaining their exchange, 



and took her sick boys home. After a long illnesk. 
Andrew recovered, and the death of his mother soon 
left him entirely friendless. 

Andrew supixjried himself in various ways, such as 
working at the saddler's trade, teaching school and 
clerking in a general store, until 1784, when he 
entered a law office at Salisbury, N. C. He, however, 
gave more attention to the wild amusements of the 
times than to his studies. In 1788, he was apjwinted 
solicitor for the western district of North Carolina, of 
which Tennessee was then a part. This involved 
many long and tedious journeys amid dangers of 
every kind, but Andrew Jackson never knew fear, 
and the Indians had no desire to repeat a skirmish 
with the Sharp Knife. 

In 1791, Mr. Jackson was married to a woman who 
supix)sed herself divorced from her former husband. 
Cireat was the surprise of both parties, two years later, 
to find that the conditions of the divorce had just been 
definitely settled by the first husband. The marriage 
ceremony was performed a second time, but the occur- 
rence was often used by his enemies to bring Mr. 
Jackson into disfavor. 

During these years he worked hard at his profes 
sion, and frequently had one or more duels on hand, 
one of which, when he killed Dickenson, was espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In January, 1796, the Territory of Tennessee then 
containing nearly eighty thousand inhabitants, the 
people met in convention at Knoxville to frame a con- 
stitution. Five were sent from each of the eleven 
counties. Andrew Jackson was one of the delegates. 
The new State was entitled to but one member in 
the National House of Representatives. Andrew Jack- 
son was chosen that member. Mounting his horse he 
rode to Philedelphia, where Congress then held its 



44 



AI^DREW JACKSOI^. 



iesiij.is, — .1 diilance of about eight hundred miles. 

Jackson was an earnest advocate of the Demo- 
cratic pirty. Jefferson was his idol. He admired 
Bonaparte, loved France and hated F.ngland. As Mr. 
Jackson took his seal, Gen. \Vashington, whose 
second term of office was then expi.ini^, delivered his 
last speech to Congress. A committee drew up a 
complimentary address in reply. Andrew Jackson 
did not approve of tiie address, and was one of the 
twelve who voted against it. He was not willing to 
say that Gen. Washington's adminslration had been 
" wise, firm and patriotic." 

Mr. Jackson was elected to the United States 
Senate in 1797, but soon resigned and returned home. 
Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Supreme Court 
of his State, wliich position he held for six years. 

When the war of 1812 with Great Britian com- 
menced, Madison occujiied the Presidential chair. 
Aaron Uiirr sent word to the President that there was 
an unknown man in llie West, Andrew Jackson, wlio 
would do credit to a commission if one were con- 
ferred uiwn him. Just at that time Gen. Jackson 
jtTeied his services and tiiose of twenty-five hundred 
volunteers. His ofTer was accepted, and the troops 
were assembled at Nashville. 

As the British were hourly expected to make an at- 
tack upon New Orleans, where Cien Wilkinson was 
in command, he was ordered to descend the river 
with fifteen hundred troops to aid Wilkinson. The 
expedition reached Natchez; and after a delay of sev- 
eral weeks there, without accomplishing anything, 
:he men were ordered liack to their homes. But the 
energy Gen. Jackson had displayed, and his entire 
devotion to the comrfort of his soldiers, won liim 
golden oi)inions; and he became the most popular 
man in the State. It was in this expedition that liis 
toughness gave him the nickname of " Old Hickory." 

Soon after this, while attempting to horsewhip Col. 
Thomas H. Benton, for a remark that gentleman 
made about his taking a part as second in a duel, in 
which a younger brotiier of Benton's was engaged, 
he received two severe pistol wounds. While he was 
lingering upon a bed ot suffering news came that the 
lulians, who had combined under Tecumseh from 
Florida to the Lakes, to exterminate the white sel- 
lers, were committing the most awful ravages. De- 
cisive action became necessary. Gen. Jackson, with 
his fractured bone just beginning to heal, his arm in 
a sling, and unable to mount his horse without assis- 
tance, gave his amazing energies to the raising of an 
army to rendezvous at Fayettesville, Alabama. 

The Creek Indians h.ad established a strong fore on 
one of the bendsof theTallaiwosa River, near the cen- 
ter of .Alabama, about fifty miles below Fort Strother. 
With an arniv of two thousand men. Gen. Jackson 
traversed the pathless wilderness in a march of eleven 
days. He reached their fort, called Tohopeka or 
Horse-shoe, on the 27th of March. 1814. The bend 



of the river enclosed nearly one hundred acres ol 
tangled forest and wild ravine. Across the narrow 
neck tlie Indians had constructed a formidable brea:.t- 
work of logs and brush. Here nine hundred warriors, 
with an ample suplyof arms were assembled. 

'I'he fort was stormed. The fight was utterly des- 
perate. Not an Indian would accept of quarter. When 
bleeding and dying, they would fight those who en- 
deavored to spare their lives. From ten in the morn- 
ing until dark, the battle raged. The carnage was 
awful and revolting. Some threw themselves into the 
river; l)Ut the unerring bullet struck their heads as 
they swam. Nearly everyone of the nine hundred war- 
rios were killed A few probably, in the night, swam 
the river and escaped. This ended the war. The 
power of the Creeks was broken forever. This bold 
plunge into the wilderness, with itsterriffic slaughter, 
so appalled the savages, that the haggard remnants 
of the bands caiue to the camp, begging for peace. 

This closing of the Creek war enabled us to con- 
centrate all our militia upon the British, who were the 
allies of the Indians No man of less resolute will 
than Gen. Jackson could have conducted this Indian 
campaign to so successful an issue Immediately he 
was appointed major-general. 

Late in .August, with an army of two thousand 
men, on a rushing march. Gen. Jackson came to 
Mobile. A British lleet came from Pensacola, landed 
a force upon the beach, anchored near the little fort, 
and from both ship and shore commenced a furious 
assault. The battle was long and doubtful. At length 
one of the ships was blown up and the rest retired. 

Garrisoning Mobile, where he had taken his little 
army, he moved his troops to New Orleans, 
And the battle of New Orleans which soon ensued, 
was in reality a very arduous campaign. This won 
for Gen. Jackson an imperishable name. Here his 
troops, which numbered about four thousand men, 
won a signal victory over the British army of about 
nine thousand. His loss was but thirteen, while the 
loss of the British was two thousand six liundred. 

The name of Gen. Jackson soon began to be men- 
tioned in connection with the Presidency, but, in 1824, 
he was defeated by Mr. .\dams. He was, however, 
successful in the election of 1828, and was re-elected 
for a second term in 1832. In 1829, just belbre he 
assumed the reins of the government, he met with 
the most terrible affliction of his life in the death of 
his wife, whom he had loved with a devotion which has 
perhaps never been surpassed. From the shock of 
her death he never recovered. 

His administration was one of the most memorable 
in the annals of our country; applauded by one party, 
condemned bv the other. No man had more bitter 
enemies or warmer friends. .\t the expiration of his 
two terms of office he retired to the Hermitage, where 
he died lune 8, 1845. The last years of ^Ir. Jack- 
son's life were that of a devoted Christian man. 




'/ 7 /^U^^ ^i^?u. 



EIGHTH PRESIDENT. 



4/ 




'% 








ARTIN VAN BUREN, the 
eighth President of the 
United States, was born at 
Kinderhook, N. Y., Dec. 5, 
1782. He died at the same 
place, July 24, 1862. His 
body rests in the cemetery 
at Kinderhook. Above it is 
a plain granite shaft fifteen feet 
high, bearing a simple inscription 
about half way up on one face. 
The lot is unfenced, unbordered 
or unbounded by shrub or flower. 

Tliere is but little in the life of Martin Van Buren 
of ri^mantic interest. He fought no battles, engaged 
in no wild adventures. Though his life was stormy in 
l»litical and intellectual conflicts, and he gained many 
signal victories, his days passed uneventful in those 
incidents which give zest to biography. His an- 
cestors, as his name indicates, were of Dutch origin, 
and were among the earliest emigrants from Holland 
to the banks of the Hudson. His father was a farmer, 
residing in the old town of Kinderhook. His mother, 
also of Dutch lineage, was a woman of superior intel- 
ligence and exemplary piety. 

.ie was decidedly a precocious boy, developing un- 
usual activity, vigor and strength of mind. At the 
age of fourteen, he had finished his academic studies 
in his native village, and commenced the study of 
law. As he had not a collegiate education, seven 
years of study in a law-office were required of him 
before he could be admitted to the bar. Inspired with 
d lofty ambition, and conscious of his powers, he pur- 
sued his studies with indefatigable industry.^ After 
spending six years in an office in bis native village. 



he went to the city of New York, and prosecuted his 
studies for the seventh year. 

In 1803, Mr. Van Buren, then twenty-one years of 
age, commenced the practice of law in his native vil- 
lage. The great conflict between the Federal and 
Republican party was then at its height. Mr. Van 
Buren was from the beginning a politician. He had, 
perhaps, imbibed that spirit while listening to the 
many discussions which had been carried on in his 
father's hotel. He was in cordial sympathy with 
Jefferson, and earnestly and eloquently espoused the 
cause of State Rights ; though at thai time the Fed- 
eral party held the supremacy both in his town 
and State. 

His success and increasing ruputation led him 
after six years of practice, to remove to Hudson, th,: 
county seat of his county. Here he spent seven years 
constantly gaining strength by contending in tho 
courts with some of the ablest men who have adorned 
the bar of his State. 

Just before leaving Kinderhook for Hudson, Mi. 
Van Buren married a lady alike distinguished for 
beauty and accomplishments. After twelve sliort 
years she sank into the grave, the victim of consump- 
tion, leaving her husband and four sons to weep over 
her loss. For twenty-five years, Mr. Van Buren was 
an earnest, successful, assiduous lawyer. The record 
of those years is barren in items of public interest. 
In t8i2, when thirty years of age, he was chosen to 
the State Senate, and gave his strenuous support to 
Mr. Madison's adminstration. In 18 15, he was ap- 
pointed Attorney-General, and the next year moved 
to Albany, the capital of tlie State. 

'iVhile he was acknowledged ;is one of the most 
p. ominent leaders of the Dc;iiiocratic party, he had 



4S 



MARTIN VAN BVREN. 



the iiu>r:il coiiraije to avow that true democracy did 
not require ih it " universal siilTrage" which admits 
the vile, tlie dei;r,uled, the ignorant, to the rii;ht of 
governing the State. In true consistency with his 
ilemocralic iirinciples, he contended that, while the 
path leailing to the privilege of voting shoiiUi he open 
to every man without distinction, no one should be 
invested with that sacred prerogative, unless he were 
in some degree qualified for it by intelligence, virtue 
and some pixiperty interests in tlie welt'arc of the 
l^tale. 

In iSji he was elected a member of the United 
States SeiMte; and in the same year, he took a seat 
in the convention to revise the constitution of his 
.lative State. His course in this convention secured 
ihe approval of men of all parties. No one could 
doubt the singleness of his endeavors to promote the 
interests of all classes in the community. In the 
Senate of the United States, he rose at once to a 
conspicuous ixjsition as an active and useful legislator. 

In iS;;, Jolm Quincy .-Vdams beii-g then in the 
Presidential chair, Mr. \'an Buren was re-elected to 
.he Senate. He had been from the beginning a de- 
:ermined opjioser of the .Vdministration, adopting the 
'State Rights" view in ojiiKisition to what was 
deemed the Federal proclivities of Mr. .Adams. 

SiKin al"ter this, in 182S, he was chosen Ciovernorof 
the State of New York, and accoalingly resigned his 
seat in the Senate. Probably no one in the United 
States contributed so much towards ejecting John Q. 
.Adams tR>m the Presidential chair, and placing in it 
Andrew Jackson, as did Martin Van Buren. Whether 
entitled to the reputation or not, he certainly was re- 
garded tha->ugiiout the L'nited States as one of the 
most skillful, sagacious and cunning of politicians. 
It was supiiosed that no one knew so well as he how 
;o touch the secret springs of action; how to pull all 
;he wires to put his machinery in motion ; and how to 
organize a ixslitical army which would, secredy and 
yte:''thily accomplish the most gigantic results. By 
:hese iwwers it is said that he outv.-itted Mr. Adams, 
Mr. Cl.iy, Mr. Webster, and secured results which 
few thought then could be accomplished. 

Wijea .Andrew Jackson was elected President he 
apiK-inted Mr. Van Buren Secretary of State. This 
position he resigned in 1831, and was immediately 
appoipted Minister to England, where he went the 
same autumn. The Senate, however, when it met, 
refused to ratify the nomination, and he leturned 



home, apparently nntroubleil ; was nominated Vice 
President in the place of Calhoun, at the re-election 
of President Jackson ; and with smiles for all and 
fiowns lor none, he took his [ilace at the liead of that 
Senate which h.ul refused to confirm his nomination 
as ambassador. 

His rejection by the Senate roused all the zeal of 
President Jackson in behalf of his leiiudiated favor- 
ite; and this, probably more than any other cause 
secured his elevation to the chair of the Chief Execu 
live. On the 20th of May, 1836, Mr. Van Buren re- 
ceived the Democratic nomination to succeed Gen. 
Jackson as President of the United States He was 
elected by a handsome majority, to the delight of the 
retiring President. " Leaving New York out uf the 
canvass," says Mr. Parton, "the election of Mr. \'an 
Buren to the Presidency was as much the act of Gen. 
Jackson as though the Constitution had conferred 
uixjn him the ix)wer to apix)int a successor." 

His administration was filled with exciting events. 
The insurrection in Canada, which threatened to in- 
volve this country in war with England, the agitation 
of the slavery question, and finally the great commer- 
cial panic which si)read over the country, all were 
trials to his wisdom. The financial distress was at- 
tributed to theinanagement of the Democratic party, 
and brought the President into such disfavor that he 
failed of re election. 

With the exception of being nominated for the 
Presidency by the "Free Soil" Democrats, in 1S48, 
Mr. Van Buren lived quietly ujxjn his estate until 
his death. 

He had ever been a prudent man, of frugal habits, 
and living within his income, had now fortunately a 
competence for his declining years. His unblemished 
character, his commanding abilities, his unquestioned 
jialriotism, and the distinguished [xssitions which he 
had occupied in the government of our countr)', se- 
cured to him not only the homage of his party, but 
the resjiect ot the whole community. It was on the 
4th of March, tS4t, that Mr. Van Buren retired from 
the presidency. From his fine estate at Lindenwald^ 
he still exerted a powerful influence upon theix)litics 
of the countr)'. From this time until his death, on 
the :;4th of July, 1862, at the age of eighty years, he 
resided at Lindenwald, a gentleman of leisure, cf 
culture and of we.ilth; enjoying in a healthy old 
I age, probably far more happiness than he had before 
. experienced amid the stonny scenes of his active life- 



^i 




•"' % 



-Oc-K Mr/t^iA. 



IVINTH PliESlDKNT. 




imM^ wm:m mmm^m^ 







t 



ILLIAM HENRY HARRI- 
SON, the nintli President of 
tlie United States, was born 
at Berkeley, Va., Feb. 9, 1773. 
His father, Benjamin Harri- 
son, was in comparatively op- 
ulent circumstances, and was 
one of the most distinguished 
men of his day. He was an 
intimate friend of George 
Washington, w as early elected 
a member of the Continental 
Congress, and was consijicuous 
among the patriots of Virginia in 
resisting the encroachments of the 
liritish crown. In the celebrated 
Congress of 1775, Benjamin Har- 
rison and John Hancock were 
both candidates for the office of 
speaker. 

Mr Harrison was subsequently 
chosen Governor of Virginia, and 
was twice re-elected. His son, 
i William Henry, of course enjoyed 

in childhood all the advantages which wealth and 
intellectual and cultivated society could give. Hav- 
ing received a thorough common-school education, he 
entered Hampden Sidney College, where he graduated 
with honor soor. r.fter the death of his father. He 
<;hen rei)aired to Philadelphia to study medicine under 
the instructions of Dr. Rush and the guardianship of 
i'obert Morris, both of whom were, with his father, 
■signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

Jixsn the outbreak of the Indian troubles, and not- 
withstanding the remonstrances of his friends, he 
abandoned his medical studies and entered the army, 
.laving obtained a commission of Ensign from Presi- 



dent \Vashington. He was then but 19 years old. 
From that time he passed gradually upward in rank 
until he became aid to General Wayne, after whose 
death he resigned his commission. He was then ap- 
pointed Secretary of the North-western Territory, This 
Territory was then entitled to but one member in 
Congress and Capt. Harrison was chosen to fill that 
position. 

In the spring of 1800 the North-western Territory 
was divided by Congress into' two portions. The 
eastern portion, comprising the region now embraced 
in the State of Ohio, was called " The Territory 
north-west of the Ohio." The western portion, which 
included what is now called Indiana, Illinois and 
Wisconsin, was called the "Indiana Territory." Wil 
liam Henry Harrison, then 27 years of age, was ajx 
pointed by John Adams, Governor of the Indiana 
Territory, and immediately after, also Governor of 
Upper Louisiana. He was thus ruler over almost as 
extensive a realm as any sovereign upon the globe. He 
was Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and was in- 
vested with powers nearly dictatorial over the now 
rapidly increasing white population. The ability and 
fidelity with which he discharged these responsible 
duties may be inferred from the fact that he was four 
times appointed to this office — first by John Adams, 
twice by Thomas Jefferson and afterwards by Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When he began his adminstration there were but 
three white settlements in that almost boundless region, 
now crowded with cities and resounding with all the 
tumult of wealth and traffic. Oneof these settlements 
was on the Ohio, nearly opposite Louisville; one at 
Vincennes, on the Wabash, and the third a French 
settlement. 

The vast wilderness over which Gov. Hnrrisoi, 
reigned was filled with manv tribes of Indian.s. Aboii' 



WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. 



the year 1806, two extraordinary men, twin brothers, 
of the Shawiiese tribe, rose among them. Or.e of 
these was called Tecuinseh, or " The Crouching 
Panther;" the other, OUivvacheca, or "The Prophet." 
TecLiniseh was not only an InOian warrior, but a man 
of great sagacity, far-reaching foresight and indomit- 
able perseverance in any enterprise in which he might 
engage. He was inspired with the higlie:'.t enthusiasm, 
and had lung regarded with dread and with hatred 
the encroachment of the whites upon the hunting- 
grounds of his fathers. His brother, the Prophet, was 
anorator, who could sway the feelings of the untutored 
Indian as the gale tossed the tree -tops beneath which 
tliey dwelt. 

But the Prophet was not merely an orator: he was, 
i.i the superstitious minds of the Indians, invested 
with the superhuman dignity of a medicine-man or a 
magician. With an enthusiasm unsurpassed by Peter 
the Hermit rousing Europe to the crusades, he went 
from tribe to tribe, assuming that he was specially sent 
by the Great Spirit. 

Gov. Harrison made many attempts to conciliate 
the Indians, but at last the war came, and at Tippe- 
canoe the Indians were routed with great slaugliter. 
October 28, 1812, his army began its march. When 
near the Prophet's town three Indians of rank made 
their appearance and inquired why Gov. Harrison was 
approaching them in so hostile an attitude. After a 
short conference, arrangements were made for a meet- 
ing the next day, to agree upon terms of peace. 

But Gov. Harrison was too well acquainted with 
the Indian character to be deceived by such protes- 
tations. Selecting a favorable spot for his night's en- 
campment, he took every precaution against surprise 
His troops were posted in a hollow square, and slept 
upon their arms. 

The troops threw themselves upon the ground for 
rest; but every man had his accourtrements on, his 
loaded musket by his side, and his bayonet fixed. The 
wakeful Governor, between three and four o'clock in 
the morning, liad risen, and was sitting in conversa- 
tion with his aids by the embers of a waning fire. It 
was a chill, cloudy morning with a drizzling rain. In 
the darkness, the Indians had crept as near as possi- 
ble, and j'lst then, with a savage yell, rushed, with all 
the desperation which superstition and passion most 
highly inflamed could give, upon the left flank of the 
little army. The savages had been amply provided 
with guns and ammunition by the English. Their 
war-whoop was accompained by a shower of bullets. 

The camp-fires were instantly extinguished, as the 
light aided the Indians in their aim. With hide- 
jus yells, the Indian bands rushed on, not doubting a 
speedy and an entire victory. But Gen. Harrison's 
troops stood as immovable as the rocks around them 
until day dawned : they then made a simultaneous 
charge with the bayonet, and swept every thing be- 
fore them, and completely routing thf foe. 



Gov. Harrison now had all his energies tasked 
to the utmost. The British descending from the Can - 
adas, were of themselves a very formidable force ; but 
with their savage allies, rusliing like wolves I'rom the 
forest, searching out every remote farm-house, burn- 
ing, plu.idering, scalping, torturing, the wide frontier 
was plunged into a state of consternation whicli even 
the most vivid imagination can but faintly conceive, 
Tlie war-whoop was resounding everywhere in the 
forest. The horizon was illuminated with the conflagra- 
tion of the cabins of the settlers. Gen Hull had made 
the ignominious surrender of his forces at Detroit. 
Under these despairing circumstances. Gov. Harrison 
was appointed by President Madison commander-in- 
chief of the North-western army, with orders to retake 
Detroit, and to protect the frontiers. 

It would be difficult to place a man in a situation 
demanding more energy, sagacity and courage; but 
General Harrison was found equal to the position, 
and nobly and triumphantly did he meet all the re- 
sponsibilities. 

He won the love of his soldiers by always sharing 
with them their fatigue. His whole baggage, while 
pursuing the foe up the Thames, was carried in a 
valise.; and his bedding consisted of a single blanket 
lashed over his saddle Thirty-five Britisli officers, 
his prisoners of war, supped with him after the battle. 
The only fare he could give them was beef roasted 
before the fire, witlioul bread or salt. 

In 18 16, Gen. Harrison was chosen a member of 
the National House of Representatives, to represent 
the District of Ohio. In Congress he proved an 
active member; and whenever he spoke, it was with 
force of reason and power of eloquence, which arrested 
the attention of all the members. 

In 1819, Harrison was elected to the Senate of 
Ohio; and in 1824, as one of the presidential electors 
of that State, he gave his vote for Henry Clay. The 
same year he was chosen to the United States Senate. 

In 1836, the friends of Gen. Harrison ijrought him 
forward as a candidate for the Presidency against 
Van Buren, but he was defeated. At the close of 
Mr. Van Buren's term, he was re-nominated by his 
party, and Mr. Harrison was unanimously nominated 
by the Whigs, with John Tyler for the Vice Presidency. 
The contest was very animated. Gen Jackson gave 
all his influence to prevent Harrison's election ; but 
his triumph was signal. 

The cabinet which he formed, with Daniel Webster 
at its head as Secretary of State, was one of the most 
brilliant with which any President had ever been 
surrounded. Never were the prospects of an admin- 
istration more flattering, or the hopes of the country 
more sanguine. In the midst of these bright and 
joyous prospects. Gen. Harrison was seized by a 
pleurisy-fever and after a few days of violent sick- 
ness, died on the 4th of April ; just one month after 
his inauguration as President of the United States. 








^/?^. 




TENTH PRKSIDEJSft. 



55 





OHN TYLER, the tenth 
T-.p. Presidentof tlie United Stales. 
H,; was born in Cliarles-city 
Co., Va., March 29, 1790. He 
was the favored cliild of af- 
fluence and liigh social po- 
sition. At the early a'ge of 
twelve, John entered William 
and Mary College and grad- 
uated with much honor when 
hut seventeen years old. After 
graduating, he devoted him- 
self with great assiduity to the 
study of law, partly with his 
father and pirtly with Edmund 
Randolph, one of the most distin- 
guished lawyers of Virginia. 

At nineteen years of age, ne 
commenced the practice of law. 
His success was rapid and aston- 
'shing. It is said that three 
months had not elapsed ere there 
was scarcely a case on the dock- 
et of the court in which he was 
:. )t retained. When but twenty-one years of age, he 
was almost unanimously ejected to a seat in the State 
Legislature. He connected himself with the Demo- 
cratic party, and warmly advocated the measures of 
Jefferson and Madison. For five successive years he 
wus elected to the Legislature, receiving nearly the 
unanimous vote or his county. 

When but twenty-six years of age, he was elected 
a member of Congress. Here he acted earnestly and 
ably with tlic Democratic party, ojiposing a national 
bank, internal improvements by the General '^vem- 



ment, a protective tariflT, and advocating a strict con- 
struction of the Constitution, and tlie most careful 
vigilance over State rights. His labors in Congress 
were so arduous that before the close of his second 
term lu found it necessary to resign and retire to his 
estate in Charles-city Co., to recruit his health. He, 
however, soon after consented to take his seat in the 
State Legislature, where his influence was powerful 
in promoting public works of great utility. With a 
reputation thus canstantly increasing, he was chosen 
by a very large majority of votes, Governor of his 
native State. His administration was signally a suc- 
cessful one. His popularity secured his re-election. 

John Randolph, a brilliant, erratic, half-crazed 
man, then represented Virginia in the Senate of the 
United States. A ix)rtion of the Democratic party 
was displeased with Mr. Randolph's wayward course, 
and brought forward John Tyler as his opiwnent, 
considering him the only man in Virginia of sufficient 
popularity to succeed against the renowned orator of 
Roanoke. Mr. Tjler was the victor. 

In accordance with his professions, upon taking his 
seat in the Senate, he joined the ranks of the opposi- 
tion. He opposed the tariff; he sjxjke against and 
voted against the bank as unconstitutional ; he stren- 
uously opposed all restrictions upon slavery, resist- 
ing all projects of internal improvements by the Gen- 
eral Government, and avowed his sympathy with Mr. 
Calhoun's view of nullification ; he declared that Gen. 
Jackson, by his opjx)sition to the nullifiers, had 
abandoned the principles of the Democratic party. 
Such was Mr. Tyler's record in Congress, — a record 
in perfect accordance with the principles which he 
had always avowed. 

Returning to Virginia, he resumed the practice of 
his profession. There was a cplit in the P^mocralit; 



JOHN TYLER. 



Jarty. His friends still regarded him as a true Jef- 
fersoniarl, gave hini a dinner, and sliowered compli- 
ments upon him. He had now attained the age of 
forty-six. His career had been very brilliant. In con- 
sequence of his devotion to public business, his pri- 
vate affairs had f_ilien into some disorder; and it was 
not without satisfaction that he resumed the practice 
of law, and devoted himself to the culture of his plan- 
tation. Soon after this he removed to Williamsburg, 
for the better education of his children ; and he again 
took his seat in the Legislature of Virginia. 

By the Southern Whigs, he was sent to the national 
convention at Harrisburg to nominate a President in 
7839. The majority of votes were given to Gen. Har- 
rison, a genuine Whig, much to the disappointment of 
the South, who wished for Henry Clay. To concili- 
ate the Southern Whigs and to secure their vote, the 
convention then nominated John Tyler for Vice Pres- 
ident. It was well known that he was not in sympa- 
thy with the Whig [larty in the NoUh: but the Vice 
President has but very little power in the Govern- 
ment, his main and almost only duty being to pre- 
side over the meetings of the Senate. Thus it hap- 
pened that a Wliig President, and, in reality, a 
Democratic Vice President were chosen. 

In r84r, Mr. Tyler was inaugurated Vice Presi- 
dent of the United States. In one short month from 
that time. President Harrison died, and Mr. Tyler 
thus -cund himself, to his own surprise and that of 
the whole Nation, an occupant of the Presidential 
chair. This was a new test of the stability of our 
institutions, as it was the first time in the history of our 
country that such an event had occured. Mr. Tyler 
was at home in Williamsburg when he received the 
unexpected tidings of the death of President Harri- 
son. He hastened to Washington, and on the 6th of 
April was inaugurated to the high and responsible 
office. He was placed in a position of exceeding 
delicacy and difficulty. All his long life he had been 
opposed tc the main principles of the party which had 
brought him into power. He had ever been a con- 
sistent, honc:t man, with an unblemished record. 
Gen. Harrison had selected a Wliig cabinet. Should 
he retain them, and thus surround himself with coun- 
sellors whose views were antagonistic to his own? or, 
on the other hand, should he turn against the party 
whicii had elected him and select a cabinet in har- 
mony with himself, and which would oppose all those 
views which the Whigs deemed essential to the pub- 
lic welfare? This was his fearful dilemma. He in- 
vited the cabinet which President Harrison had 
selected to retain their seats. He reccomm.'nded a 
day of fasting and prayer, that God would guide and 
bless us. 

The Whigs carried through Congress a bill for the 
incorporation of a fiscal bank of the United States. 
The President, after ten days' delay, returned it wiih 
his veto. He ^suef^ested, however, that he -.vould 



approve oj a bid drawn up upon such a plan as he 
proposed. Such a bill was accordingly prepared, and 
privately submitted to him. He gave it his approval. 
It .vas passed without alteration, and he sent it back 
with his veto. Here commenced the open rupture. 
It is said that Mr. Tyler was provoked to this meas- 
ure by a published letter from the Hon. John M. 
Botts, a distinguished Virginia Whig, who severely 
touched the pride of the President. 

The opposition now exultingly received the Presi- 
dent into their arms. The party which elected him 
denounced him bitterly. All the members of his 
cabinet, e.vcepting Mr. Webster, resigned. The Whigs 
of Congress, both the Senate and the House, held a 
meeting and issued an address to the people of the 
United States, proclaiming that all political alliance M 
between the VVhigs and President Tyler were at f 
an end. 

Still the President attempted to conciliate. He 
appointed a new cabinet of distinguished Whigs and 
Conservatives, carefully leaving out all strong party 
men. Mr, ^Vebster soon found it necessary to resign, 
forced out by the pressure of his Whig friends. Thus 
the fcair years of Mr. Tyler's unfortunate administra- 
tion i)assed sadly away. No one was satisfied. The 
land was filled with murmurs and vitujieration. Whigs 
and Democrats alike assailed him. More and more, 
however, he brought himself into sympathy with his 
old friends, the Democrats, until at the close of his term, 
he gave his whole influence to the support of Mr. 
Polk, the Democratie candidate for his successor. 

On the 4th of March, 1845, he retired from the 
harassments of office, tothe regret of neitherparty, and 
probably to his own unspeakable lelief. His first wife, 
Miss Letitia Christian, died in Washington, in 1842; 
and in June, 1844, President Tyler was again married, 
at New York, to Miss Julia Gardiner, a young lady of 
many personal and intellectual -accomplishments. 

The remainder of his days Mr. Tyler passed mainly 
in retirement at his beautiful home, — Sherwood For- 
est, Charles city Co., Va. A polished gentleman in 
his manners, richly furnished with information from 
books and experience in the world, and jTOssessing 
brilliant powers of conversation, his family circle was 
the scene of unusual attractions. ^Vitll sufficient 
means for the exercise of a generous hospitality, he 
might have enjoyed a serene old age with the few 
friends who gathered around him, were it not for the 
storms of civil war which his own principles and 
policy had helped to introduce. 

When the great Rebellion rose, which the State-. 
rights and nullifying doctrines of Mr. John C. Cal- 
houn had inaugurated, President Tyler renounced his 
allegiance to the United States, and joined the Confed- 
erates. He was chosen a member of their Congress; 
and while engaged in active measures to destroy, by 
force of arms, 'he Government over which he had 
once presided, he was taken sick and soon died. 



^'^il' 



m,x- 







..j^ 



ELE I ENTH PRE SI DEN T. 



5S 





PDILK, 







AMES K. POLK, the eleventh 
^aPresident of the United States, 
was born in Mecklenburg Co., 
N. C.,Nov. 2, 1795. His par- 
ents were Samuel and Jane 
(Knox) Polk, the former a son 
of Col. Thomas Polk, wlio located 
at the above place, as one of the 
first pioneers, in 1735. 
■' In the year 1S06, with his wife 

and children, ai.d soon after fol- 
lowed by most of the members of 
the Polk farnly, Samuel Pulk emi- 
grated some two or three hundred 
mile.i farther west, to the rich valley 
of the Duck River. Here in the 
midst of the wilderness, in a region 
which was subsequently called Mau- 
ry Co., they reared their lot; huls, 
and established their homes. In the 
hard toil of a new farm in the wil- 
derness, James K. Polk spent the 
early years of his childhood and 
youth. His father, adding the pur- 
suit cf a surveyor to that of a farmer, 
gradually increased in wealth until 
he became one of the leading men of the region. His 
mother was a superior woman, of strong comn-.cu 
sense and earnest piety. 

Very early in life, James developed a taste for 
reading and e.xpressed the strongest desire to obtain 
a liberal education. His mother's training had made 
him methodical in his habits, had taught him punct- 
uality and industry, and had inspired him with lofty 
principles of morality. His health was frail ; and his 
father, fearing that he might not be able to endure a 



sedentary life, got a situation for him behind the 
coimter, hoping to fit him for conimercial pursuits. 

This was to James a bitter disappointment. He 
had no taste for these duties, and his daily tasks 
were irksome in the e.xtreme. He remained in this 
uncongenial cccupation but a few weeks, when at his 
earnest solicitat'on his father removed him, and made 
arrangements for him to prosecute his studies. Soon 
after he sent him to Murfreesboro Academy. With 
ardor which could scarcely be surpassed, he pressed 
forward in his studies, and in less than two and a half 
years, in the autumn of 1815, entered the sophomore 
class in the University of North Carolina, at Chapel 
Hill. Here he was one of the most exemplary of 
scholars, punctual in every exercise, never allowing 
himself to be absent from a recitation or a religious 
service. 

He graduated in 18 18, with the highest honors, be* 
ing deemed the best scholar of his class, both ip 
mathematics and the classics. He was then twenty- 
three years of age. Mr. Polk's liealth was at this 
time much impaired by the a.-isiduity with which he 
had i)rosecuted his studies. After a short season ^of 
relaxation he went to Nashville, and enter.qd t^^ 
office of Felix Crundy, to study law. Here Mr. Polk 
renewed his acquaintance with Andrew Jackson, who 
resided on his plantation, the Hermitage, but a few 
miles from Nashville. They had probably beeri 
slighlly acquainted before. 

Mr. Polk's father was a Jeffersonian Republican 
and James K. Polk ever adhered to the same, politi- 
cal faith. He was a popular public speaker, and was 
constantly called upon to address the meetings of his 
party friends. His skill as a speaker was such that 
he was poixilarly called the Napoleon of the stumi). 
He was a man of unblemished morals, genial aid 



6o 



/AMES K. POLK. 



courterus in his bearing, and with that sympathetic 
nature in tlie jo) s and griefs of others which ever gave 
him troops of friends. In 1823, Mr. Polk was elected 
to the Legislature of Tennessee. Here he gave his 
strong influence towards the election of his friend, 
Mr. Jackson, to the Presidency of the United .States. 

In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss Sarah 
Childress, of Rutherford Co., Tenn. His bride was 
altogether worthy of liim, — a lady of beauty and cul- 
ture. In the fall of 1825, Mr. Polk was chosen a 
member of Congress. The satisfaction which he gave 
to his constituents may be inferred from the fact, that 
for fourteen successive years, until 1839, he was con- 
tinuec^ in that office. He then voluntarily withdrew, 
only that he might accept the Gubernatorial chair 
of T'^nnessee. In Congress he was a laborious 
menober, a frequent and a popular speaker. He was 
always in his seat, always courteous ; and whenever 
he spoke it was always to the point, and without any 
ambitious rhetorical display. 

During five sessions of Congress, Mr. Polk was 
Speaker of the House Strong passions were roused, 
and stormy scenes were witnessed ; but Mr Polk per- 
formed his arduous duties to a very general satisfac- 
tion, and a unanimous vote of thanks to him was 
passed by the Hou«e as he withdrew on the 4th of 
March, 1839. 

In accordance with Southern usage, Mr. Polk, as a 
candidate for Governor, canvassed the State. He was 
elected by a large majority, and on tlie i4tii of Octo- 
ber, 1839, took the oath of office at Nashville. In 1841, 
his term of office expired, and he was again the can- 
didate of the Democratic party, but was defeated. 

On the 4thof March, 1845, Mr. Polk was inaugur- 
ated President of the United States. The verdict of 
the country in favor of the annexation of Texas, exerted 
its influence upon Congress ; and the last act of the 
administration of President Tyler was to affix his sig- 
nature to a joint resolution of Congress, passed on the 
3d of March, approving of the annexation of Texas to 
the American Union. As Mexico still claimed Texas 
as one of her provinces, the Mexican minister, 
Almonte, immediately demanded his passports and 
left tlie country, declaring the act of the annexation 
to be an act hostile to Mexico. 

In his first message. President Polk urged that 
Texas should immediately, by act of Congress, be re- 
ceived into tlie Union on the same footing with the 
Other States, In the meantime, Gen. Taylor was sent 



with an army into Texas to hold the country He was 
sent first to Nueces, which the Mexicans said was the 
western boundary of Texas. Then he was sent 'learly 
two hundred miles further west, to the Rio Grande, 
where i'.e erected batteries which commanded the 
Mexican city of JMatamoras, which was situated on 
the western banks. 

The anticipated collision soon took place, and wai 
was declared against Mexico by President Polk. The 
war was pushed forward by Mr. Polk's administration 
with great vigor. Gen. Taylor, whose army was first 
called one of "observation," then of "occupation," 
thenof" invasion, "was sent forward to Monterey. The 
feeble Mexicans, in every encounter, were hopelessly 
and awfully slaughtered. The day of judgement 
alone can reveal the misery which this war caused. 
It v/as by the ingenuity of Mr. Polk's administration 
that the war was brought on. 

'To the victors belong the spoils." Mexico was 
prostrate before us. Her capital was in our hands. 
We now consented to peace upon the condition that 
Mexico should surrender to us, in addition to Texas, 
all of New Mexico, and all of Upper and Lower Cal- 
ifornia. This new demand embraced, exclusive of 
Texas, eight hundred thousand square miles. This 
was an extent of territory equal to nine States of the 
size of New York Thus slavery was securing eighteen 
majestic States to be added to the Union. There were 
some Americans who thought it all right : there were 
others who thought it all wrong. In the proj-erution 
of this war, we expended twenty thousand lives and 
more than a hundred million of dollars. Of this 
money fifteen millions were paid to Mexico. 

On the 3d of March, 1849, Mr. Polk retired from 
office, having served one term. The next day was 
Sunday. On the 5th, Gen. Taylor was inaugurated 
as his successor Mr Polk rode to the Capitol in the 
same carriage with Gen. Taylor; and the same even- 
ing, with Mrs. Polk, he commenced his return to 
. Tennessee. He was then but fifty-four years of age. 
He had ever been strictly temperate in all his habits, 
and his health was good Witli an ample fortune, 
a choice library, a cultivated mind, and domestic ties 
of the dearest nature, it seemed as though long years 
of traiKjuility and happiness were before him. But tiie 
cholera — that fearful scourge — was then sweeping up 
the Valley of the Mississippi. This he contracted, 
and died on the 15th of June, 1849,111 the fifU'-fourth 
year of his age, greatly mourned by his countrymen- 




w 



^Ci-^c>/i<::?c^^^^/\^^ 



T^VELFTH PRESIDENT. 



63 




iv,.\u.\U^t..>yi 




i v?VHAVVAv,\^^\> -T-v\ - X^ gVA^^ ^T\\A^:v.\ T S\.V.V.\:f 



%%sm^^Mi: TAyLOI^ 








ACHARY TAYLOR, twelfth 
^_^rresideiit of the United States, 
m was born on the 24th of Nov., 



1784, in Orange Co., Va. His 
father, Colonel Taylor, was 
a Virginian of note, and a dis- 
'^ tinguished patriot and soldier of 
the Revolution. When Zachaiy 
was an infant, his father with liis 
wife and two children, emigrated 
to Kentucky, where he settled in 
the pathless wilderness, a few 
miles from Louisville. Li thisfront- 
%)^ ier home, away from civilization and 
I all its refinements, yjung Zachary 
could enjoy but few social and educational advan- 
tages. When six years of age he attended a common 
school, and was tlien regard>"d as a bright, active boy, 
ratlier remarkable for bluntness and decision of char- 
acter He was strong, feailess and self-reliant, and 
oianifested a strong desire to enter the army to fight 
the Lidians wlio were ravaging the frontiers. There 
is little to be recorded of the uneventful years of his 
childhood on his father's large but lonely plantation. 
In 1808, his father succeeded in obtaining for him 
the commission of lieutenant in the United States 
army ; and he joined the troops which were stationed 
at New Orleans under Gen. Wilkinson. Soon after 
this he married Miss Margaret Smith, a young lady 
from one of the first families of Maryland. 

Lnmediately after the declaration of war with Eng- 
land, in 18 12, Capt. Taylor (for he had then been 
])romoted to that rank) was put in command of Fort 
Harrison, on the Wabash, about fifty miles above 
Vincennes. This fort had been built in the wilder- 
ness by Gen. Harrison, on his march to Tippecanoe. 
It was one of the first points of attack by the Indians, 
;ed by Tecumseh, Its garrison consisted of a broken 



company of infantry numbering fifty men, many of 
whom were sick. 

Eariy in the autumn of 18 12, the Indians, stealthily, 
and in large numbers, moved upon the fort. Tlieir 
approach was first indicated by the murder of two 
soldiers just outside of the stockade. Capt. Taylor 
made every possible preparation to meet the antici- 
pated assault. On the 4th of Septemi^er, a band of 
forty painted and plumed savages came to the fort, 
waving a white flag, and informed Capt. Taylor that 
in the morning their chief would come to have a talk 
with him. It was evident that their object was merely 
to ascertain the state of things at the fort, and Capt. 
Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages, kept 
them at a distance. 

The sun went down ; the savages disappeared, the 
garrison slept upon their arms. One hour before 
midnight the war whoop burst from a thousand lips 
in the forest around, followed by the discharge of 
musketry, and the rush of the foe. Every man, sick 
and well, sprang to his post. Every man knew that 
defeat was not merely death, but in the case of cap- 
ture, death by the most agonizing and prolonged tor- 
ture. No pen can describe, no immagination can 
conceive the scenes which ensued. Tiie savages suc- 
ceeded in setting fire to one of the block-houses- 
Until si.K o'clock in the morning, this awful conflict 
continued. The savages then, baffled at every point, 
and gnashing tlieir teeth witli rage, retired. Capt. 
Taylor, for this gallant defence, was promoted to the 
rank of major by brevet. 

Until the close of the war, MajorTaylor was placed 
in such situations that he saw but little more of active 
service. He was sent far away into the depths of the 
wilderness, to Fort Crawford, on Fox River, which 
empties into Green Bay. Here there was but little 
to be done but to wear away the tedious hours as one 
best could. There were no books, no society, no in- 



64 



ZACHARY TAYLOR 



tellecliial stimulus. Thus wilh hiui the uncveiUUil 
yeai"!; roUeil ou (.Iratiually he rose lo tlie r.uik of 
colonel. In the Black Fiawk war, which resulted in 
the capture of that renowned chieftain, Col Taylor 
took a subordinate Init a brave ami efticient part. 

I'or twenty-foi'.r ye.irs Col. Taylor was engaged in 
the defence of the tfontiers, in scenes so remote, and in 
employments so obscure, that his namew.is unknown 
beyond the limits of his own immediate acquaintance. 
In the ye.ir 1836, he was sent to Florida to compel 
the Seminole Indians to vacate that region and re- 
tire beyond the Mississippi, as their chiefi by treaty, 
\\vC promised they should do. The services rendered 
he e sectired for Col. Taylor the high appreciation of 
the Government; and as a reward, he was elevated 
tc he rank of brigaiiier-general by brevet ; and soon 
after, in May, 183S, was apix)inted lo the chief com- 
mand of '.he United States troo|>s in Florida. 

.\fier two years of such wearisome employment 
.'.midst the everglades of the peninsula, (ien. T.iylor 
obtained, at his own request, a change of command, 
.'.nd was stationed over the Department of the South- 
west. This field embraced Louisiana, Mississippi, 
-A.labama andCeorgia. Establishing his headquarters 
at Fort Jessuj), in Louisiana, he removed his family 
to a plantation which he purchased, near Baton Rogue. 
Here he remained for five years, buried, as it were, 
from the world, but faithfully discharging every duty 
imposed u|)on him. 

Tn 1.S46, (ien. Taylor was sent to guard the land 
between the Nueces and Rio (irande, the latter river 
being the boundary of Texas, which was then claimed 
by the United States. Soon the war with Me.xico 
was brought 0.1, and at Palo .\lto and Resaca de la 
Palma, Gen. Taylor won brilliant victories over the 
Mexicans. The rank of major-general by brevet 
was then conferred upon (ren. Taylor, and his name 
W..S received with enthusiasm almost everywhere in 
the Nation. Then came the battles of Monterey and 
B.iena Vista in which he won signal victories over 
forces much larger than he commanded 

His careless habits of dress and his unaffected 
"iiinplicity, secured for Gen. Taylor among his troops, 
l\\t sjhn'quff of "Old Rough and Ready.' 

Tne tidings of the brilliant victory of Buena Visla 
■pre.id the wildest enthusiasm over the country. The 
name ol Cren. Taylor was on every one's liiis. The 
Whig party decided to t.ike advantage of this wonder- 
ful jiopularity in biinging forward the unpolished, un- 

' ''od, honest soldier as their candidate for the 
I'residency. Gen. Taylor was astonished at the an- 
nouncement, and for a time would not listen to it; de- 
claring that he was notatal! qualified for such an 
office. So little interest had he taken in politics that, 
for forty years, he had not cast a vote. It was not 
without chagrin that several distinguished statesmen 
who had been long years in the public ser\Mce found 
•;..ir claims set aside in behalf of one whose name | 



h.id never been heard of, save in connection with Palo 
Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey and Buena 
Vista. It is said that Daniel Webster, in his haste re- 
marked, " It is a nominalion not fit to be made." 

Gen. Taylor was not an eloquent speaker nor a fine 
writer His friends took possession of him, and pre- 
[)ared such few communications as it was needful 
should be presented to the ijublic. The popularity of 
the successful warrior swept the land. He was tri- 
umphanlly elected over two oi)posing candidates, — 
(ien. Cass and Ex-President Martin Van Buren. 
Though he selected an excellent cabinet, the good 
old man found himself in a very uncongenial jX)sition, 
and was, at times, sorely per|)le.>;ed and harassed. 
His mental sufferings were very severe, and probably 
tended to hasten his death. The pro-slavery party 
was pushing its claims with tireless energy, expedi- 
tions were fitting out to capture Cuba ; California was 
])leading for admission to the Union, while slavery 
stood at the door to bar her out. Gen. Taylor found 
the political conflicts in Washington to be far more 
trying to the nerves than battles with Mexicans or 
Indians 

In the midst of all these troubles, Gen. Taylor, 
after he had occupied the Presidential chair but little 
over a year, look cold, and after a brief sickness of 
but little over five days, died on the 9th t)f July, 1850. 
His last woids were, " I am not afraid to die. I am 
ready. I have endeavored to do my duty." He died 
universally respected and beloved. An honest, un- 
pretending man, he had been steadily growing in the 
affections of the people; and the Nation bitterly la- 
mented his death. 

Gen. Scott, who was thoroughly acquainted with 
Gen Taylor, gave the following graphic and tvutliful 
description of his character: — " A\'ith a good store of 
common sense. Gen. Taylor's mind had not been en- 
larged and refreshed by reading, or much converse 
wilh the world. Rigidity of ideas was the conse- 
quence. The frontiers and small military posts had 
been his home. Hence he was quite ignorant for his 
rank, and quite bigoted in his ignorance. His sim- 
|)licity was child-like, and with innumerable preju- 
dices, amusing and incorrigible, well suited to the 
tender age. Thus, if a man, however respectable, 
chanced to wear a coat of an unusual color, or his hat 
a little on one side of his head; or an officer to leave 
a corner of his handkerchief dangling from an out- 
side pocket, — in any such case, this critic held the 
offender to be a coxcomb (jierhaps something worse), 
whom he would not, to use his oft repeated jihrase, 
'touch with a pair of tongs.' 

"Any allusion to literature beyond good old Dil- 
worth's s|5elling-l)ook, on the part of one wearing a 
sword, was evidence, with the same judge, of utter 
unfitness for heavy marchings and combats. In short 
few men li.rve ever had a more coinforta V~ >-'>-v/->i. 
s.iving contempt for l.Mrnirg of every kind. 




M 




--cu^^/^S 



J^. 



^-'<^-i'-i^<xn/) 



THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



67 




%> ^ 




^'MILLflRn FILLMHRE.^ 







ILLARD FILLMORE, thir- 
teenth President of the United 
States, was born at Summer 
Hill, Cayuga Co., X. Y ., on 
the 7th of Januarj-, 1800. His 
*^ father was a farmer, and ow- 
ing to misfortune, in humble cir- 
cumstances. Of his mother, tiic 
\ daughter of Dr. Abiathar Millard, 
: of Pittsfield, Mass., it has been 
said that she jxjssessed an intellect 
of very high order, united with much 
personal loveliness, sweetness of dis- 
position, graceful manners and ex- 
quisite sensibilities. She died in 
1831 ; having lived to see her son a 
young man of distinguished prom- 
isre, though she was not permitted to witness the liigli 
dignity which he finally attained. 

In consequence of the secluded home ar.d limited 
means of his father, Millard enjoyed but slender ad- 
vantages for education in his early years. The com- 
mon schools, ivhich he occasionally attended were 
ver)' imperfect institutions; and books were scarce 
and expensive. There was nothing then in his char- 
acter to indicate the brilliant career upon which he 
was about to enter. He was a plain fanner's boy ; 
intelligent, good-looking, kind-hearted. The sacred 
influences of home had taught him to revere the Bible, 
and had laid the foundations of an upright character. 
When fourteen years of age, his father sent him 
some hundred miles from home, to the theit wilds of 
Livingston County, to learn the trade of a clothier. 
Near the mill there was a small villiage, where some 



enterprising man had commenced the collection of a 
village library. This proved an inestimable blessing 
to young Fillmore. His evenings were spent in read- 
ing Soon every leisure moment was occupied with 
books. His thirst for knowledge became insatiate 
and the selections which he made were continually 
more elevating and instructive. He read history, 
biography, oratory , and thus gradually there was en- 
kindled in his heart a desire to be something more 
than a mere worker with his hands; and lie was be- 
coming, almost unknown to himself, a well-informed, 
educated man. 

The young clothier had now attained the age of 
nineteen years, and was of fine personal appearance 
and of gentlemanly demeanor. It so happened tha'. 
there was a gentleman in the neighborhood of ample 
pecuniary means and of benevolence, — Judge Walter 
Wood, — who was struck with tlie prepossessing ap- 
pearance of young Fillmore. He made his acquaint- 
ance, and was so much impressed with his ability and 
attainments that he advised him to abandon his 
trade and devote himself to the study of the law. The 
young man replied, that he had no means of his own, 
10 fnends to help him and that his previous educa- 
tion had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood had 
so much confidence in him that he kindly offered to 
take him into his own office, and to loan him such 
money as he needed. Most gratefully the generous 
offer was accepted. 

There is in many minds a strange delusion alx)ut 
a collegiate education. A )Oung man is supposed to 
be liberally educated if he has graduated at some col- 
lege. But many a Ixay loiters through university hal' • 
ind then enters a law office, who is by no means ar 



>;6 



MILLARD FILLMORE. 



well prepared to prosecute his legal studies as was 
Millard Fillmore when he graduated at the clothing- 
mill at the end of four years of manual labor, during 
which es"ery leisure moment had been devoted to, in- 
tense mental culture. 

In 1823, when twenty-three years of age, he was 
admitted to the Court of Co-nmon Pleas. He then 
went to the village of Aurora, and commenced the 
practice of law. In this secluded, peaceful region, 
his practice of course was limited, and there was no 
opportunity for a sudden rise in fortune or in fame. 
Here, in the year 1826, he married a lady of great 
moral worth, and one capable of adorning any station 
she might be called to fill, — Miss Abigail Powers. 

His elevation of character, his untiring industry, 
his legal acquirements, and his skill as an advocate, 
gradually attracted attention , and he was invited to 
enter into partnership under highly advantageous 
circumstances, with an elder member of the bar in 
Buffalo. Just before removing to Buffalo, in 1829, 
he took his seat in the House of Assembly, of the 
State of New York, as a representative from Ejie 
County. Though he had never taken a very active 
part in politics, his vote and his sympathies were with 
the Whig party. The State was then Democratic, 
and he found himself in a helpless minority in the 
Legislature , still the testimony comes from all parties, 
Ihat his courtesy, ability and integrity, won, to a very 
unusual degri e the respect of his associates. 

In the autumn of 1832, he was elected to a seat in 
the United States Congress He entered that troubled 
arena in some of tlie most tumultuous hours of our 
national history. The great conflict respecting the 
national bank and the removal of the deposits, was 
ihen raging. 

His term of two years closed ; and he returned to 
his profession, which he pursued with increasing rep- 
utation and success. After a lapse of two years 
he again became a candidate for Congress ; was re- 
elected, and took his seat in 1837. His past exjie- 
rience as a representative gave him stiength and 
confidence. The first term of service in Congress to 
any man can be but little more than an introduction.' 
He was now prepared for active duty. All his ener- 
gies were brought to bear upon the public good. Every 
measure received his impress. 

Mr. Fillmore was now a man of wide repute, and 
his popularity filled the State, and in the year 1847, 
he was elected Comptroller of the State- 



Mr. Fillmore had attained the age of forty-seven 
years. His labors at the bar, in the Legislature, in 
Congress and as Comptroller, had given him very con- 
siderable fame. The Whigs were casting about to 
find suitable candidates for President and Vice-Presi- 
dent at the approaching election. Far away, on the 
waters of the Rio Grande, there was a rough old 
soldier, who had fought one or two successful battles 
with the Mexicans, which had caused his name to be 
proclaimed in tiumpet-tones all over the land. But 
it was necessary to associate with him on the same 
ticket so;ne man of reputation as a statesman. 

Under the influence of these considerations, the 
namesofZachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became 
the rallying-cry of the Whigs, as their candidates for 
President and Vice-Peesident. The Whig ticket was 
signally triumphant. On the 4th of March, 1849, 
Gen. Taylor was inaugurated President, and Millard 
Fillmore Vice-President, of the United States. 

On the 9th of July, 1850, President Taylor, but 
about one year and four months after his inaugura 
tion, was suddenly taken sick and died. By the Con- 
stitution, Vice-President Fillmore thus became Presi- 
dent. He apix)inted a very^ able cabinet, of which 
the illustrious Daniel Webster was Secretary of State. 

Mr. Fillmore had very serious difficulties to contend 
with, since the opposition had a majority in both 
Houses. He did everything in his power to conciliate 
the South ; but the pro-slavery party in the South felt 
the inadequacy of all measuresof transient conciliation. 
The population of the free States was so rapidly in- 
creasing over that of the slave States that it was in- 
evitable that the power of the Government should 
soon pass into the hands of the free States. The 
famous compromise measures were adopted under Mr. 
Fillmore's adminstration, and the Japan Expedition 
was sent out. On the 4th of March, 1853, Mr. Fill- 
more, having served one tenn, retired. 

In 1856, Mr. Fillmore was nominated for the Pres- 
idency by the " Know Nothing " party, but was beaten 
by Mr. Buchanan. After that Mr. Fillmore lived in 
retirement. During the terrible conflict of civil war, 
he was mostly silent. It was generally supposed that 
his sympathies were rather with those who were en- 
deavoring to overthrow our institutions. President 
Fillmore kept aloof from the conflict, without any 
cordial words of cheer to the one party or the other. 
He was thus forgotten by both. He lived to a ripe 
old age, and died in Buffalo. N. Y., March 8, 1874. 




c>^^ 



FOURTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



71 




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^" FRANKLIN FIERCE.'^ 



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RANKLIN PIERCE, the 
g) f'oLirteenth President of the 
' United States, was born in 
Hillsborough, N. H., Nov. 
23, 1804. His father was a 
Revolutionary soldier, who, 
with his own strong arm, 
hewed out a !iome in the 
wilderness. He was a man 
of inflexible integrity; of 
strong, though uncultivated 
mind, and an uncompromis- 
ing Democrat. The mother of 
Franklin Pierce was all that a son 
could desire, — an intelligent, pru- 
dent, affectionate, Christian wom- 
an. Franklin was the sixth of eight children. 

Franklin was a very bright and handsome boy, gen- 
erous, warm-hearted and brave. He won alike the 
love of old and young. The boys on the play ground 
loved him. His teachers loved him. The neighbors 
looked upon him with pride and affection. He was 
by instinct a gentleman; always speakingkind words, 
doing kind deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact 
which taught him what was agreeable. Without de- 
veloping any precocity of genius, or any unnatural 
devotion to bDoks, he was a good scholar; in body, 
in mind, in affections, a finely-developed boy. 

When sixteen years of age, in the year 1820, he 
entered Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me He was 
one of the most ]K)pular young men in the college. 
The purity cf his moral character, the unvarying 
courtesy of bis demeanor, his rank as a scholar, and 



genial nature, rendered him a universal favorite. 
There was something very peculiarly winning in his 
address, and it was evidently not in the slightest de- 
gree studied : it was the simple outgushing of his 
own magnanimous and loving nature. 

Upon graduating, in the year 1824, Franklin Pierce 
commenced the study of law in the office of Judge 
Woodbury, one of the most distinguished lawyers of 
the State, and a man of great private worth. The 
eminent social qualities of* the young lawyer, his 
father's prominence as a public man, and the brilliant 
political career into which Judge Woodbury was en- 
tering, all tended to entice Mr. Pierce into the faci- 
nating yet perilous path of political life. With all 
the ardor of his nature he espoused the cause of Gen. 
Jackson for the Presidency. He commenced the 
practice of law in Hillsborough, and was soon elected 
to represent the town in the State Legislature. Here 
he served for four yeais. The last two years he was 
chosen speaker of the house by a very large vote. 

In 1833, at the age of twenty-nine, he was elected 
a member of Congress. Without taking an active 
part in debates, he was faithful and laborious in duty 
and ever rising in the estimation of those with whom 
he was associatad. 

In 1837, being then but thirty-three years of age, 
he was elected to the Senate of the United States; 
taking his seat just as Mr. Van Buren commenced 
his administration. He was the youngest member in 
the Senate. In the year 1834, he married Miss Jane 
Means Appleton, a lady of rare beauty and accom- 
|)lishments, and one admirably fitted to adorn every 
Station with which her husband was honoicd, Of the 



r- 



tRANKLIN FIERCE. 



three sons who were bom to them, all now sleep with 
their parents in the grave. 

\\\ the year 1838, Mr. Pierce, with growing fame 
and increasing business as a lawyer, took up his 
residence in Concord, tlie capital of New Hampshire. 
President Polk, upon his accession to office, appointed 
Mr. I'ierce attorney-general of the United .States ; but 
the offer was declined, in consequence of numerous 
professional engagements at home, and the precariuos 
state of Mrs. Pierce's healtli. He also, about the 
same time declined the nomination for governor by the 
Democratic party. The war with Mexico called Mr. 
Pierce in the army. Receiving the appointment of 
brigadier-general, he embarked, with a portion of his 
troops, at Newport, R. I., on the 27th of May, 1847. 
He took an important part in tjiis war, proving him- 
self a brave and true soldier. 

When Gen. Pierce reached his home in his native 
State, he was received enthusiastically by the advo- 
cates of the Mexican war, and coldly by his oppo- 
nents. He resumed the practice of his profession, 
very frequently taking an active part in political ques- 
tions, giving his cordial su[)port to the pro-slavery 
wing of the Democratic party. The compromise 
measures met cordially with his approval; and he 
strenuously advocated the enforcement of the infa- 
mous fugitive-slave law, whicli so shocked tjie religious 
sensibilities of the North. He thus became distin- 
guished as a "Northern man with Southern principles.'' 
'J'lie strong partisans of slavery in the South conse- 
quently regarded him as a man whom they could 
•afely trust in office to carry out their plans. 

On the I 2th of June, 1852, the Democratic conven- 
tion met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate for the 
Presidency. For four days they continued in session, 
c^nd in thirty-five ballotings no one had obtained a 
two-thirds vote. Not a vote thu; far had been thrown 
for Gen. Pierce. Then the Virginia delegation 
brought forward his name. Tiiere were fourteen 
more ballotings, during which Gen. Pierce constantly 
gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth ballot, he 
received two hundred and eighty-two votes, and all 
other candidates eleven. Gen. Winfield Scott was 
the Whig candidate. Gen. Pierce was chosen with 
great unanimity. Only four States — Vermont, Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky and Tennessee — cast their 
electoral votes against him (ien. Franklin Pieice 
was therefore inaugurated President of the United 
States on the 4th of March, 1853. 



His administration proved one of the most stormy our 
cour.try had ever experienced. The controversy be 
tween slaveiy and freedom was then approaching its 
culminating point. It became evident that there was 
an " irrepressible conflict " between them, and that 
this Nation could not long exist " half slave and half 
free." President Pierce, during the whole of his ad- 
ministration, did every thing he could to conciliate 
the South ; but it was all in vain. The conflict every 
year grew more violent, and threats of the dissolution 
of the Union were borne to the North on every South- 
ern breeze. 

Such was tlie condition of affairs when President 
Pierce approached the close of his four-years' term 
of office. The North had become thoroughly alien- 
ated from him. The anti-slavery sentiment, goaded 
by great outrages, had been rapidly increasing; all 
the intellectual ability and social worth of President 
Pierce were forgotten in deep reprehension of his ad- 
ministrative acts. The slaveholders of the South, also, 
unmindful of the fidelity with which he had advo- 
cated ti'.ose measures of Government which they ajv 
proved, and perhaps, also, feeling that he had 
rendered himself so unpopular as no longer to be 
able acceptably to serve them, ungratefully dropped 
him, and nominated James Buchanan to succeed him. 

On the 4th of March, 1857, President Pierce re- 
tired to his home in Concord. Of three children, two 
had died, and his only surviving child had been 
killed before his eyes by a railroad accident ; and his 
wife, one of the most estimable and accomplished of 
ladies, was rapidly sinking in consumption. The 
hour of dreadful gloom soon came, and he was left 
alone in the world, without wife or child. 

When the terrible Rebellion burst forth, which di- 
vided our country into two parties, and two only, Mr. 
Pieice remained steadfast in the principles which he 
had always cherished, and gave his sympathies to 
that pro-slavery party with which he had ever been 
allied. He declined to do anything, either by voice 
or pen, to strengthen the hand of the National Gov- 
ernment. He continued to reside in Concord until 
the time of his death, which occurred in October, 
1869. He was one of the most genial and social of 
men, an honored communicant of the P>piscopai 
Church, and one of the kindest of neighbors. Gen 
erous to a fault, he contiil)uted liberally for the al- 
leviation of suffering and want, and many of his towns 
people were often gladened by his material bounty. 






<Zym.^j a^^u^'^l^^/pz^e^^i^^ 



FIFTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



75 




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AMES BUCHANAN, the fif- 
teenth President of the United 
Jj" States, was born in a small 
frontier town, at the foot of the 
■^ eastern ridsie of the Allegha- 
nies, in Franklin Co., Penn., on 
the 23d of April, 1791. The ;?lace 
where the humble cabin of his 
father sti'od was called Ston)' 
Batter. It was a wild and ro- 
mantic spot in a gorge of the moun- 
tains, with towering summits rising 
grandly all around. His father 
was a •".ative of the north of Ireland ; 
a poor man, who had emigrated in 
783, with little property save his 
own strong arms. Five years afterwards he married 
Elizabeth Spear, the daughter of a respectable farmer, 
and, with his young bride, plunged into the wilder- 
ness, staked his claim, reared his log-hut, opened a 
clearing with his axe, and settled down there to per- 
form his obscure part in the drama of life. In this se- 
cluded home, where James was borji, he remained 
for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual 
advantages. When James was eight years of age, his 
father removed to the village of Mercersburg, where 
l.is son was placed at school, and commenced a 
course of study in English, Latin and Greek. His 
progress was rapid, and at the age of fourteen, he 
entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle. Here he de 
veloped remarkable talent, and took his stand among 
the first scholars in the institution. His application 
to study was intense, and yet his native powers en- 



abled him to master the most abstruse subjects wi '- 
facility. 

In the year 1809, he graduated with the highest 
honors of his clasL. He was then eighteen years of 
age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health, fond of 
athletic sport, an unerring shot, and enlivened with 
an exuberant flow of animal spirits. He immediately 
commenced the study of law in the city of Lancaster, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1812, when he was 
Init tvvent}'-one years of age. Very rapidly he rose 
in his profession, and at once took undisputed stand 
with the ablest lawyers of the State. When but 
twenty-six years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc- 
cessfully defended before the State Senate ore of tiie 
judges of the State, who was tried upon articles of 
impeachment. At the age of thirty it was generally 
admitted that he stood at the he.^d of the bar; and 
there was no lawyer in the State who had a more lu- 
crative practice. 

In 1820, he reluctantly consented to run as a 
candidate for Congress. He was elected, and for 
ten years he remained a member of the Lower House. 
During tlie vacations of Congress, he occasionally 
tried some important case. In 1831, he retired 
altogether from the toils of his iirofession, having ac- 
ijuired an ample fortune. 

Gen. Jackson, upon his elevation to the Presidency, 
appointed Mr. Buchanan minister to Russia. The 
duties of his mission he performed with ability, which 
gave satisfaction to all parties. Upon his return, in 
r 833, he was elected to a seat in the United States 
Senate. He there met, as his associates, V/eLster. 
Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He advocated tb.e meas- 
ures proposed by President Jackson, of niifc/ng repri- 



76 



JAMES BUCHANAN. 



sals against France, to enforce the payment of our 
claims against that country; and defended the course 
of the President in his unprecedented and wholesale 
removal from office of tiiose who were not tiie sup- 
porters of his adininistralion. Upon this question he 
was brought into direct collision with Henry Clay. 
He also, with voice and vote, advocated expunging 
from the journal of the Sjnate the vote of censure 
against CJen. Jackson for removing the deposits. 
Earnestly he op|)osed the abolition of slavery in the 
District of Columbia, and urged tiie prohibition of the 
circulation of anti-slavery documents bv the United 
States mails. 

As to petitions on the subject of slavery, he advo- 
cated that they should be respectfully received; and 
that tiie reply should be returned, tliat Congress had 
no iKJwer to legislate upon the subject. ' Congress," 
said he, "might as well undertake to interfere with 
slavery under a foreign government as in any of the 
States where it now exists." 

U|)on Mr. I'olk's accession to the Presidency, Mr. 
Buchanan became Secretary of State, and as such, 
took his share of the responsibility in the conduct of 
the Mexican War. Mr. I'olk assumed that crossing 
the Nueces l)y the American troops into the disputed 
territory was not wrong, inil for the Mexicans to cross 
the Rio C.rande into that territory was a declafation 
of war. No candid man can read with pleasure the 
account of tlie course our Government pursued in that 
movement 

Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly with 
the party devoted to tlie pi^rpetuation and extension 
of slavery, and brought all the energies of his mind 
to bear against the U'ilmot Proviso. He gave his 
cordial approval to the compromise measures of 1S50, 
which included the fugitive-slave law. Mr. Pierce, 
upon his election to the Presidency, honored Mr! 
Buchanan with the mission to England. 

In the year 1856, a national Democratic conven- 
tion nominated Mr. Buchanan for the Presidency. The 
political conflict was one of the most severe in which 
oar country has ever engaged. .\11 the friends of 
slavery were on one side; all the advocates of its re- 
striction and final abolition, on the other. Mr. Fre- 
mont, the candidate of the enemies of slaveiy, re- 
reived 114 electoral votes. Mr. Buchanan received 
174, and was elected. The popular vote stood 
1,340,618, for Fremont, 1,224,750 for Buchanan. On 
March 4th, 1857, Mr. Buchanan was inaugurated. 

Mr. Buchanan was far advanced in life. Only four 
vears were wanting to fill up his threescore years and 
ten. His own friends, those with whom he had been 
allied in political i)rincii)les and action for years, were 
sacking the destruction of the Government, that they 
might rear upon the ruins of our free institutions a 
nation whose corner-stone should be human slavery. 
In this emergency, Mr. Buchanan was hopelessly be- 
wildered He could not, with his long-avowed prin- j 



ciples, consistently oppose the State-rights party in 
their assumptions. As President of the United States,' 
bound by his oath faithfully to administer the laws.' 
he could not, without perjury of the grossest kind, 
unite witii those endeavoring to overthrow the repub- 
lic. He therefore did notliing. 

The opponents of Mr. Buchanan's administration 
nominaied Abraham Lincoln as their standard bearer 
in the next Presidential canvass. The pro-slavery 
party declared, that if he were elected, and the con- 
trol of the Government were thus taken from their 
hands, they would secede from the Union, taking 
with them, as they retired, the National Capitol at 
Washington, and the lion's share of the territory of 
the United States. 

Mr. Buchanan's sympathy with the pro-slaverj' 
party was such, that he had been willing to offerthem 
far more than they had ventured to claim. All the 
South had professed to ask of the North was non- 
intervention ufx)n the subject of slavery. Mr. Bu- 
chanan had been ready to offer them the active co- 
operation of tlie Government to defend and extend 
the institution. 

As the storm increased in violence, the slaveholders 
claiming the right to secede, and Mr. Buchanan avow- 
ing that Congress had no power to prevent it, one of 
tiie most [litiable exhibitions of governmental im- 
becility was exhibited the world has ever seen. He 
declared that Congress had no power to enforce its 
laws in any State which had withdrawn, or which 
was atlenipting to withdraw from the Union. 7^his 
was not the doctrine of Andrew Jackson, when, with 
his hand upon his sword hilt, he exclaimed, "The 
Union must and shall be preserved!" 

South Carolina seceded in December, x86o; nearly 
three months before the inauguration of President 
Lincoln. Mr. Buchanan looked on in listless despair. 
The rebel flag was raised in Chadeston ; FortSumpter 
was he-ieged ; our forts, navy-yards and arsenals 
were seized ; our depots of military stores were plun- 
dered ; and our custom-houses and [xjst-offices were 
ajiiiropriated by the rebels. 

The energy of the rebels, and the imbecility of our 
Executive, were alike marvelous. The Nation looked 
on in agony, waiting for the slow weeks to glide away, 
and close the administration, so terrible in its weak- 
ness At length the long-looked-for hour of deliver- 
ance came, when Abraham Lincoln was to receive the 
scepter. 

The administration of President Buchanan was 
certainly the most calamitous our country has ex- 
perienced. His best friends cannot recall it with 
pleasure. And still more deplorable it is for his fame, 
that in that dreadful conflict which rolled Its billows 
of flame and blood over our whole land, no word came 
from his lips to indicate his wish that our country's 
banner should triumph over the flag of the rebellicir. 
He died at his Wheatland retreat, June i, 1868. 




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G^X^CS^^T^ 



SIXTEENTH FRES/DENT. 



ABRAHAM > gi»f 





!©[>< I10R>C1IS 



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i LINCOLN. > i 




BRAHAM LINCOLN, the 
sixteenth President of the 
^United States, was born in 
Hardin Co., Ky., Feb. 12, 
i8og. About the year 1780, a 
man by the name of Abraham 
Lincoln left Virginia with iiis 
family and moved into the theji 
wilds of Kentucky. Only two years 
after this emigration, still a young 
man, while working one day in a 
field, was stealthily appro:;ched I))' 
an Indian and shot dead. His widow 
was left in extreme poverty with five 
little children, three boys and two 
girls. Thomas, the youngest of the 
boys, was fcuir years of age at his 
father's death. This Thomas was 
the father of Abraham Lincoln, the 
President of the United States 
'hose name must henceforth fo'^ever be enrolled 
fiih the most prominent in the annals of our world. 
Of coarse no record has lieen kept of the life 
f one so lowly as Thomas Lincoln. He was among 
lie poorest of the poor. His home was a wretched 
jg -cabin; his food the coarsest and the meanest. 
Education he had none; he could never either read 
r write. As soon as he was able to do anything for 
imself, he was compelled to leave the cabin of his 
tarving mother, and [jush out into the world, a friend- 
iss, wandering boy, seeking work. He hired him- 
elfout, and thus spent the whole of his youth as a 
.borer in the fields of others. 

\Vhen twenty-eight years of age he built a log- 
abin of his own, and married Nancy Hanks, the 
aughter of another family of poor Kentucky emi- 
rants, who had also come from Virginia. Their 
econd child was Abraham Lincoln, the subject of 
liis sketch. The mother of Abraham was a noble 
'Oman, gentle, loving, pensive, created to adorn 
palace, doomed to toil and pine, and die in a hovel. 
All that I am, or hope to be," exclaims the grate- 
ul son " I owe to my angel-mother. 
When he was eight years of age, his father sold his 




cabin and small farm, and moved to Indiana, Where 
two years later his mother died. 

Abraham soon became the scribe of the uneducated 
community around him. He could not have had a 
better school than tiiis to teach him to put thoughts 
into words. He also became an eager reader. The 
books he could obtain were few ; but these he read 
and re-read until they were almost committed to 
memory. 

As the years rolled on, the lot of this lowly family 
was the usual lot of humanity. There were joys and 
griefs, weddings atid funerals. Abraham's sistei 
Sarah, to whom he was tenderly attached, was mar- 
ried when a child of but fourteen years of age, and 
soon died. The family was gradually scattered. Mr. 
Thomas Lincoln sold out his squatter's claim in 1830, 
and emigrated to Macon Co., 111. 

Abraham Lincoln was then twenty-one years of age. 
With vigorous hands he aided his father in rearing 
another log-cabin. Abraham worked diligently at this 
until he saw the family comfortably settled, and thei> 
small lot of enclosed prairie planted with corn, when 
he announced to his father his intention to leave 
home, and to go out into the world and seek his for- 
tune. Little did he or his friends imagine how bril- 
liant that fortune was to be. He saw the value oi 
education and was intensely earnest to improve his 
mind to the utmost of his power. He saw the ruin 
which ardent spirits were causing, and became 
strictly temperate; refusing to allow a drop of intoxi- 
cating liquor to pass his lips. And he had read irv 
God's word, "Thou shalt not take the name of the 
Lord thy God in vain;" and a profane expression ha 
was never heard to utter. Religion he revered. His 
morals were pure, and he was uncontaminated by a 
single vice. 

Young Abraham worked for a time as a hired laborei 
among the farmers. Then he went to Springfield, 
where he was employed in building a large flat-boat. 
In this he took a herd of swine, floated them dowi\ 
the Sangamon to the Illinois, and thence by the Mis- 
sissippi to New Orleans. Whatever Abraham I,in- 
coln undertook, he performed so faithfully as to give 
great satisfaction to his employers. In this adveU' 



&0 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



ture liis emplayeis were so well pleased, that upon 
his return tney placed a store and mill under his care. 
In 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war; he 
enlisted and was chosen captain of a company. He 
returned to Sangamon County, and although only 23 
years of age, was a candidate for the Legislature, but 
was defeated. He soon after received from Andrew 
Jackson the appointmentof Postmaster of New Salem, 
His only post-office was his hat. All the letters he 
received he carried there ready to deliver to those 
he chanced to meet. He studied surveying, and soon 
made this his business. In 1834 he again became a 
candidate for the Legislature, and was elected Mr. 
Stuart, of Springlield, advised him to study law. He 
walked from New Salem to Spriiigfield, borrowed of 
Mr. Stuart a load of books, carried them back and 
began his legal studies. When the Legislature as- 
sembled he trudged on foot with his pack on his back 
one hundred miles to Vandalia, then the capital. In 
1836 he was re-elected to the Legislature. Here it 
was he first met Stephen A. Douglas. In 1839 he re- 
moved to Springfield and began tlie practice of law. 
His success with the jury was so great that he was 
soon engaged in almost every noted case in the circuit. 
In 1854 Ihe great discussion began between Mr. 
Lincoln and Mr, Douglas, on the slavery question. 
In the organization of the Republican party in Illinois, 
in 1856, he took an active part, and at once became 
one of the leaders in that party. Mr. Lincoln's 
speeches in opposition to Senator Douglas in the con- 
test in 1858 for a seat in the Senate, form a most 
notable part of his history. The issue was on the 
ilavery question, and he took the broad ground of 
.he Declaration of Independence, that all men are 
created equal. Mr. Lincoln was defeated in this con- 
test, but won a far higher prize. 

The great Republican Convention met at Chicago 
on the r6th of June, i860. The delegates and 
strangers who crowded the city amounted to twenty- 
five thousand. An immense building called "The 
Wigwam," was reared to accommodate tlie Conven- 
tion. There were eleven candidates for whom votes 
were thrown. William H. Seward, a man wliose fame 
as a statesman had long filled the land, was the most 
orominent. It was generally supposed he would be 
the nominee. Abraham Lincoln, however, received 
the nomination on the third ballot. Little did lie tiien 
dream of the weary years of toil and care, and the 
bloody death, to which that nomination doomed him: 
and aslittle did he dream that he was to render services 
to his country, which would fi.x upon him the eyes of 
the whole civilized world, and which would give him 
a place in the affections of his countrymen, second 
cnly, if second, to that of Washington. 

Election day came and Mr. Lincoln received 180 
electoral votes out of 203 cast, and was, therefore, 
constitutionally elected President of the United States.' 
The tirade of abuse that vas poured upon this good 



and merciful man, especially by the slaveholders, was 
greater than upon any other man ever elected to this 
high position. In February, 1861, Mr. Lincoln started 
for Washington, stopi-ing in all the large cities on his 
way making speeches. The whole journey was frought 
with much danger. Many of the Southern States had 
already seceded, and several attempts at assassination 
were afterwards brought to light. A gang in Balti- 
more had arranged, upon his arrival to "get up a row," 
and in the confusion to make sure of his death with 
revolvers and hand-grenades. A detective unravelled 
the plot. A secret and special train was ijrovided to 
take him from Harrisburg, through Baltimore, at an 
unexpected hour of the night. The train started at 
halt-past ten ; and to prevent any possible communi- 
cation on the part ot the Secessionists with their Con- 
federate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train had 
started the telegraph-wires were cut. Mr. Lincoln 
reached Washington in safety and was inaugurated 
although great an.xiety was felt by all loyal people 
In the selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave 
to Mr Seward the Department of State, and to other 
prominent opponents before the convention he save 
lnnx)rtant positions. 

During no other administration have the duties 
devolving upon the President been so manifold, and 
the responsibilities so great, as those which fell to 
the lot of President Lincoln. Knowing this, and 
feeling Ins own weakness and inability to meet and in 
his own strength to cope with, the difficulties, he 
learned early to seek Divine wisdom and guidance in 
determining his plans, and Divine comfort in all his 
trials, bo»h personal and national. Contrary to his 
own estimate of himself, Mr. Lincoln was one of the 
most courageous of men. He went directly into the 
rebel capital just as the retreating foe was leaving 
with no guard but a few sailors. >rom the time he 
had left Springfield, in i86r, however, plans had been 
made for his assassination.and he at last fell a victim 
to one of them. April 14, 1865, he, with Gen. Grant, 
was urgently invited to attend Fords' Theater It 
was announced that they would Le present Gen 
Grant, however, left the city. President Lincoln, feell 
ing, witli his characteristic kindliness of heart, that 
It would be a disappointment if he should fail 'them 
very reluctantly consented to go. While listening to 
the play an actor by the name of John Wilkes Booth 
entered the box where the President and family were 
seated, and fired a bullet into his brains. He died the 
next morning at seven o'clock. 

Never before, in the history of the world was a nation 
plunged into such deep grief by the death of its ruler 
Strong men met in the streets and wept in speechless 
anguish. It IS not too much to say tliat a nation was 
in tears. His was a life which will fitly become a 
modeh His name as the savior of his country v-ll 
hve \yith that of Washington's, its father; hisco-'ntry- 
men being unable to decide whi.h is tKp greater 




'-='^^^^:^tiS2>t^ 



S£ VE.VTl^lENni J>JiE6/L>EA T. 



»3 










NDRRVV JOHNSON, seven- 
teenth President of the United 
States. The early life of 
Andrew Johnson contains but 
the record of poverty, destitu- 
tion and friendlessness. He 
was born December 29, 180S, 
in Raleigh, N. C. His parents, 
belonging to the class or the 
"poor whites " of the South, -^'ere 
in such circumstances, that they 
could not confer even the slight- 
est advantages of education upon 
their child. When Andrew was five 
years of age, his father accidentally 
lost nis life while herorically endeavoring to save a 
friend from drowning. Until ten years of age, Andrew 
was a ragged boy about the streets, supporled by the 
iabor of his mother, who obtained her living with 
her own hands. 

He then, having never attended a school one day, 
and being unable either to read or write, was ap- 
prenticed to a tailor in his native town. A gentleman 
was in the liabit of going to the tailor's shop occasion- 
ally, and reading to the boys at work there. He often 
read from the speeches of distinguished British states- 
men. Andrew, who was endowed with a mind of more 
than ordinary native ability, became much interested 
in these speeches; his ambition was roused, and he 
was inspired with a strong desire to learn to read. 

He accordingly applied himself to the alphabet, and 
with the assistance of some of his fellow- workmen, 
iearned his letters. He then called upon the gentle- 
man to borrow the book of speeches. The owner. 



pleased with his zeal, not only gave him the book 
but assisted him in learning to combine the letters 
into words. Under such difficulties he pressed oi. 
ward laboriously, spending usually ten or twelve hours 
at work in the sliop, and then robbing himself of rest 
and recreatior to devote such time as he could to 
reading. 

He went to Tennessee in 1826, and located 3.t 
Greenville, where he married a young lady who pos 
sessed some education. Under her instructions he 
learned to write and cipher. He became prominent 
in the village debating society, and a favorite with 
the students of Greenville College. In 1828, he or- 
ganized a working man's party, which elected him 
alderman, and in 1830 elected him mayor, which 
position he held three years. 

He now began to take a lively interest in political 
affairs; identifying himself with the working-classes, 
to which lie belonged. In 1835, he was elected a 
member of the House of Representatives of Tennes- 
see. He was then just twenty-seven years of age. 
He became a very active rnember of the legislature, 
gave his adhesion to the Democratic party, and in 
r84o "stumped the State," advocating Martin Van 
Buren's claims to the Presidency, in opposition to thos^ 
of Gen. Harrison. In this campaign he acquired much 
readiness as a speaker, and extended and increased 
his reputation. 

In 1841, he was elected State Senator; in 1843, he 
was elected a member of Congress, and by successive 
elections, held that important post for ten years. In 
1853, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, and 
was re-elected in 1855. In all these resiionsible |)osi- 
tions, he discharged his duties with distinguished abi. 



84 



ANDRE W JOHNSON. 



ity, and proved himself the warm friend of the work- 
ing classes. In 1857, Mr. Johnson was elected 
United States Senator. 

Years before, in 1S45, he had warmly advocated 
the annexation of Texas, stating however, as his 
reason, that he thought this annexation would prob- 
ably prove " to be the gateway out of which the sable 
sons of Africa are to pass from bondage to freedom, 
and become merged in a population congenial to 
themselves." In 1850, he also supported the com- 
promise measures, the two essential features of which 
were, that the white people of the Territories should 
be permitted to decide for themselves whether they 
would enslave tlie colored people or not, and that 
the *'ree States of the North should return to the 
South persons who attempted to escape from slavery. 

Mr. Johnson was neverasharaedof his lowly origin: 
on the contrary, he often took pride in avowing that 
he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir,'" 
said he on the floor of the Senate, " I do not forget 
that I am a mechanic ; neither do I forget that Adam 
was a tailor and sewed fig-leaves, and that our Sav- 
ior was the son of a carpenter." 

In the Charleston-Baltimore convention of iSuo, ne 
vas the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the 
Presidency. In 1861, when the purpose of the South- 
irn Democracy became apparent, he took a decided 
stand in favor of the Union, and held that " slavery 
must be held subordinate to the Union at whatever 
cost." He returned to Tennessee, and repeatedly 
imperiled his own life to protect the Unionists of 
Tennesee. Tennessee having seceded from the 
Union, President Lincoln, on Marcli 4th, 1862, ap- 
pointed him Military Governor of the State, and he 
established the most stringent military rule. His 
numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In 
1864, he was elected Vice-President of the United 
States, and upon the death of Mr. Lincoln, April 15, 
TS65, became President. In a speech two days later 
he said, " The American people must be taught, if 
they do not already feel, that treason is a crime and 
must be punished ; that the Government will not 
always bear with its enemies ; that it is strong not 
only to protect, but to punish. * * The people 
must understand that it (treason) is the blackest of 
crimes, and will surely be punished." Yet his whole 
administration, the history of which is so well known, 
was in utter icwonsistency with, and the most violent 



opposition to. the principles laid down in that speech. 

In his loose policy of reconstruction and general 
amnesty, he was opposed by Congress ; and he char- 
acterized Congress as a new rebellion, and lawlessly 
defied it, in everythmg possible, to the utmost. In 
the beginning of 1868, on account of "high crimes 
and misdemeanors," the principal of which was the 
removal of Secretary Stanton, in violation of the Ten- 
ure of Office Act, articles of impeachment were pre- 
ferred against him, and the trial began March 23. 

It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three 
months. A test article of the impeachment was at 
length submitted to the court for its action. It was 
certain that as the court voted upon that article so 
would it vote upon all. Thirty-four voices pronounced 
the President guilty. As a two-thirds vote was neces- 
sary to his condemnation, he was pronounced ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding the great majority against 
him. The change of one vote from the not guilty 
side would have sustained the impeachment. 

The President, for the remainder of his term, was 
but little regarded. He continued, though impotent!;', 
his conflict with Congress. His own party did not 
think it expedient to renominate him for the Presi- 
dency. The Nation rallied, with enthusiasm unpar- 
alleled since the days of Washington, around the name 
of Gen. Grant. Andrew Johnson was forgotten. 
The bullet of the assassin introduced him to the 
President's chair. Notwithstanding this, never was 
tliere presented to a man a better opportunity to im- 
mortalize his name, and to win the gratitude of a 
nation. He failed utterly. He retired to his home 
in Greenville, Tenn., taking no very active part in 
politics until 1875 On Jan. 26, after an exciting 
struggle, he was chosen by the Legislature of Ten- 
nessee, United States -Senator in the forty-fourth Con- 
gress, and took his seat in that body, at the speciai 
session convened by President Grant, on the 5th of 
March. On the 27th of July, 1875, the e.x-President 
made a visit to his daughter's home, near Carter 
Station, Tenn. When he started on his journey, he was 
apparently in his usual vigorous health, but on reach- 
ing the residence of his child the following day, was 
stricken with paralysis, rendering him unconscious. 
He rallied occasionally, but finally passed away at 
2 .\. M., July 31, aged sixty-seven years. His fun- 
eral was attended at Geenville, on the 3d of August, 
with every demonstration of respect 





'/^ (2 



.::f 



EIGH IKENTII PRESIDENT. 



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LYSSES S. GRANT, the 
eighteenth President of the 
United States, was bom on 
the 29th of April, 1822, of 
Christian parents, in a humble 
"^ home, at Point Pleasant, on the 
banks of the Ohio. Shortly after 
his father moved to George- 
town, Brown Co., O. In this re- 
mote frontier hamlet, Ulysses 
received a common-school edu- 
cation. At the age of seven- 
teen, in the year 1839, he entered 
the Military Academy at West 
Point. Here he was regarded as a 
solid, sensible young man of fair abilities, and of 
sturdy, honest character. He took respectable rank 
as a scholar. In June, 1843, he graduated, about the 
middle in his class, and was sent as lieutenant of in- 
fantry to one of the distant military posts in the Mis- 
souri Territory. Two years he past in these dreary 
solitudes, watching the vagabond and exasperating 
Indians. 

The war with Mexico came. Lieut. Grant was 
.5ent with his regiment to Corpus Christi. His first 
battle was at Palo Alto. There was no chance here 
for the exhibition of either skill or heroism, nor at 
Resacade la Palma, his second battle. At the battle 
of Monterey, his third engagement, it is said that 
lie performed a signal service of daring and skillful 
horsemanship. His brigade had exhausted its am- 
munition. A messenger must be sent for more, along 
.1 route exposed to the bullets of the foe. Lieut. 
Grant, adopting an expedient learned of the Indians, 
grasped the mane of his horse, and hanging ujxin one 
side of the aninvil, ran the gauntlet in entire safety. 



From Monterey he was sent, with the fourth infantry, 
10 aid Gen. Scott, at the siege of Vera Cruz. In 
preparation for the march to the city of Mexico, he 
was appointed quartermaster of his regiment. At the 
battle of Molino del Rey, he was promoted to a 
first lieutenancy, and was brevetted captain at Cha- 
pultepec. 

At the close of the Mexican War, Capt. Grant re- 
turned with his regiment to New York, and was again 
sent to one of the military posts on the frontier. The 
discovery of gold in California causing an immense 
tide of emigration to flow to the Pacific shores, Capt. 
Grant was sent with a battalion to Fort Dallas, in 
Oregon, for the protection of the interests of the im- 
migrants. Life was wearisome in those wilds. Capt. 
Grant resigned his commission and returned to the 
States; and having married, entered upon the cultiva- 
tion of a small farm near St. I^uis, Mo. He had but 
little skill as a farmer. Finding his toil not re- 
munerative, he turned to mercantile life, entering into 
the leather business, with a younger brother, at Ga- 
lena, 111. This was in the year i860. As the tidings 
of the rebels firing on Fort Sumpter reached the ears 
of Capt. Grant in his counting-room, he said, — 
" Uncle Sam has educated me for the army ; though 
I have served him through one war, I do not feel that 
I have yet repaid the debt. I am still ready to discharge 
my obligations. I shall therefore buckle on my sword 
and see Uncle Sam through this war too." 

He went into the streets, raised a company of vol- 
unteers, and led them as their captain to Springfield, 
the capital of the State, where their services were 
offered to Gov. Yates. The Governor, impressed by 
the zeal and straightforward executive ability of Ca])t. 
Grant, gave him a desk in his office, to assist in the 
volunteer organization that was being formed in the 
State in behalf of the Government. On the 15th ol 



88 



ULYSSES S. GRANT. 



June, 1 86 1, Capt. Grant received a commission as 
Colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Vol- 
unteers. His merits as a West Point graduate, who 
had served for 15 years in the regular army, were such 
that he was soon promoted to the rank of Brigadier- 
General and was placed in command at Cairo. The 
rebels raised their banner at Paducah, near the mouth 
of the Tennessee River. Scarcely had its folds ap- 
peared in the breeze ere Gen. Grant was there. The 
rebels fled. Their banner fell, and the star and 
stripes were unfurled in its stead. 

He entered the service with great determination 
and immediately began active duty. This was the be- 
ginning, and until the surrender of Lee at Richmond 
he was ever pushing tlie enemy with great vigor and 
effectiveness. At Belmont, a few days later, he sur- 
prised and routed the rebels, then at Fort Henry 
won another victory. Then came tlie brilliant fight 
at Fort Donelson. The nation was electrified by the 
victory, and the brave leader of the boys in blue was 
immediately made a M.njor-General, and the military 
iistrict of Tennessee was assigned to him. 

Like all great captains. Gen. Grant knew well liow 
to secure the results of victory. He immediately 
Dushed on to the enemies' lines. Then came the 
terrible battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and the 
siege of Vicksburg, where Gen. Pemberton made an 
unconditional surrender of the city with over thirty 
thousand men and one-hundred and seventy-two can- 
non. The fall of "Vicksburg was by far the most 
severe blow whicli the rebels had thus far encountered, 
and opened up the Mississippi from Cairo to the Gulf. 
Gen. Grant was next ordered to co-operate with 
Gen. Banks in a movement upon Texas, and pro- 
ceeded to New Orleans, where he was thrown from 
his horse, and received severe injuries, from which he 
was laid up for months. He then rushed tc the aid 
of Gens. Rosecrans and Thomas at Chattanooga, and 
by a v/onderful series of strategic and technical meas- 
ures put the Union Army in fighting condition. Then 
followed the bloody battles at Chattanooga, Lookout 
Mountain and Missionary Ridge, in which the rebels 
were routed with great loss. This won for him un- 
bounded praise in the North. On the 4th of Febru- 
ary, 1864, Congress revived the grade of lieutenant- 
general, and the rank was conferred on Gen. Grant. 
He repaired to Washington to receive his credentials 
and enter upon \h<^ duties of his new office 



Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took charge of 
ihe army to concentrate the widely-dispersed National 
troops for an attack upon Richmond, the nominal 
capital of the Rebellion, and endeavor there to de- 
stroy the rebel armies which would be promptly as- 
sembled from all quarters for its defence. The whole 
continent seemed to tremble under the tramp of these 
majestic armies, rushing to the decisive battle field. 
Steamers were crowded with troops. Railway trains 
were burdened with closely packed thousands. His 
plans were comprehensive and involved a series of 
campaigns, which were executed with remarkable en- 
ergy and ability, and were consummated at the sur- 
render of Lee, April 9, 1865. 

The war was ended. The Union was saved. The 
almost unanimous voice of the Nation declared Gen. 
Grant to be the most prominent instrument in its sal- 
vation. The eminent services he had thus rendered 
the country brought him conspicuously forward as the 
Republican candidate for the Presidential chair. 

At the Republican Convention held at Chicago. 
May 21, 1868, he was unanimously nominated for the 
Presidency, and at the autumn election received a 
majority of the popular vote, and 214 out of 294 
electoral votes. 

The National Convention of the Republican party 
whichmet at Philadelphia on the 5th of June, 1872, 
placed Gen. Grant in nomination for a second term 
by a unanimous vote. The selection was emphati- 
cally indorsed by the people five months later, 292 
electoral votes being cast for him. 

Soon after the close of his second term, Gen. Grant 
started upon his famous trip around the world. He 
visited almost every country of the civilized world, 
and was everywhere received with such ovations 
and demonstrations of respect and honor, private 
as well as public and official, as were never before 
bestowed upon any citizen of the United States. 

He was the most prominent candidate before the 
Republican National Convention in 1880 for a re- 
nomination for President. He went to New York and 
embarked in the brokerage business under the firm 
nameof Grant & Ward. The latter proved a villain, 
wrecked Grant's fortune, and for larceny was sent to 
the penitentiary. The General was attacked with 
cancer in the throat, but suffered in his stoic-like 
manner, never complaining. He was re-instated as 
General of the Army and retired by Congress. The 
cancer soon finished its deadly work, and July 23, 
1885, the nation went in mourning over the death of 
the illustrious General. 




5 



c--"^^^^ 




^ 



NINETEENTH PRESIDENT. 



9> 





RUTHERrOHD ®. HiS^YgS. 



'^t^'^t^'^'ggittga'^'^tiga'ii^'igi'-.-v .■,.., ;.'as»t?j^'t^'tfa;'ta^t;^>gg'(g^^t^t^i^<:^ta5' 






UTHERFORD B. HAYES, 

■ ^ the nineteenth President of 
1^ the United States, was born in 
Delaware, O., Oct. 4, 1822, al- 
most three months after the 
death of his father, Rutherford 
Hayes. His ancestry on both 
the paternal and maternal sides, 
was of the most honorable char- 
acter. It can be traced, it is said, 
as far back as 1280, when Hayes and 
Rutherford were two Scottish chief- 
tains, fighting side by side with 
Baliol, William Wallace and Robert 
Bruce. Both families belonged to the 
nobility, owned extensive estates, 
and had a large following. Misfor- 
rane ovwcaking the family, George Hayes left Scot- 
land in 1680, and settled in Windsor, Conn. His sou 
George wat born in Windsor, and remained there 
during his life. Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, mar- 
ried Sarah L.;e, and lived from the time of his mar- 
riage until his death in Simsbury, Conn. Ezekiel, 
son of Daniel, was born in 1724, and was a manufac- 
turer of scythes at Bradford, Conn. Rutherford Hayes, 
son of Ezekiel aiid grandfather of President Hayes, was 
born in New Haven, in August, 1756. He was a farmer, 
blacksmith and tavern-keeper. He emigrated to 
Vermont at an uirknown date, settling in Brattleboro, 
where he established a hotel. Here his son Ruth- 
erford Hayes the father of President Hayes, was 



born. He was married, in September, 1813, to Sophia 
Birchard, of Wilmington, Vt., whose ancestors emi- 
grated thither from Connecticut, they having been 
among the wealthiest and best famlies of Norwich. 
Her ancestry on the male side are traced back to 
1635, to John Birchard, one of the principal founders 
of Norwich. Both of her grandfathers were soldiers 
in the Revolutionary War. 

The father of President Hayes was an industrious 
frugal and opened-hearted man. He was of a me- 
chanical turn, and could mend a plow, knit a stock, 
ing, or do almost anything else that he choose to 
undertake. He was a member of the Church, active 
in all the benevolent enterprises of the town, and con- 
ducted his business on Christian principles. After 
the close of the war of 181 2, for reasons inexplicable 
to his neighbors, he resolved to emigrate to Ohio. 

The journey from Vermont to Ohio in that day 
when there were no canals, steamers, not railways, 
was a very serious affair. A tour of inspection was 
first made, occupying four months. Mr. Hayes deter 
mined to move to Delaware, where the family arrived 
in 1817. He died July 22, 1822, a victim of malarial 
fever, less than three months before the birth of the 
son, of whom we now write. Mrs. Hayes, in her sore be- 
reavement, found the support she so much needed in 
her brother Sardis, who had been a member of the 
household from the day of its departure from Ver~ 
mont, and in an orphan girl whom she had adopted 
some time before as an act of charity. 

Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, and the 



92 



RUTHERFORD B. HA YES. 



subject of this sketch was so feeble at birth that he 
was not expected to live beyond a month or two at 
most. As the months went by he grew weaicer and 
weaker, so that the neighbors were in the habit of in- 
quiring from time to time " if Mrs. Hayes' baby died 
last night.' On one occasion a neighbor, who was on 
famiHar terms with the family, after alluding to the 
boy's big head, and the mother's assiduous care of 
nim, said in a bantering way, '• That's right! Stick to 
him. You iiave got him along so far, and I shouldn't 
wonder if he woald really come to something yet." 

"You need not laugh," said Mrs. Hayes. "You 
vait and see. You can't tell but I shall make him 
President of the United States yet." The boy lived, 
in spite of the universal jiredictions of his speedy 
death; and when, in 1825, his older brother was 
drowned, he became, if possible, still dearer to his 
mother. 

The boy was seven years old before he w<;nt to 
school. His education, however, was not neglected. 
He probably learned as much from his mother and 
i'.ster as he would have done at school. His sports 
were almost wholly within doors, his playmates being 
his sister and her associates. These circumstances 
tended, no doubt, to foster that gentleness of dispo- 
sition, and that delicate consideration for the feelings 
of others, which are marked traits of his character. 
His uncle Sardis Birchard took the deepest interest 
in his education ; and as the boy's health had im- 
proved, and he was making good progress in his 
studies, he proposed to send him to college. His pre- 
paration commenced with a tutor at home; bit he 
was afterwards sent for one year to a professor in the 
Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Conn. He en- 
tered Kenyon College in 18,58, at the age of sixteen, 
and was graduated at the head of his class in 1842. 
Immediately after his graduation he began the 
study of law in the office of Thomas Sparrow, Esq., 
in Columbus. Finding his opportunities for study in 
Columbus somewhat limited, he determined to enter 
theLaw School at Cambridge, Mass., where he re- 
mained two years. 

In 1845, after graduatmg at the Law School, he was 
admitted to the bar at Marietta, Ohio, and shortly 
afterward went into practice as an attor;iey-at-law 
with Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he re- 
mained three years, acquiring but a limited practice, 
andapparently unambitious of distinction in his pro- 
fession. 

In 1849 he moved to Cincmnati, where his ambi- 
tion found a new stimulus. For several years, how- 
ever, his progress was slow. Two events, occurring at 
this period, had a powerful influence upon his sulise- 
quent '-.fe. One of these was his marr.nge with Miss 
Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, of 
Chilicothe; the other was his introduction to the Cin- 
cinnati Literary Club, a body embracing among its 
members such mer> as'^hief Justice Salmon P, Chase, 



Gen. John Pope, Gov. Edward F. Noyes, and many 
others hardly less distinguished ia afterlife. The 
marriage was a fortunate one in every respect, as 
everybody knows. Not one of all the wives of our 
Presidents was more universally admired, reverenced 
and beloved than was Mis. Hayes, and no one did 
more than she to reflect honor upon American woman 
hjod. The Literary Cluu brought Mr. Hayes .'nto 
constant association with )oung men of high char- 
acter and noble aims, and lured him to display the 
imalities so lon^ iiidden by his bashfulne:-s and 
modesty. 

In 1856 he was nominated to the office of Judgj 0' 
the Court of Common Pleas; but he declined to ac- 
cept the nomination. Two years later, the office o! 
city solicitor becoming vacant, the City CoirnciL 
elected him for the unexpired tevm. 

In 1 861, when the Rebellion broke out, he was a; 
the zenith of his professional I'f., His lank at Ihe 
bar was among the the first. But the news of the 
attack on Fort Sumpter found him eager to take -in 
arms for the defense of his country. 

His military record was bright and illustrious.' In 
October, 186 1, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and 
in August, 1862, promoted Colonel of the 79th Ohio 
regiment, but he refused to leave his old comrades 
and go among strangers. Subsequently, however, he 
was made Colonel of his old regiment. At the battle 
of South Mountain he received a wound, and while 
faint and bleeding displayed courage end fortitude 
that won admiration from all. 

Col. Hayes was detached from his regiment, after 
his recovery, to act as Brigadier-General, and [Jaced 
in command of the celebrated Kanawha division, 
and for gallant and meritorious seivices in the battles 
of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, he was 
promoted Brigadier-General. He was also brevetted 
Major-General, "forgallant and distinguished f trvices 
during the campaigns of 1864. in West Virginia." In 
the course of his arduous services, four horses were 
shot from under him, and he was wounded four times 
In 1864, Gen. Hayes was elected to Congress, from 
the Second Ohio District, which had long been Dem- 
ocratic. He was not present during the campaign, 
and after his election was importuned to resign his 
commission in the army ; but he finally declared, " I 
shall never come to Washington until fcan come by 
the way of Richmond." He was re-elected in 1S66. 

I;^ 1867, Gen Hayes was elected Governor of Ohio, 
over Hon. Allen G. Thumian, a populai Democrat. 
In 1869 was re-elected over George H. Pendleton. 
Ho was elected Governor for the third term in 1875. 
In 1876 he was the standard Icaierof the Repub- 
lican Party in the Presidential contest, and after a 
hard long contest was chosen President, and was in 
.aiigurated Monday, March 5, 1875. He served his 
lull term, not,_h. wever, with satisfaction to his party, 
but his admii;"stration was an average owr-. 




*?^ 



TtVENTIETH PRESIDENT. 








I |#ilii #, iARFIE^Bsl 






'^^l^^y^)^^ 



/i*> 




(in:?;f.;;,:^ 




AMES A. GARFIELD, twen- 
tieth President of the United 
States, was born Nov. 19, 
1S31, in the woods of Orange, 
Cuyahoga Co., O His par- 
^ ents were Abram and EHza 

•-.■\ -/_ (Ballou) Garfield, both of New 
England ancestr}' and from fami- 
lies well known in the early his- 
ti^^i tory of that section of our coun- 
try, but had moved to the Western 
Reserve, in Ohio, early in its settle- 
ment. 

The house in which James A. was 
born was not unlike the houses of 
poor Ohio farmers of that day. It 
.ac about 20x30 feet, built of logs, with the spaces be- 
.ween the logs filled with clay. His father was a 
aard working farmer, and he soon had his' fields 
jleared, an orchard planted, and a log barn built. 
The household comprised the father and mother and 
.:heir four children — Mehetabel, Thomas, Mary and 
'ames. In May, 1823^ the father, from a cold con- 
:racted in helping to put out a forest fire, died. At 
this time James was about eighteen months old, and 
Thomas about ten years old. No one, ])erhaps, can 
cell how much James was indebted to his biother's 
toil and self sacrifice during the twenty years suc- 
ceeding his father's death, but undoubtedly very 
much. He now lives in Michigan, and the two sis- 
•vers live in Solon, O., near their birthplace. 

The early educational advantages young Garfield 
enjoyed were very limited, yet he made the most of 
them. He labored at farm work for others, did car- 
penter work, chopped wood, or did anything that 
would bring in a few dollars to aid his widowed 
mother in hf 'Struggles to keep the little family to- 



gether. Nor was Gen. Garfield ever ashamed of his 
origin, and he never forgot the friends of his strug- 
gling childhood, youth and manhood, neither did they 
ever forget him. When in the highest seats of honor 
the himiblest fiiend of his boyhood was as kindly 
greeted as ever. The poorest laborer was sure of the 
sympathy of one who had known all the bitterness 
of want and the sweetness of bread earned by the 
sweat of the brow. He was ever the simple, plain, 
modest gentleman. 

The highest ambition of young Garfield until hi 
was about sixteen years old was to be a captain oi 
a vessel on Lake Erie. He was anxious to go aboard 
a vessel, which liis mother strongly opposed. She 
finally consented to his going to Cleveland, with the 
understanding, however, that he sliould try to obtain 
some other kind of employment. He walked all the 
way to Cleveland. This was his first visit to the city 
After making many applications for work, and trying 
to get aboard a lake vessel, and not meeting with 
success, he engaged as a driver for his cousin, Amos 
Letcher, on the Ohio & Pennsylvania Canal. He re- 
mained at this work but a short time when he wen"; 
home, and attended the seminary at Chester for 
about three years, when he entered Hiram and the 
Eclectic Institute, teaching a few terms of school in 
tlie meantime, and doing other work. This school 
was started by the Disciples of Christ in 1850, of 
which church he was then a member. He became 
janitor and bell-ringer in order to help pay his way 
He then became both teacher and pupil. He soon 
" exhausted Hiram " and needed more ; lience, in the 
fall of 1854, he entered Williams College, from which 
he graduated in 1856, taking one of the highest hon- 
ors of his class. He afterwards returned to Hiram 
College as its President. As above stated, he early 
united with the Christian or Diciples Church at 
Hiram, and was ever after a devoted, zealous mem- 
ber, often preaching in its pulpit and places where 
he happened to be. Dr. Noah Porter, President of 
Yale College, says cf hiro in reference to his religion ; 



9« 



JAMES A. GARFIELD. 



"President Garfield was more than a man of 
strong moral and religious convictions. His whole 
history, from boyhood to the last, shows that duty to 
man and to God, and devotion to Christ and life and 
faith and spiritual commission were controlling springs 
of his being, and to a more than usual degree. \x\ 
my judgment there is no more interesting feature of 
Ins character than his loyal allegiance to the body of 
Christians in which he was trained, and the fervent 
sympathy which he ever showed in tlieir Christian 
communion. Not many of the few 'wise and mighty 
and noble who are called' show a similar loyalty to 
the less stately and cultured Christian communions 
m whicli they have been reared. Too often it is true 
that as they step upward in social and political sig- 
nificance they step upward from one degree to 
another m some of the many types of fashionable 
Christianity. President Garfield adhered to the 
-hurch of his mother, the church in which he was 
trained, and in which he served as a pillar and an 
evangelist, and yet with the largest and most unsec- 
'arian chanty for all 'who loveour Lord in sincerity.'" 
Mr. Garfield was united in marriage with Miss 
Lucretia Rudolph, Nov. n, 1S5S, who proved herself 
worlhy as the wife of one whom all the world loved and 
mourned. To them were born seven cliildren, five of 
whom are still living, four boys and one girl. 
_ Mr. Garfield made his first political speeches in iSc6 
m Hiram and the neighborijig villages, and three 
years later he began to speak at county mass-meet- 
ings, and became the favorite speaker wherever he 
was. During this year he was elected to the Ohio 
benate. He also began to study law at Cleveland 
and in 186 1 was admitted to the bar. The great 
Rebel ion broke out in the early part of this year 
and Mr. Garfield at once resolved to fight as he had 
talked, and enlisted to defend the old flag He re 
ceived his commission as Lieut.-Colonel of the Forty- 
second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Aug 
14, 1861. He was immediately put into active ser- 
vice, and before he had ever seen a gun fired in acnon 
was placed in command of four regiments of infantn- 
and eight companies of cavalry, charged with the 
work of driving out of his native State the officer 
.Humphrey M-.rshall) reputed to be the ablest of 
those, not educated to war whom Kentucky had -nven 
to the Rebellion. This work was bravely and speed- 
ily accomplished, although against great odds. Pres- 
ident Lincoln, on his success commissioned him 
Brigadier-General, Jan. 10, 1862; and as "he had 
oeen the youngest man in the Ohio Senate two years 
oefore, so now he was the youngest General in the 
army. He was with Gen. Buell's army at Shiloh 
in us operations around Corinth and its march through 
Alabama^ He was then detailed as a memherof the 
General Court-Martial for the trial of Gen. Fitz-Tohn 
Forter. He was then ordered to report to Gen Rose- 
crans, and was assigned to the " Chief of Staff." 
The iniUtary history of Get). Garfield closed with 



his brilliant services at Chickamauga, where he wotr 
the stars ot the Major-General. 

Without an effort on his part Ge? Garfield wav 
elected to Congress in the fall of 1862 from the 
Nineteenth District of Ohio. This section of Ohio 
had been represented in Congress for sixty years 
niainly by two men— Elisha \Vhittlesey and Joshua 
R. Giddmgs. It was not without a struggle that he 
resigned his place in the army. At the time he en- 
tered Congress he was the youngest member in that 
body. Then- he remained by successive re- 
elections until he was elected President in 1880. 
Of his labors in Congress Senator Hoar says : " Since 
the year 1864 you cannot think of a question whici. 
has been debated in Congress, or discussed before ;, 
tnbunel of the American people, in regard to whict 
you will not find, if you wish instruction, the argu- 
ment on one side stated, in almost every instance 
better than by anybody else, in some speech made in 

the House of Representatives or on the hustings by 
Mr. Garfield." 

Upon Jan. 14, 1880, Gen. Garfield was elected to 
the U. S. Senate, and on the eighth of June, of the 
same year, was nominated as the candidate of his 
party for President at the great Chicago Convention. 
He was elected in the following November, and on 



March4, 1881, was inaugurated. Probably no ad- 
ministration ever opened its existence under brighter 
auspices than that of President Gaifield, and every 
day it grew in favo.- with the peoiile, and by the first 
of July he had completed all the initiatory and pre- 
liminary work of his administration and was prepar- 
ing to leave the city to meet his friends at Williams 
College. While on his way and at the depot, in com- 
pany with Secretary Blaine, a man stepped behind 
lum, drew a revolver, and fired directly at his back 
The President tottered and fell, and as he did so the 
assassin fired a second shot, the bullet cutting the 
left coat sleeve of his victim, but in.licting nofifrthei 
injury.. It has been very truthfully said that this was 
the shot that was heard round tlie world " Never 
before m the history of the Nation had anything oc- 
curred which so nearly froze the blood of the peop"° 
for the moment, as this awful deed. He was smit- 
ten on the brightest, gladdest day of all his life, and 
was at the summit of his power and hope. Foreighty 
days, all during the hot months of Juiy and Auoust 
he lingered and suffered. He, however, remamed 
master of himself till the last, and by his magnificent 
bearing was teaching the country and the world the 
noblest of human lessons— how to live grandly in the 
very clutch of death. Great in life, he was surpass- 
ingly great m death. He passed serenely away Sept 
19, 1SS3, at Elberon, N. J., on the very bank'of the 
ocean, where he had been taken shortly previous The 
world wept at his death, as it never had done on the 
death of any other man who had ever lived ui^on it 
The murderer was duly tried, found guilty and exe- 
cuted, in one year after he committed the foul deed 






-r^ 



TWEJSfTY-FIJiST PRESIDENT. 



99 




%.t.^. 




HESTER A. 



ARTHUR, 

iL of the 



e5_ twenty-first Presi-^.^i 

" United States was born in 

I' ranklin Cour ty, Vermont, on 

f thefifthof Oc'ober, 1830, andis 

the oldest of a family of two 

sons and five daughters. His 

father was the Rev. Dr. William 

Arthur, aBaptistd^rgyman, who 

emigrated to tb.s countr)' from 

the county Antrim, Ireland, in 

his 1 8th year, and died in 1875, in 

Newtonville, neai Albany, after a 

ong and successful ministry. 

Young Arthur was educated at 
Union College, S( henectady, where 
he excelled in all his studies. Af- 
■^ ter his graduation he taught school 
1 in Vermont for two years, and at 
the e.xpiration cf that time came to 
New York, with $500 in his pocket, 
and entered the office of ex- Judge 
E. D. Culver as student. After 
being admitted to the bar he formed 
a partnership with his intimate friend and room-mate, 
Henry D. Gardiner, with the intention of practicing 
in the West, and for three months they roamed about 
in the Western States in search of an eligible site, 
but in the end returned to New York, where they 
hung out their shingle, and entered upon a success- 
ful career almost from the start. General Arthur 
soon afterward n>arr''d the daughter of Lieutenant 



Herndon, of the United States Navy, who was lost at 
sea. Congress voted a gold medal to his widow in 
recognition of the bravery he displayed on that occa- 
sion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr. Arthur's 
nommation to the Vice Presidency, leaving two 
children. 

Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celebrity 
in his first great case, the famous Lemmon suit, 
brought to recover possession of eight slaves who had 
been declared free by Judge Paine, of the Superior 
Court of New York City. It was in 1852 that Jon< 
athan Lemmon, of Virginia, went to New York with 
his slaves, intending to ship them to Texas, when 
they were discovered and freed. The Judge decided 
that they could not be held by the owner under the 
Fugitive Slave Law. A howl of rage went up from 
the South, and the Virginia Legislature authorized the 
Attorney General of that State to assist in an appeal. 
Wm. M. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed 
to represent the People, and they won their case, 
which then went to the Supreme Court of the United 
States. Charles O'Conor here espoused the cause 
of the slave-holders, but he too was beaten by Messrs 
Evarts and Arthur, and a long step was taken toward 
the emancipation of the black race. 

Another great service was rendered by General 
Arthur in the same cause in 1856. Lizzie Jennings, 
a respectable colored woman, was put off a Fourth 
Avenue car with violence after she had paid her fare. 
General Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured a 
verdict of $500 damages. The next day the compa- 
ny issued an order to admit colored persons to ride 
on their cars, and the other car companies quickly 



CHESTER A. ARTIfUR. 



followed their example. Before that the Sixth Ave- 
nue Com])any ran a few special cars for colored [ler- 
sons and tiie other lines refused to let them ride at all. 
General Arthur was a delegate to the Convention 
at Saratoga that founded the Republican party. 
Previous to the war he was Judge-Advocate of the 
Second Brigade of the State of New York, and Gov- 
ernor Morgan, of that State, appointed hnn Engineer- 
in-Chief of his staff. In 1861, he was made Inspec- 
tor General, and soon afterward became Quartermas- 
ter-General. In each of these offices he rendered 
great service to the Government during the war. At 
the end of Governor Morgan's term he resumed the 
practice of the law, forming a partnership with Mr. 
Ransom, and then Mr. Phelps, the District Attorney 
of New York, was added to the firm. The legal prac- 
tice of this well-known firm was very large and lucra- 
tive, each of the gentlemen composing it were able 
lawyers, and possessed a splendid local reputation, if 
not indeed one of national extent. 

He always took a leading part in State and city 
politics. He was appointed Collector of the Port of 
New York by President Grant, Nov. 21 1872, to suc- 
ceed Thomas Murphy, and held the office until July, 
20, 1878, when he was succeeded by Collector Merritt. 
Mr. Arthur was nominated on the Presidential 
ticket, with Gen. James A. Garfield, at the famous 
National Republican Convention held at Chicago in 
June, 1880. This was perhaps the greatest political 
convention that ever assembled on the continent. It 
was composed of the 'sading politicians of the Re- 
publican party, all able men, and each stood firm and 
fought vigorously and with signal tenacity for their 
respective candidates that were before the conven- 
tion for the nomination. Finally Gen. Garfield re- 
ceived the nomination for President and Gen. Arthur 
for Vice-President. The campaign which followed 
was one of the most animated known in the history of 
our country. Gen. Hancock, the standard-bearer of 
the Democratic party, was a popular man, and his 
party made a valiant fight for his election. 

Finally the election came and the country's choice 
>vas Garfield and Arthur. They were inaugurated 
iVlarch 4, 1 88 1, as President and Vice-President. 
A. few months only had passed ere the newly chosen 
President was the victim of the assassin's bullet. Then 
came terrible weeks of suffering,— those moments of 
anxious suspense, wb.er the hearts of all civilized na- 



tions were throbbing in unison, longing for the rs 
covery of the noble, the good President. The remark- 
able patience that he manifested during those hours 
and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible suf- 
fering man has often been called upon to endure, was 
seemingly more than human. It was certainlv God- 
like. During all this period of deepest an.xiety Mr. 
Arthur's every move was watched, and be it said to his 
credit that his every action displayed only an earnest 
desire that tlie suffering Garfield might recover, to 
serve the remainder of the term he had so auspi- 
ciously begun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested 
in deed or look of this man, even though the most 
honored jjosition in the world ,vas at any moment 
likely to fall to him. 

At last God in his mercy relieved President Gar- 
field from further suffering, and the wodd, as never 
before in its history over the death of any other 
man, wept at his bier. Then it became the duty of 
the Vice President to f.ssume the responsibilities of 
the high office, and he took the oath in New York. 
Sept. 20, 1881. The position was an embarrassing 
one to him, made doubly so from the facts that all 
eyes were on him, anxious to know what he would do, 
what policy he would pursue, and who he would se- 
lect as advisers. The duties of the office had been 
greatly neglected during the President's long illness, 
and many important measures were to be immediately 
decided by him; and still farther to embarrass him he 
did not fail to realize under what circumstances he 
became President, and knew the feelings of many on 
this point. Under these trying circumstances President 
Arthur took the reins of the Government in ]-is own 
hands ; and, as embarrassing as were the condition of 
affairs, he happily surprised the nation, acting so 
wisely that but few criticised his administration. 
He served the nation well and faithfully, until the 
close of his administration, March 4, 1S85, and was 
a popular candidate before his party for a second 
term. His name was ably presented before the con- 
vention at Chicago, and was received with great 
favor, and doubtless but for the personal popularity 
ut one of the opposing candidates, he would have 
been selected as the standard-bearer of his party 
for another campaign. He retired to private life car- 
rying with him the best wishes of the American peo- 
ple, whom he had served in a manner satisfactory 
to the:n and with credit to himself. 




if- 




z^-^^-z:^^' 




d^i^i^ 



TWENTY'SECONn PRESIDENT. 



'03 





%. ._ __. . . ,.1/, 






OT^ 



TEPHEN GROVER CLEVE- 
LAND, the twenty- second Pres- 
ident of tlie United States, was 
born in 1837, in the obscure 
town of Caldwell, Essex Co., 
N. J., and in a little two-and-a- 
half-story white house which is still 
standing, cliaracteristically to mark 
the humble Ijirth-place of one of 
America's great men in striking con 
trast with the Old World, where all 
men high in office must be high in 
origin and born in the cradle of 
wealth. When the subject of this 
sketch was three years of age, his 
father, who was a Presbyterian min- 
ister, with a large family and a small salary, moved, 
by way of the Hudson River and Erie Canal, to 
Fayetteville, in search of an increased income and a 
larger field of work. Fayetteville was then the most 
straggling of country villages, about five miles from 
Pompey Hill, where Governor Seymour was born. 

At the last mentioned place young Grover com- 
menced going to school in the "good, old-fashioned 
way," and presumably distinguished himself after the 
manner of all village boys, in doing the things he 
ought not to do. Such is the distinguishing trait of 
all geniuses and independent thinkers. When he 
^arrived at the age of 14 years, he had outgrown the 
capacity of the village school and expressed a most 



emphatic desire to be sent to an academy. To this 
iiis father decidedly objected. Academies in those 
days cost mo.iey; besides, his father wanted him to 
become self-supporting by the quickest possible 
means, and tliis at that time in Fayette/ille seemed 
to be a position in a country store, where his father 
and the large family o;i his hands had considerable 
inll.ie;ice. Grover was to be paid $50 for his services 
llie first year, and if he proved trustworthy he was to 
receive $ 1 00 the second year. Here the lad com- 
menced his career as salesman, and in two years he 
had earned so good a reputation for trustworthiness 
that his employers desired to retain him for an in- 
definite length of time. Otherwise he did not ex- 
hibit as yet any particular " flashes of genius " or 
eccentricities of talent. He was simply a good boy. 
But instead of remaining with this firm in Fayette- 
ville, he went with the family in their removal to 
Clinton, where he had an opportunity of attending a 
high school. Here he industriously pursued his 
studies until the family removed with him to a point 
on Black River known as the " Holland Patent," a 
village of 500 or 600 people, 15 miles north of Utica, 
N. Y. At this place his father died, after preaching 
but three Sundays. This event broke up the family, 
and Grover set out for New York City to accept, at a 
small salary, the position of " under-teacher " in an 
asylum for the blind. He taught faithfully for two 
years, and although he obtained a good reputation in 
this capacity, he concluded that teaching was not hia 



lOA 



S. GROVE R CLEVELAND. 



calling for life, and, reversing the traditional order, 
he left the city to seeic his fortune, instead of going 
to a city. He first thought of Cleveland, Ohio, as 
»here was some charm in that name for him ; but 
before proceeding to that place he went to Buffalo to 
tsk the advice of his uncle, Lewis F. Allan, a noted 
stock-breeder of tliat place. The latter did not 
speak enthusiastically. " AVhat is it you want to do 
my boy?" he asked. "Well, sir, I want to study 
Jaw," was the reply. "Good gracious!" remarked 
ihe old gentleman ; " do you, indeed .? What ever put 
that into your head.? How much money have you 
got?" -Well, sir, to tell the truth, I haven't got 
an;^''' 

After a long consultation, his uncle offered him a 
place temporarily as assistant herd- keeper, at $50 a 
year, while he could "look around." One d.ay soon 
aftervv.-ird he boldly walked into the office of Rogers, 
Bowen & Rogers, of Buffalo, and told Lhem what he 
wanted. A number of young men were already en- 
gaged in the office, but Grover's persistency won', and 
lie was finally permitted to come as an office boy and 
nave the use of the law library, for the nominal sum 
of S3 or $4 a week. Out of this he had to pay for 
his board and washing. The walk to and from his 
uncle's was a long and rugged one; and, although 
the first winter was a memorably severe one, his 
shoes were out of repair and his overcoat— he 'had 
none— yet he was nevertheless prompt and regular. 
On the first day of his service here, his senior em- 
ployer threw down a copy of Blackstone before him 
with a bang that made the dust fly, saying "That's 
vvhere they all begin." A titter ran around the little 
circle of clerks and students, as they thought that 
was enough to scare young Grover out of his plans ; 
Dut in due time he mastered that cumbersome volume.' 
Then, as ever afterward, however, Mr. Cleveland 
exhibited a talent for executiveness rather than for 
chasing principles through all their metaphysical 
possibilities. " Let us quit talking and go and do 
it," was practically his motto. 

The first public office to which Mr. Cleveland was 
elected was t],at of Sheriff of Erie Co., N. Y., in 
which Buffalo is situated; and in such capacity it 'fell 
to his duty to inflict capital pi-.Ishment upon two 
caminals. Li t88i he was elected Mayor of the 
City of Buffilo, on the Democratic ticket, with es- 
pecial reference to the bringing about certain reforms 



in the administration of the municipal affairs of that 
city. In this office, as well as that of Sheriff, his 
performance of duty has generally been considered 
fair, with possibly a few exceptions which were fer- 
reted out and magnified during the last Presidential 
campaign. As a specimen of his plain language in 
a veto message, we quote ftom one vetoing an iniqui- 
tous street-cleaning contract : " This is a time "for 
plain speech, and my objection to your action shall 
be plainly stated. I regard it as the culmination of 
a mos bare-faced, impudent and shameless scheme 
to betray the interests of the people and to worse 
than squander the people's money." The New York 
^«« afterward very highly commended Mr. Cleve- 
land's administration as Mayor of Buffalo, and there- 
upon recommended him for Governor of the Empire 
State. To the latter office he was elected in 1882, 
and his administration of the affairs of State was 
generally satisfactory. The mistakes he made, if 
any, were made very public throughout the nation 
after he was nominated for President of the United 
States. For this high office he was nominated July 
II, 1884, by the National Democratic Convention at 
Chicago, when other competitors were Thomas F. 
Bayard, Roswell P. Flower, Thomas A. Hendricks, 
Benjamin F. Butler, Allen G. Thurman, etc.; and he' 
was elected by the people, by a majority of about a 
thousand, over the brilliant and long-tried Repub- 
lican statesman, James G. Blaine. President Cleve- 
land resigned his office as Governor of New York in 
January, 1885, in order to prepare for his duties as 
the Chief Executive of the United States, in which 
capacity his term commenced at noon on the 4th of 
March, 1885. For his Cabinet officers he selected 
the following gentlemen: For Secretary of State, 
Thomas F. Bayard, of Del vare ; Secretary of the 
Treasury, Daniel Manning, of New York; Secretary 
of War, William C. Endicott, of Massachusetts ; 
Secretary of the Navy, William C. Whitney, of New 
York; Secretary of the Interior, L. Q. C. Lamar, of 
Mississippi; Postmas.er-General, William F. Vilas, 
of Wisconsin ; Attorney-General, A. H. Garland, of 
Arkansas. 

The silver question precipitated a controversy be- 
tween those who were in favor of the continuance of 
silver coinage and those who were opposed, Mr. 
Cleveland answering for the latter, even before his 
ip.aaguratior, 





C^a 



^S^-T^-^A-^-eSitJ^-Z^ 



TWENT"^ -THIRD PRESIDElTT. 



Iu7 




-.o«o.@^<^..o*o.. 




ENJAMIN HARRISON, the 
'owenty-third President, is 
tlie descendant of one of the 
historical families of this 
country. The head of the 
family was a Major General 
Harrison, one of Oliver 
Cromwell's trusted follow- 
ers and fighters. In the zenith of Crom- 
well's power it became the duty of this 
Harrison to participate in the trial of 
Charles I, and afterward to sign the 
death warrant of the king. He subse- 
quently paid for this willi his life, being 
hung Oct. 13, 16G0. His descendants 
came to America, and the next of the 
family that appears in history is Renja- 
rnin Harrison, of Virginia, great-grand- 
father of the subject of this sketch, and 
after wliom he was named. Benjamin Harrison 
was a member of the Continental Congress during 
the years i774-5-C, and was one of the original 
signers of the Declaration of Independence. He 
wac; three times elected Governor of Virginia. 
Gen William Henry Harrison, the son of the 



distinguished patriot of the Revolution, afterasuo. 
cessful career as a soldier during the War of 1812, 
and with -a clean record as Governor of the North- 
western Territor}', was elected President of the 
United States in 1840. His career was cut short 
by death within one month after his inauguration. 
President Harrison war born at North Bend, 
Hamilton Co., Ohio, Aug. -^O, 1833. His life up to 
tiie time of his graduation by the Miami University, 
at Oxford, Ohio, was the uneventful one of a coun- 
tiy lad of a family of small means. His fathor was 
al)le to give him a good education, and nothing 
more. He became engaged while at college to th3 
daughter of Dr. Scott, Principal of a female schoo 
at Oxford. After graduating he determined to en- 
tor upon the study of the law. He went to Cin 
cinnati and then read law for two years. At the 
expiration of that time young Harrison receivoJ th'; 
only inheritance of his life; his aunt dying left him 
a lot valued at $800. He regarded this legacy as & 
fortune, and decided to get married at once, taks 
this money and go to some Eastern town an ', 'oe- 
gin the practice of law. Ho sold his lot, and with 
the moncj' in his pocket, be started out wita his 
young wife to fight for a place in the world, llo 



108 



BENJAMIN HARRISONi. 



icciiied to go to Indianapolis, which was even at 
timt time a town of promise. He met with <,light 
■ iicoiii-agement at first, making scarcely anythhig 
liie first year. He workcil diligently, applying him° 
self closely to his calling, built up an extensive 
practice and took a leading rank in the legal pro- 
/ossion. He is the father of two children. 

In 18GC Mr. Harrison was nominated for the 
position of Supreme Court Reporter, and then be- 
gan his experience as a stump speake; He can- 
vassed the State thoroughly, and was elected by a 
handsome majority. In 1862 he raised the 17th 
Indiana Infantry, and was chosen its Colonel. His 
regiment was composed of the rawest of material, 
out Col. Harrison employed all his time at first 
mastering military tactics and drilling his men, 
when he therefore came to move toward th.e East 
with. Sherman his regiment was one of the best 
-irilled and organized in the army. At Resaca he 
especially distinguished himself, and for his bravery 
"t. Peachtree Creek he was made a Brigadier Gen- 
'lal, Gen. Hooker speaking of him in the most 
complimentary terms. 

During the absence of Gen. Harrison in the field 
he Supreme Court declared the office of the Su- 
preme Court Reporter vacant, and another person 
was elected to the position. From the time of leav- 
i! g Indiana with his regiment until the fall of 1864 
ne had taken no leave of absence, but having been 
nominated that year for the same ofKce, h^got a 
thirty-day leave of absence, and during that time 
made a brilliant canvass of the State, and was elected 
for another term. He then started to rejoin Sher- 
man, but on the way was stricken down with scarlet 
.ever, and after a most trying siege made his way 
to the front in time tu participate in the closino- 
xeidents of the war, " 

In 1868 Gen. Harrison declined - re-election as 
eporter, and resumed the practice of law. In 187G 
Le was a candidate for Governor. Although de- 
eated, the brilliant campaign he made won for him 
1 National reputation, and he was much sougiit, es- 
pecial.y in the East, to make speeches. In 1880, 
^s usual, he took an active part in the campaign,' 
.'JkI vru elected to the United States Senate. Here 
ue served six years, and r/as known as one or the 
ibiest men, best lawyer^ .nd strongest debaters in 



that body. With the expiration of his Senatori:.: 
term he returned to the practice of his profession, 
becoming the head of one of the strongest firms in 
the State. 

The political campaign of 1888 was one of the 
most memorable in the history of our country. The 
convention which assembled in Chicago in June and 
named Mr. Harrison as the chief standard bearer 
of the Republican party, was great in every partic- 
ular, and on this account, and the attitude it as- 
sumed ujion the vital questions of the day, chief 
among which was the tariff, awoke a deep interest 
in the campaign throughout the Nation. Shortly 
after the nomination delegations began to visit Mr. 
Harrison at Indianapolis, his home. This move- 
ment became jjopular, and from all sections of the 
country societies, clubs and delegations journeyed 
thither to pay their respects to the distinguished 
statesman. The popularity of these was greatly 
increased on account of the remarkable speeches 
made by Mr. Harrison. He spoke daily all through 
the summer and autumn to these visiting delega- 
tions, and so varied, masterly and eloquent were 
las speeches that they at once placed him in the 
foremost rank of American orators and statesmen. 
On account of liis eloquence as a speaker and his 
r-ower as a debater, he was called upon at an un- 
cor;2monly early age to take part in the discussion 
of the great questions that then began ij agitate 
the country. He was an uncompromising^ant: 
slavery man, and was matched against some of tlie 
most eminent Dem<,fr.atic speakers of his State. 
No man who felt the touch of his blade de. ired tr 
be pitted with him again. Witli all his eloq-ence 
as an orator he never spoke for oratorical effect, 
but his words always went like bullets to the mark' 
He is purely American in his ideas and is a spier 
did t3-pe of the American statesman. Gifted wit;, 
quick perception, a logical mind and a read>- tongue! 
he is one of the most distinguished improm^pfu 
speakers in the Nation. M-.uiy of these soeeches 
sparkled with the rarest of eloquence and contmned 
arguments of greatest weight. JIany of Jus terse 
statements have already become aphorisms. ( )ri.ri- 
nal in thought, precise in logic, terse in statement, 
yet w.thal f.aultless in eloquence, he is recognized as 
the sound statesman and brilUau orator c- ta. day 










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3^is£)^^,^Vr 'A "i^ 'f«^-' 





iyt'cC'-^.^^xxyny 




Go VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 





f^ HADRACH BOND, ihe fust 
Governor of Illinois after its 
organization ns a State, serving 
from 1818 to 1822, was born in 
Frederick County, Maryland, 
in the year 1773, and was 
raised a farmer on his father's 
plantation, receiving only a plain 
English education. He emigrated 
to this State in 1794, when it was a 
part of the "Northwest Territory," 
continuing in the vocation in whicli 
he had been brought up in iiis native 
State, in the " New Design," near 
Eagle Creek, in what is now Monroe 
County. He served several terms as 
a member of the General Assembly 
of Indiana Territory, after it was organized as such, 
and in 1812-14 he was a Delegate to the Twelfth 
and Thirteenth Congresses, taking his seat Dec. 3, 
1812, and serving until Oct. 3, 1814. These were 
the times, the reader will recollect, when this Gov- 
ernment had its last struggle with Great Britain. 
The year 1812 is also noted in the history of this 
State as that in which the first Territorial Legislature 
was held. It convened at Kaskaskia, Nov. 25, and 
adjourned Dec. 26, following. 

While serving as Delegate to Congress, Mr. Bond 
was instrumental in procuring the right of pre-emp- 
tion on the public domain. On the expiration of his 
term at Washington he was appointed Receiver of 
Public Moneys at Kaskaskia, then the capital of ihe 
Territory. In company with John G. Comyges, 



Thomas H. Harris, Charles Slade, Michael Jones, 
Warren Brown. Edward Humphries and Charles W 
Hunter, he became a proprietor of the site of the 
initial city of Cairo, which they hoped, from its favor- 
able location at the junction of the two great 
rivers near the center of the Great West, would 
rapidly develop into a metropolis. To aid the enter- 
prise, they obtained a special charter from the Legis- 
lature, incorporating both the City and the Bank of 
Cairo. 

In 1818 Mr. Bond was elected the first Governor 
of the State of Illinois, being inaugurated Oct. 6 
that year, which was several weeks before Illinois 
was actually admitted. The facts are these: In 
January, 1818, tlie Territorial Legislature sent a peti- 
tion to Congress for the admission of Illinois as a 
State, Nathaniel Pope being then Delegate. The 
petition was granted, fixing the northern line of the 
State on the latitude of the southern extremity of 
Lake Michigan; but the bill was afterward so amend- 
ed as to extend this line to its present latitude. In 
July a convention was called at Kaskaskia to draft a 
constitution, which, however, was not submitted to 
the people. By its provisions, supreme judges, pros 
ecuting attorneys, county and circuit judges, record- 
ers and justices of the peace were all to be appointed 
by the Governor or elected by the Legislature. This 
constitution was accepted by Congress Dec. 30. At 
that time Illinois coinprised but eleven counties, 
namely, Randolph, Madison, Gallatin, Johnson, 
Pope, Jackson, Crawford, Bond, Union, Washington 
and Franklin, the northern portion of the State be* 
ing mainly in Madison County. Thus it appears 
that Mr. Bond was honored by the naming of a 



SHADRACH BOND. 



county l)L-fore he was elected C.overnor. The preienl 
county of Bond is of small liinilatioiis, about 60 to 80 
miles south of Springfield. For Lieutenant Governor 
the i^eople chose Pierre Menard, a prominent and 
wortliy l'"renchman, after whom a county in this State 
is named. In this election there were no opposition 
candidates, as the popularity of these men had made 
their promotion to the chief offices of the Siate, even 
before the constitution was drafted, a foregone con- 
clusion. 

The principal points that excited the people in 
reference to political issues at this period were local 
or "internal improvements," as they were called, 
State banks, location of the capital, slavery and the 
l)ersonal characteristics of the proposed candidates. 
Mr. Bond represented tlie "Coiveation party," for 
introducing slavery into the State, sup|iorted by Elias 
Kelt Kane, his Secretary of Stat.-, and John Mc- 
Lean, while Nathaniel Pope and John P. Cook led 
the anti-slavery element. The pjople, however, did 
not become very much excited over this issue until 
iS::o, when the fun jus Missouri Compromise was 
adopted by Congress, limiting slavery to the south 
of the parallel of 36° 30' except in Missouri. While 
this measure settled the great slavery controversy, 
so far as the average public sentiment was tempor- 
arily concerned, until 1854, when it was repealed 
under the leadership of Stephen A. Douglas, the issue 
as considered locally in this State was not decided 
until '824, after a most furious campaign. (See 
sketch cf Gov. Coles.) The ticket of 1S18 was a 
compromise one, Bond representing (moderately) the 
pro-slavery sentiment and Menard the anti-slavery. 

An awkward element in the State government 
under Gov. Bond's administration, was the imperfec- 
tion of the State constitution. The Convention 
wished to have Elijah C. Berry for the first Auditor 
of Public Accounts, but, as it was believed that the 
new Governor would not appoint him to the office, 
Uie Convention declared in a schedule that " an 
auditor of public accounts, an attorney general and 
such other officers of the State as may be necessary, 
may be apiwinted by the General .Assembly." The 
Constitution, as it stood, vested a very large ap|X)int- 
ing power in the Governor ; but for the purixjse of 
getting one man into office, a total cliange was made, 
and the power vested in the Legislature. Of this 
provision the Legislature took advantage, and de- 



clared that State's attorneys, canal commissioners, 
bank directors, etc., were all " officers of the State " 
and must therefore be appointed by itself independ- 
ently of the Governor. 

During Gov. Bond's administration a general law 
was passed for the incorporation of academies and 
towns, and one authorizing lotteries. The session of 
1S22 authorized tiie Governor to appoint commis- 
sioners, to act in conjunction with like commissioners 
appointed by the State of Indiana, to report on the 
practicability and expediency of improving tlie navi- 
gation of the Wabash River; also inland navigation 
generally. Many improvements were recommended, 
some of which have been feebly worked at even till 
the present day, those along the Wabash being of no 
value. Also, during Gov. Bond's term of office, the 
capital of the State was removed from Kaskaskia to 
Vandalia. In 1820 a law was passed by Congress 
authorizing this State to open a canal through the 
public lands. The State appointed commissioners 
10 explore the route and prepare the necessary sur- 
veys and estimates, preparatory to its execution; 
but, being unable out of its own resources to defray 
the expenses of the undertaking, it was abandoned 
until some time after Congress made the grant of 
land for the purpose of its construction. 

On the whole, Gov. Bond's administration was 
fairly good, not being open to severe criticism from 
any party. In 1824, two years after the expiration 
of his term of office, he was brought out as a candi- 
date for Congress against the formidable John P. 
Cook, but received only 4,374 votes to 7,460 for the 
latter. Gov. Bond was no orator, but had made 
many fast friends by a judicious l-i^towment of his 
gubernatorial patronage, and these worked zealously 
for liim in the campaign. 

In 1827 ex-Gov. Bond was appointed by the Leg- 
islature, with Wm. P. McKee and Dr. Gershom 
Jayne, as Commissioners to locate a site for a peni- 
tentiary on the Mississippi at or near Alton. 

Mr. Bond was of a benevolent and convivial dis- 
position, a man of shrewd observation and clear ap- 
preciation of events. His person was erect, stand- 
ing six feet in height, and after middle life became 
ixjrtly, weighing 200 pounds. His features were 
strongly masculine, complexion dark, hair jet and 
eyes hazel ; was a favorite wiili the ladies. He died 
.April II, 1S30, in peace and contentment 




Id^u^'UAD Coxiri^ 



GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



"5 




}£6war5 Coles, 






^;^-<ffli>fe>^=^— .-•- 



DVVARD COLES, second 
Governor of Illinois, 1823- 
^ 6, was born Dec. 15, 1786, 
in Albemarle Co., Va., on 
the old family estate called 
" Enniscorthy," on the 
Vv* Green Mountain. His fath- 
er, John Coles, was a Colonel in the 
Revolutionary War. Having been fit- 
ted for college by private tutors, he 
was sent to Hampden Sidney, where 
he remained until the autumn of 1805, 
when he was icnioved to William and 
Mary College, at Williamsburg, Va. 
This college he left in the summer of 
1807, a short time before the final and graduating 
examination. Among his classmates were Lieut. 
Gen. Scott, President John Tyler, Wm. S. Archer, 
United States Senator from Virginia, and Justice 
Baldwin, of the United States Supreme Court. The 
President of the latter college, Bishop Madison, was 
a cousin of President James Madison, and that cir- 
cumstance was the occasion of Mr. Coles becoming 
personally acquainted with the President and re- 
ceiving a position as his private secretary, 1809-15. 
The family of Coles was a prominent one in Vir- 
ginia, and their mansion was the seat of the old- 
fashioned Virginian hospitality. It was visited by 
such notables as Patrick Henry, Jefferson, Madison, 
Monroe, the Randolphs, Tazewell, Wirt, etc. At the 
age of 23, youno Loles founa iiimself heir to a plant- 
ation and a considerable number of slaves. Ever 
since his earlier college days his attention had been 
drawn to the question of slavery. He read every- 



thing on the subject that came in his way, and 
listened to lectures on tlie rights of man. The more 
he reflected uixin the subject, the more impossible 
was it for liim to reconcile the immortal declaration 
"that all men are born free and equal" with the 
practice of slave-holding. He resolved, therefore, to 
free his slaves the first opportunity, and even remove 
his residence to a free State. One reason which de- 
termined him to accept the appointment as private 
secretary to Mr. Madison was because he believed 
that through the acquaintances he could make at 
Washington he could better determine in what par^, 
of the non-slaveholding portion of the Union he wouIq 
prefer to settle. 

The relations between Mr. Coles and President 
Madison, as well as Jefferson and other distinguished 
men, were of a very friendly character, arising from 
the similarity of their views on the question of slavery 
and their sympathy for each other in holding doc- 
trines so much at variance with the prevailing senti- 
ment in their own State. 

In 1857, he resigned his secretaryship and spent a 
portion of the following autumn in exploring the 
Northwest Territory, for the purpose of finding a lo- 
cation and purchasing lands on which to settle his 
negroes. He traveled with a horse and buggy, with 
an extra man and horse for emergencies, through 
many parts of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, 
determining finally to settle in Illinois. At this time, 
however, a misunderstanding arose between our 
Government and Russia, and Mr. Coles was selected 
to repair to St. Petersburg on a special mission, bear- 
ing important papers concerning the matter at issue 
The result was a conviction of the Emperor (Alex- 



ii6 



EDWARD COLES. 



and(;r) of the error committed by his minister at 
Washington, and the consequent withdrawal of the 
the latter from the post. On liis return, Mr. Coles 
visited oilier parts of Europe, especially Paris, where 
ho was introduced to Gen. Lafayette. 

In the spring of 1819, he removed with all his 
negroes from Virginia to Edwardsville, 111., with the 
intention of giving them their liberty. He did not 
inake known to them his intention until one beautiful 
morning in April, as tliey were descending the Ohio 
River. He lashed all the boats together and called 
all the negroes on deck and made them a short ad- 
dress, concluding his remarks by so expressing him- 
self that by a turn of a sentence he proclaimed in 
the shortest and fullest manner that they were no 
longer slaves, but free as he was and were at liberty 
to proceed with him or go ashore at their pleas- 
ure. A description of the effect upon the negroes is 
best described in his own language : 

"The effect ufwn them was electrical. They stared 
at n-.e and then at each other, as if doubting the ac- 
curacy or reality of what they heard. In breathless 
silence they stood before me, unable to utter a word, 
but with countenances beaming with expression which 
no words could convey, and which no language 
can describe. As they began to see the truth of 
what they had heard, and realize their situation, there 
came on a kind of hysterical, giggling laugh. After 
a pause of intense and unutterable emotion, bathed 
in tears, and with tremulous voices, they gave vent to 
their gratitude and implored the blessing of God 
on me." 

Before landing he gave them a general certificate 
of freedom, and afterward conformed more particu- 
larly with the law of this State requiring that each 
individual should have a certificate. This act of 
Mr. Coles, all the more noble and heroic considering 
the overwhelming pro-slavery influences surrounding 
him, has challenged the admiration of every philan- 
thropist of inodern times. 

March 5, i8iq. President Monroe appointed Mr. 
Coles Registrar of the Land Office at EdwardsviLe, 
at that time one of the principal land ofifices in the 
State. While acting in this capacity and gaining 
many friends by his politeness and general intelli- 
gence, the greatest struggle that ever occurred in 
Illinois on the slavery quesdon culminated in the 
furious contest characterizing the campaigns and 
elections of 1822-4. In the summer of 1823, when a 
new Governor was to be elected to succeed Mr. 
Bond, the pro-slavery element divided into factions, 
putting forward for the executive office Joseph 
Phillips, Chief Justice of the State, Thomas C. 
Browne and Gen. James B. Moore, of the State Mil- 
itia. The anti-slavery element united upon Mr. 
Coles, and, after one of the most bitter campaigns, 
succeeded in electing him as Governor. His plural- 
ity over Judge Phillips was only 59 in a total vote of 



over 8,000. The Lieutenant Governor was elected * 
by the slavery men. Mr. Coles' inauguration speech 
was marked by calmness, deliberation and such a 
wise expression of appropriate suggestions as to 
elicit the sanction of all judicious politicians. But 
he compromised not with evil. In his message to 
the Legislature, the seat of Government being then 
at Vandalia, he strongly urged the abrogation of the 
modified form of slavery whif.h then existed in this 
State, contrary to the Ordinance of 1787. His posi- 
tion on this subject seems the more remarkable, when 
it is considered that he was a minority Governor, the 
population of Illinois being at that lime almost ex- 
clusively from slave-holding States and by a large 
majority in favor of the perpetuation of that old relic 
of barbarism. The Legislature itself was, of course, 
a reflex of the popular sentiment, and a majority of 
them were led on by fiery men in denunciations of 
the conscientious Governor, and in curses loud and 
deep upon him and all his friends. Some of the 
public men, indeed, went so far as to head a sort of 
mob, or " shiveree " party, who visited the residence 
of the Governor and others at Vandalia and yelled 
and groaned and spat fire. 

The Constitution, not establishing or permitting 
slavery in this State, was thought therefore to be 
defective by the slavery politicians, and they desired 
a State Convention to be elected, to devise and sub- 
mit a new Constitution; and the dominant politics 
of the day was "Convention" and "anti-Conven- 
tion." Both parties issued addresses to the people. 
Gov. Coles himself being the author of the address 
published by the latter party. This address revealed 
the schemes of the conspirators in a masterly man- 
ner. It is difficult for us at this distant day to esti- 
mate the critical and extremely delicate situation in 
which the Governor was placed at that time. 

Our hero maintained himself honorably and with 
supreme dignity throughout his administration, and 
in his honor a county in this State is named. He 
was truly a great man, and those who lived in 
this State during his sojourn here, like those who 
live at the base of the mountain, were too near to see 
and recognize the greatness that overshadowed them. 

Mr. Coles was married Nov. 28, 1833, by Bishop 
De Lancey, to Miss Sally Logan Roberts, a daughter 
of Hugh Roberts, a descendant of Welsh ancestry, 
who cami to this country with Wm. Penn in 1682. 

After the expiration of his term of service. Gov. 
Coles continued his residence in Edwardsville, sup- 
erintending his farm in the vicinity. He was fond 
of agriculture, and was the founder of the first agri- 
cultural society in the State. On account of ill 
health, however, and having no family to tie him 
down, he spent much of his time in Eastern cities. 
About 1832 he changed his residence to Philadel- 
phia, where he died July 7, 1868, and is buried at 
Woodland, near that city. 




' O c^^-OiyGi-''^ 



GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



119 








^ ];.' 



••<-5-<##=^-^>-^ 




INIAN EDWARDS, Governor 
from 1827 to 1830, was a son 
Y- of Benjamin Edwards, and 
was born in Montgomery 
\p^ County, Maryland, in March, 
177^. His domestic train- 
'^' ing was well fitted to give 
his mind strength, firmness and 
lior.orable principles, and a good 
foundation was laid for the elevated 
character to which he afterwards 
attained. His parents were Bap- 
tists, and very strict in their moral 
piinciples. His education in early 
youth was in company with and 
partly under the tuition of Hon. Wm. 
Wirt, whom his father patronized 
and who was more than two years 
older. An intimacy was thus 
formed between them which was lasting for life. He 
was further educated at Dickinson College, at Car- 
lisle, Pa. He next commenced the study of law, but 
before completing his course he moved to Nelson 
County, Ky., to open a farm for his father and to 
purchase homes and locate lands for his brothers and 
sisters. Here he fell in the company of dissolute 
companions, and for several years led the life of a 
spendthrift. He was, however, elected to the Legis- 
lature of Kentucky as the Representative of Nelson 
i-'ounty before he was 2 i years of age, and was re- 
elected by an almost unanimous vote. 



In tygS he was licensed to practice law, and the 
following year was admitted to the Courts of Tennes- 
see. About this time he left Nelson County for 
Russellville, in Logan County, broke away from his 
dissolute companions, commenced a reformation and 
devoted himself to severe and laborious study. He 
then began to rise rapidly in his profession, and soon 
became an eminent lawyer, and inside of four years 
he filled in succession the offices of Presiding Judge 
of the General Court, Circuit Judge, fourth Judge of 
the Court of Appeals and Chief Justice of the State, 
— all before he was 32 years of age! Li addition, in 
1802, he received a commission as Major of a battal- 
ion of Kentucky militia, and in 1804 was chosen a 
Presidential Elector, on the Jefferson and Clinton 
ticket. Li 1806 he was a candidate for Congress, 
but withdrew on being promoted to the Court of 
Appeals. 

Illinois was organized as a separate Territory in 
the spring of i8og, when Mr. Edwards, then Chief 
Justice of the Court of Appeals in Kentucky, received 
from President Madison the appointment as Gover- 
nor of the new Territory, his commission bearing date 
April 24, 1809. Edwards arrived at Kaskaskia in 
June, and on the i ith of that month took the oath of 
office. At the same time he was appointed Superin- 
tendent of the United States Saline, this Government 
interest then developing into considerable proportions 
in Southern Illinois. Altiiough during the first three 
years of bis administration he had the power to make 
new counties and appoint all the officers, yet he always 
allowed the people of each county, by an informal 



I20 



NINIAN ED WARDS. 



vote, to select their own officers, both civil and mili- 
tary. The noted John J. Crittenden, afterward 
United States Senator from Kentucky, was appointed 
by Oev. Edwards to the office of Attorney General of 
the Territory, which office was accepted for a short 
time only. 

The Indians in i8io committing sundry depreda- 
tions in the Territory, crossing the Mississippi from 
the Territory of Louisiana, a long correspondence fol- 
lowed between the respective Governors concerning 
the remedies, which ended in a council with the sav- 
ages at Peoria in 1812, and a fresh interpretation of 
the treaties. Peoria was depopulated by these de- 
predations, and was not re-settled for many jears 
afterward. 

As Gov. Edwards' terra of office expired by law in 
1812, he was re-appointed for another term of three 
years, and again in 1815 for a third term, serving 
until the organization of the State in the fall of 181 8 
and the inauguration of Gov. Bond. At this time 
cx-Gov. Edwards was sent to the United States 
Senate, his colleague being Jesse B. Thomas. As 
■ Senator, Mr. Edwards took a conspicuous part, and 
acquitted himself honorably in all the measures that 
came up in that body, being well posted, an able de- 
:jater and a conscientious statesman. He thought 
.:eriously of resigning this situation in 1821, but was 
persuaded by his old friend, Wm. Wirt, and others to 
continue in office, which he did to the end of the 
term. 

He was then appointed Minister to Mexico by 
President Monroe. About this time, it appears that 
Mr. Edwards saw suspicious signs in the conduct of 
Wm. H. Crawford, Secretary of the United States 
Treasury, and an ambitious candidate for the Presi- 
dency, and being implicated by the latter in some of 
his statements, he resigned his Mexican mission in 
order fully to investigate the charges. The result 
was the exculpation of Mr. Edwards. 

Pro-slavery regulations, often termed "Black Laws," 
disgraced the statute books of both the Territory and 
-he State of Illinois during the whole of his career in 
Jiis commonwealth, and Mr. Edwards always main- 
tained the doctrines of freedom, and was an important 
r.ctor in the great struggle which ended in a victory 
for his parfy in 1824. 

In 1826 7 the Winnebago and other Indians com- 
mitted soire depredations in the northern part of the 



State, and the white settlers, who desired the lands' 
and wished to exasperate the savages into an evacu- 
ation of the country, magnified the misdemeanors of 
the aborigines and thereby produced a hostility be- 
tween the races so great as to precipitate a little war, 
known in history as the " Winnebago War." A few 
chases and skirmishes were had, when Gen. Atkinson 
succeeded in capturing Red Bird, the Indian chief, 
and putting him to death, thus ending the contest, at 
least until the troubles commenced which ended in 
the " Black Hawk War " of 1832. In the interpre- 
tation of treaties and execution of their provisions 
Gov. Edwards had much vexatious work to do. The 
Indians kept themselves generally within the juris- 
diction of Michigan Territory, and its Governor. 
Lewis Cass, was at a point so remote that ready cor- 
respondence with him was difficult or impossible. 
Gov. Edwards' administration, however, in regard to 
the protection of the Illinois frontier, seems to have 
been very efficient and satisfactory. 

For a considerable portion of his time after his re- 
moval to Illinois, Gov. Edwards resided upon his 
farm near Kaskaskia, which he had well stocked with 
liorses, cattle and sheep from Kentucky, also with 
fruit-trees, grape-vines and shrubbery. He estab- 
lished saw and grist-mills, and engaged extensively 
in mercantile business, having no less than eight or ten 
stores in this State and Missouri. Notwithstanding 
the arduous duties of his office, he nearly always pur- 
chased the goods himself with which to supply the 
stores. Although not a regular practitioner of medi- 
cine, he studied the healing art to a considerable ex- 
tent, and took great pleasure in prescribing for, and 
taking care of, the sick, generally without charge. 
He was also liberal to the poor, several widows and 
ministers of the gospel becoming indebted to him 
even for their homes. 

He married Miss Elvira Lane, of Maryland, in 
1803, and they became the affectionate parents of 
several children, one of whom, especially, is weh' 
known to the people of the '■ Prairie State," namely, 
Ninian Wirt Edwards, once the Superintendent c' 
Public Instruction and still a resident of Springfield 
Gov. Edwards resided at and in the vicinity of Kas- 
kaskia from 1809 to 1818; in Edwardsville (named 
after him) from that time to 1824; and from the lat- 
ter date at Belleville, St. Clair Countv, until his 
death, July 20, 1833, of Asiaric cholera.' Edwards 
County is also named in his honor. 



GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 





,OHN REYNOLDS, Governor 1831- 
4, was born in Montgomery Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, Feb. 26, 1788. 
His father, Robert Reynolds and 
his mother, nee Margaret Moore, 
were both natives of Ireland, from 
which country they emigrated to 
the United States in 1785, land- 
ing at Philadelphia. The senior 
Reynolds entertained an undying 
hostility to the British Govern- 
ment. When the subject of this 
sketch was about six months old, 
his parents emigrated with him to 
Tennessee, where many of their 
relatives had already located, at the base of the 
Copper Ridge Mountain, about 14 miles northeast of 
the present city of Knoxville. There they were ex- 
posed to Indian depredations, and were much molest- 
ed by them. In 1794 they moved into the interior 
of the State. They were poor, and brought up their 
children to habits of manual industry. 

In 1800 the family removed to Kaskaskia, 111., with 
eight horses and two wagons, encountering many 
Hardships on the way. Here young Reynolds passed 
the most of his childhood, while his character began 
to develop, the most prominent traits of which were 
ambition and energy. He also adopted the principle 
and practice of total abstinence from into.xicating 
liquors. In 1807 the family made another removal, 



-^-K- 



tliis time to the " Goshen Settlement," at the foot of 
the Mississippi bluffs three or four miles southwest 
of Edwardsville. 

On arriving at his 20th year, Mr. Reynolds, seeing 
that he must look about for his own livelihood and 
not yet having determined what calling to pursue, 
concluded first to attend college, and he accordingly 
went to such an institution of learning, near Knox- 
ville, Tenn., where he had relatives. Imagine his 
diffidence, when, after passing the first 20 years of 
his life without ever having seen a carpet, a papered 
wall or a Windsor chair, and never having lived in a 
shingle-roofed house, he suddenly ushered himself 
into the society of the wealthy in the vicinity of 
Knoxville! He attended college nearly two years, 
going through the principal Latin authors ; but it 
seems that he, like the rest of the world in modern 
times, had but very little use for his Latin in after 
life. He always failed, indeed, to exhibit any good 
degree of literary disciphne. He commenced the 
study of law in Knoxville, but a pulmonary trouble 
came on and compelled him to change his mode 
of life. Accordingly he returned home and re- 
cuperated, and in 1812 resumed his college and 
law studies at Knoxville. In the fall of 1812 he was 
admitted to the Bar at Kaskaskia. About this time 
he also learned the French language, which he 
practiced with pleasure in conversation with his 
family for many years. He regarded this language 
as being superior to all others for social intercourse. 



124 



JOHN REYNOLDS. 



From his services in the West, in the war of 1812, 
he obtained the sobriquet of the " Old Ranger." He 
was Orderly Sergeant, then Judge Advocate. 

Mr. Reynolds opened his first law office in the 
winter and spring of 1814, iuthe French village of 
Cahokia, then the capital of St. Clair County. 

In the fall of 1818 he was elected an Associate 
Justice upon the Supreme Bench by the General 
Assembly. In 1825 he entered more earnestly than 
ever into the practice of law, and the very next year 
was elected a member of the Legislature, where he 
acted independently of all cliques and private inter- 
ests. In 1828 the Whigs and Democrats were for 
the first time distinctively organized as such in Illi- 
nois, and the usual party bitterness grew up and 
raged on all sides, while Mr. Reynolds preserved a 
iudicial calmness and moderation. The real animus 
of the campaign was " Jackson " and " anti-Jackson," 
'he former party carrying the State. 

In August, 1830, Mr. Reynolds was elected Gov- 
ernor, amid great excitement. Installed in office, he 
did all within his power to advance the cause of edu- 
cation, internal improvements, the Illinois & Mich- 
igan Canal, the harbor at Chicago, settling the coun- 
try, etc.; also reccmmended the winding up of the 
State Bank, as its affairs had become dangerously 
complicated. In his national politics, he was a 
moderate supporter of General Jackson. But the 
most celebrated event of his gubernatorial admin- 
istration was the Black Hawk War, which occurred 
in 1832. He called out the militia and prosecuted 
the contest with commendable diligence, appearing 
in person on the battle-grounds during the most 
critical periods. He was recognized by the President 
as Major-General, and authorized by him to make 
treaties with the Indians. By the assistance of the 
genf.ral Government the war was terminated without 
much bloodshed, but after many serious fights. This 
war, as well as everything else, was materially re- 
tarded by the occurrence of Asiatic cholera in the 
West. This was its first appearance here, and was 
the next event in prominence during Gov. Reynolds' 
Verm. 

South Carolina nullification coming up at this time, 
t was heartily condemned by both President Jackson 
.-.nd Gov. Reynolds, who took precisely the same 
grounds as the Unionists in the last war. 

On the termination of his gubernatorial term in 
.834, Gov. Reynolds was elected a Member of Con- 
(^ress, still coiisidering himself a backwoodsman, as 
'e had scarcely been outside of the State since he 
became of age, and had spent nearly all his youthful 
iays in the wildest region of the frontier. His first 
iiove in Congress was to adopt a resolution that in 
all elections made by the House for officers the votes 
should be given viva voce, each member in his place 
naming aloud the person for whom he votes. This 
created considerable heated discussion, but was es- 



sentially adopted, and remained the controlling prin- 
ciple for many years. The ex Governor was scarcely 
i'ascnt from his seat a single day, during eight ses- 
sions of Congress, covering a period of seven years, 
and he never vacillated in a party vote; but he failed 
to get the Democratic party to foster his " National 
Road" scheme. He says, in " My Own Times " (a 
large autobiography he published), that it was only 
by rigid economy that he avoided insolvency while in 
VVashington. During his sojourn in that city he was 
married, to a lady of the place. 

In 1837, while out of Congress, and in company 
with a few others, he built the first railroad in the 
Mississippi Valley, namely, one about six miles long, 
leading from his coal mine in the Mississippi bluff to 
the bank of the river opposite St. Louis. Hiving not 
the means to purchase a locomotive, they operated it 
by horse-power. The next spring, however, the com- 
pany sold out, at great sacrifice. 

In 1839 the ex-Governor was appointed one of the 
Canal Commissioners, and authorized to borrow 
money to prosecute the enterprise. Accord' ngly, he 
repaired to Philadelphia and succeeding in obtaining 
a million dollars, which, however, was only a fourth 
of what was wanted. The same year he and his 
wife made at our of Europe. This year, also, Mr. 
Reynolds had the rather awkward little responsibility 
of introducing to President Van Buren the noted 
Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith, as a " Latter-Day 
Saint!" 

In 1846 Gov. Reynolds was elected a member of 
the Legislature from St. Clair County, more particu- 
larly for the purpose of obtaining a feasible charter 
for a macadamized road from Belleville to St. Louis, 
a distance of nearly 14 miles. This was immediately 
built, and was the fir^t road of the kind in the State. 
He was again elected to the Legislature in 1852, when 
he was chosen Speaker of the House. In i860, aged 
and infirm, he attended the National Democratic 
Convention at Charleston, S. C , as an anti-Douglas 
Delegate, where he received more attention from the 
Southern Delegates than any other member. He 
supported Breckenridge for the Presidency. After 
the October elections foreshadowed the success of 
Lincoln, he published an address urging the Demo- 
crats to rally to the support of Douglas. Immedi- 
ately preceding and during the late war, his corre- 
spondence evinced a clear sympathy for the Southern 
secession, and about the first of March, 1861, he 
urged upon the Buchanan officials the seizure of the 
treasure and arms in the custom-house and arsenal 
at St. Louis. Mr. Reynolds was a rather talkative 
man, and apt in all the Western phrases and catch- 
words that ever gained currency, besides many cun- 
ning and odd ones of his own manufacture. 

He was married twice, but had no ciiildren. He 
died in Belleville, in May, 1865, just after the close 
of the war. 



GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



127 





-«— S o«^-*li||>.^g.o 



LLIAM LEE D. EWING, 
Governor of Illinois Nov. 3 
to 17, 1S34, was a native 
of Kentucky, and probably 
of Scotch ancestry. He had 
a fine education, was a gentle- 
man of polished manners and 
refined sentiment. In 1830 John Rey- 
nolds was elected Governor of the State, 
and Zadok Casey Lieutenant Governor, 
and for the principal events that followed, 
and the characteristics of the times, see 
sketch of Gov. Reynolds. The first we 
see in history concerning Mr. Ewing, in- 
forms us that he was a Receiver of Public 
Mot eys at Vandalia soon after the organization of 
t<iib State, and that the public moneys in his hands 
vere deposited in various banks, as they are usually 
'.'• thv jTesent day. In 1823 the State Bank was 
ubbed, by which disaster Mr. Ewing lost a thousand- 
dollar deposit. 

Vhe subject of this sketch had a commission as 
(olonel in the Black Hawk War, and in emergencies 
ne acted also as Major. In the summer of 1832, 
■".hen i vvas rumored among the whites that Black 
Hawk and 'lis men had encamped somewhere on 
Rock River, Gen. Henry was sent on a tour of 
reconnoisance, and with orders to drive the Indians 
from the State. After some opposition from his 
subordinate officers, Henry resolved to proceed up 
Rock River in search of the enemy. On the 19th of 
July, early in the morning, five baggage wagons, 



camp equipage and all heavy and cumbersome arti- 
cles were piled up and left, so that the army might 
make speedy and forced marches. For some miles 
the travel was exceedingly bad, crossing swamps 
and the worst thickets ; but the large, fresh trail 
gave life and animation to the Americans. Gen. 
Dodge and Col. Ewing were both acting as Majors, 
and composed the " spy corps " or vanguard of the 
army. It is supposed the army marched nearly 50 
miles this day, and the Indian trail they followed 
became fresher, and was strewed with much property 
and trinkets of the red-skins that they had lost or 
thrown away to hasten their march. During the 
following night there was a terrific thunder-storm, and 
the soldiery, with all their appurtenances, were thor- 
oughly drenched. 

On approaching nearer the Indians the next day. 
Gen. Dodge and Major Ewing, each commanding a 
battalion of men, were placed in front to bring on the 
battle, but the savages were not overtaken tliis day 
Forced marches were continued until they reached. 
Wisconsin River, where a veritable battle ensued, 
resulting in the death of about 68 of Black Hawk's 
men. The next day they continued the chase, and 
as soon as he discovered the trail of the Indians 
leading toward the Mississippi, Maj. Ewing formed 
his battalion in order of battle and awaited the order 
of Gen. Henry. The latter soon appeared on the 
ground and ordered a charge, which directly resulted 
in chasing the red warriors across the great river. 
Maj. Ewing and his command proved particularly 
efficient in war, as it seems they were the chief actors 
in driving the main body of the Sacs and Foxes, in- 



I2S 



WILLIAM L. D. ElVING. 



eluding Black Hawk himself, across the Mississippi, 
while Gen. Atkinson, commander-in-chief of the ex- 
pedition, with a body of the army, was hunting for 
them-'n another direction. 

In the above affair Maj. Ewmg is often referred Ij 
as a "General," wl-.ich title he had derived from his 
connection v/ith the militia. 

It was in the latter part of the same year (1832) 
that Lieutenant Governor Casey was elected to Con- 
gress and Gen. Ewing, who had been elected to the 
Senate, was chosen to preside over that body. At 
the August election of 1S34, Gov. Reynolds was also 
elected to Congress, more th.ni a year ahead of the 
time at wliich he could actually take his seat, as was 
then tlie law. His predecessor, Chailes Slade, had 
just died of Asiatic cholera, soon after the elec- 
tion, and Gov. Reynolds was chosen to serve out his 
unexpired term. Accordingly he set out for Wasli- 
ington in November of that year to take his seat in 
Congress, and Gen. Ewing, by virtue of his office as 
President of the Senate, became Governor of the 
Statvi of Illinois, his term covering only a period of 
15 days, namely, from the 3d to the 17th days, in- 
clusive, of November. 0:i the i7tli the Legislature 
met, and Gov. Ewing transmitted to that body his 
message, giving a statement of the condition of the 
affairs of the Stale at that time, and urging a contin- 
uance of the policy adopted by his predecessor; and 
on tlie same day Governor elect Joseph Duncan 
was sworn into office, thus relieving Mr. Ewing from 



the responsible situation. This is the only time that 
such a juncture has happened in the history of Illi- 
nois. 

On tlie 29th of December, 1835, Gen. Ewing was 
elected a U.iited States Senator to serve out the 
uneXjiired term of Elias Kent Kane, deceased. The 
latter gentleman was a very prominent figure in the 
early politics of Illinois, and a county in this State is 
named in liis honor. The election of Gen. Ewing to 
the Senate was a protracted struggle. His competi- 
tors were James Semple, who afterwards held several 
important offices in this State, and Richard M. 
Young, afterward a United States Senator and a 
Supreme Judge and a man of vast influence. On 
the first ballot Mr. Semple had 25 votes, Young 19 
and Ewing 18. On the eighth ballot Young was 
dropped ; the ninth and tenth stood a tie ; but on 
the i2ih E'.ving received 40, to Semple 37, and was 
accordingly declared elected. In 1837 Mr. Ewing 
received some votes for a continuance of his term in 
Congress, when Mr. Young, just referred to, was 
elected. In 1842 Mr. Ewing was elected State 
Audit?r on the ticket with Gov, Ford. 

Gen. Ewing was a gentleman of culture, a lawyer 
by profession, and was much in public life. In person 
he was above medium height and of heavy build, 
with auburn hair, blue eyes, large-sized head and 
short face. He was genial, social, friendly and 
affable, with fair talent, though of no high degree of 
originality. He died March 25, 1846. 




5 




Jc^^&^i^ ^ 



GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



•3t 






P'.ta^, 










OSEPH DUNCAN, Governor 
1S34-8, was born at Paris, 
Ky., Feb. 23, 1794. At the 
tender age of 19 years he en- 
hsted in the war against Great 
Britain, and as a soldier he 
acquitted himself with credit. He 
was an Ensign under the daunt- 
less Croghan at Lower Sandusky, 
or Fort Stephenson. In Illinois 
he first appeared in a public capa- 
city as Major-Geneial of the Militia, 
a position which his military fame 
had procured him. Subsequently 
he became a State Senator from 
Jackson County, and is honorably 
mentioned for introducing the first bill providing for 
a free-school system. In 1826, when the redoubt- 
able John P. Cook, who had previously beaten such 
men as J6hn McLean, Elias Kent Kane and ex- 
Gov. Bond, came up for the fourth time for Congress, 
Mr. Duncan was brought forward against him by his 
friends, greatly to the surprise of all the politicians. 
As yet he was but little known in the State. He was 
an original Jackson man at that time, being attached 
to his political fortune in admiration of the glory of 
his militaiy achievements. His chances of success 
against Cook were generally regarded as hopeless, 
but he entered upon the campaign undaunted. His 
speeches, though short and devoid of ornament, were 
full of good sense. He made a diligent canvass of 
the State, Mr. Cook being hindered by the condition of 
his health. The most that was expected of Mr. 
Puncan, under the circumstances, was that he would 



obtain a respectable vote, but without defeating Mr 
Cook. The result of the campaign, however, was a 
source of surprise and amazement to both fviends 
and foes, as Mr. Duncan came out 641 votes ahead! 
He received 6,32 r votes, and Mr. Cook 5,680. Un- 
til this denoiicnunt, the violence of party feeling 
smoldering in the breasts of the people on account 
of the defeat of Jackson, was not duly appreciated. 
Aside from the great convention struggle of 1824, no 
other than mere local and perional considerations 
had ever before controlled an election in Illinois. 

From the above date Mr. Duncan retained his 
seat in Congress until his election as Governor in 
.August, 1834. The first and bloodless year of the 
Black Hawk War he was appointed by Gov. Rey- 
nolds to the position of Brigadier-General of the 
volunteers, and he conducted his brigade to Rock 
Island. But he was absent from the State, in Wash- 
ington, during the gubernatorial campaign, and did 
not personally participate in it, but addressed circu- 
lars to his constituents. His election was, indeed, 
attributed to the circumstance of his absence, be- 
cause his estrangement from Jackson, formerly his 
political idol, and also from the Democracy, largely 
in ascendency in the State, was complete; but while 
his defection was well known to his Whig friends, 
and even to the leading Jackson men of this State, 
the latter were unable to carry conviction of that fact 
to the masses, as mail and newspaper facilities at 
that day were far inferior to those of the present 
time. Of course the Governor was much abused 
afterward by the fossilized Jackson men who re- 
garded party ties and affiliations as above all 
other issues that could arise; but he was doubtless 



132 



JOSEPH DUNCAN. 



sincere in his opposition to the old hero, as the latter 
.;ad vetoed several important western measures 
which were dear to Mr. Duncan. In his inaugural 
message he threw off the mask and took a bold stand 
rgainst the course of the President. The measures 
-le recommended in his message, however, were so 
desirable that the Legislature, although by a large 
majority consisting of Jackson men, could not refrain 
from endorsing them. These measures related 
mainly to barks and internal improvements. 

It was while Mr. Duncan was Governor that the 
people of Illinois went whirling on with bank and in- 
ternal improvement schemes that well nigh bank- 
-upted the State. The hard times of 1837 came on, 
and the disasters that attended the inauguration of 
Jiese plans and the operation of the banks were mu- 
tually charged upon the two political parties. Had 
any or.-j man autocratic power to introduce and 
carry on any one of these measures, he would proba- 
bly have succeeded to the satisfaction of the public ; 
tut as many jealous men had hold of the same plow 
handle, no success followed and each blamed the other 
for the failure. In this great vortex Gov. Duncan 
was carried along, suffering the like derogation of 
character with his fellow citizens. 

At the height of the excitement the Legislature 
"provided for" railroads from Galena to Cairo, Alton 
to Sliawneetown, Alton to Mount Carmel, Alton to the 
eastern boundary of the State in the direction of 
Terre Haute, Quincy via Springfield to the Wabash, 
Bloomington to Pekin, and Peoria to Warsaw, — in all 
about 1,300 miles of road. It also provided for the 
improvement of the navigation of the Kaskaskia, 
Illinois, Great and Little Wabash and Rock Rivers ; 
also as a placebo, $200,000 in money were to be dis- 
.ributed to the various counties wherein no improve- 
ments were ordered to be made as above. The 
estimate for the expenses for all these projects was 
jlaced at a little over $10,000,000, which was not 
more i.nan half enough ! That would now be equal to 
jaddling upon the State a debt of $225,000,000! It 
was sufficient to bankrupt the State several times 
over, even counting all the possible benefits. 

One of the most exciting events that ever occurred 
in this fair State was the murder of Elijah P. Love- 
icy in the fall of 1837, at Alton, during Mr. Duncan's 
term as Governor. Lovejoy was an " Abolitionist," 
editing the Observer at that place, and the pro- 
slaverj' slums there formed themselves into a mob, 



and after destroying successively three presses be- 
longing to Mr. Lovejoy, surrounded the warehouse 
where the fourth press was stored away, endeavoring 
to destroy it, and where Lovejoy and his friends 
were entrenching themselves, and shot and killed the 
brave reformer! 

About this time, also, the question of removing ths 
State capital again came up, as the 20 years' limit for 
its existence at Vandalia was drawing to a close. 
There was, of course, considerable excitement over 
the matter, the two main points competing for it be- 
ing Springfield and Peoria. The jealousy of the lat- 
ter place is not even yet, 45 years afterward, fully 
allayed. 

Gov. Duncan's term expired in 1838. In 1842 
he was again proposed as a candidate for the Execu- 
tive chair, this time by the Whig party, against Adam 
W. Snyder, of St. Clair County, the nominee of the 
Democrats. Charles W. Hunter was a third candi- 
date for the same position. Mr. Snyder, however, died 
before the campaign had advanced very far, and his 
party substituted Thomas Ford, who was elected 
receiving 46,901 votes, to 38,584 for Duncan, and 
909 for Hunter. The cause of Democratic success 
at this time is mainly attributed to the temporary 
support of the Mormons which they enjoyed, and the 
want Oi" any knowledge, on the part of the masses, 
that Mr. Ford was opposed to any given ix)licy en- 
tertained in the respective localities. 

Gov. Duncan was a man of rather limited educa- 
tion, but with naturally fine abilities he profited 
greatly by his various public services, and gathered 
a store of knowledge regarding public affairs which 
served him a ready purpose. He possessed a clear 
judgment, decision, confidence in himself and moral 
courage to carry out his convictions of light. In his 
deportment he was well adapted to gain tlie admira- 
tion of the people. His intercourse with them was 
both affable and dignified. His portrait at the Gov- 
ernor's mansion, from which the accompanying was 
made, represents him as having a swarthy complex- 
ion, high cheek bones, broad forehead, piercing black 
eyes and straight black hair. 

He was a liberal patron of the Illinois (^^ollege at 
Jacksonville, a member of its Board of Trustees, and 
died, after a short illness, Jan. 15, 1844, a devoted 
member of the Presbyterian Church, leaving a wife 
but no children. Two children, born to them, had 
died in infancy. 



GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



'35 













^'^^-^HOMAS CARLIN, tlie sixth 
Governor of the State of 
Illinois, serving from 1838 
to 1842, was also a Ken- 
tuckian, being born near 
Frankfort, that State, July 
18, 1789, of Irish paternity. 
The opportunities for an education 
being verj- meager in his native 
place, he, on approaching years of 
judgment and maturity, applied 
himself to those branches of learn- 
ing that seemed most important, 
and thus became a self-made man ; 
and his taste for reading and 
study remained with him through 
life. In 1803 his father removed 
to Missouri, then a part of " New Spain," where he 
died in 18 10. 

In 1812 young Carlin came to Illinois and partici- 
pated in all the "ranging" service incident to the 
war of that period, proving himself a soldier of un- 
daunted bravery. In i8r4 he married Rebecca 
Huitt, and lived for four years on the bank of the 
Mississippi River, opposite the mouth of the Mis- 
souri, where he followed farming, and then removed 
to Greene County. He located the town site of Car- 
ro'lon, in that county, and in 1825 made a liberal 
donation of land for county building purposes. He 
was the first Sheriff of that county after its separate 
organization, and afterward was twice elected, as a 
Jackson Democrat, to the Illinois Senate. In the 
Black Hawk War he commanded a spy battalion, a 
jxjst of considerable danger. In 1834 he was ap- 
pointed by President Jackson to the position of 
Receiver of Public Mon«"ys, and to fulfill the office 



more conveniently he removed to the city of Quincy. 

While, in 1838, the unwieldy internal improvement 
system of the State was in full operation, witii all its 
expensive machinery, amidst bank suspensions 
throughout the United States, a great stringency in 
the money market everywhere, and Illinois bonds 
forced to sale at a heavy discount, and the " hardest 
times " existing that the people of the Prairie State 
ever saw, the general election of State officers was 
approaching. Discreet men who had cherished the 
hope of a speedy subsidence of the public infatua- 
tion, met with disappointment. A Governor and 
Legislature were to be elected, and these were now 
looked forward to for a repeal of the ruinous Stale 
policy. But the grand scheme had not yet lost its 
dazzling influence upon the minds of the people. 
Time and experience had not yet fully demonstrated 
its utter absurdity. Hence the question of arresting 
its career of profligate expenditures did not become 
a leading one with the dominant party during the 
campiign, and most of the old members of the Leg- 
islature were returned at this election. 

Under these circumstances the Democrats, in State 
Convention assembled, nominated Mr. Carlin for the 
office of Governor, and S. H. Anderson for Lieuten- 
ant Governor, while the Whigs nominated Cyrus Ed- 
wards, brother of Ninian Edwards, formeriy Governor, 
and W. H. Davidson. Edwards came out strongly 
for a continuance of the State policy, while Carlin 
remained non-committal. This was the first time 
that the two main political parties in this State were 
unembarrassed by any third party in the field. The 
result of the election was: Carlin, 35,573; Ander- 
son, 30,335 ; Edwards, 29,629 ; and Davidson, 28,- 

Upon the meeting of the subsequent Legislature 
(1839), the retiring Governor G)uncan) in his mes- 



136 



THOMAS CARLIN. 



sage spoke iti emphatic terms of the impolicy of the 
internal improvement system, presaging the evils 
threatened, and uiged that body to do their utmost 
to correct the great error; yet, on the contrary, the 
Legislature not only decided to continue the policy 
but also added to its burden by voting more appro- 
priations and ordering more improvements. Although 
the money market was still stringent, a further loan 
of $4,000,000 was ordered for the Illinois & Mich- 
igan Canal alone. Cli'cago at that time began to 
loom up and promise to be an important city, even 
the great emporium of the West, as it has since in- 
deed came to be. Ex-Gov. Reynolds, an incompe- 
tent financier, was commissioned to effect the loan, 
and accordingly hastened to the East on this respons- 
ible errand, and negotiated the loans, at considera- 
ble sacrifice to the State. Besides this embarrassment 
to Carlin's administration, the Legislature also de- 
clared that he had no authority to appoint a Secretary 
of State until a vacancy existed, and A. P. Field, a 
Whig, who had already held the post by appointment 
Arough three administrations, was determined to 
keep the place a while longer, in spite of Gov. Car- 
lin's preferences. The course of the Legislature in 
this regard, however, was finally sustained by the 
Supreme Court, in a quo warranto case brought up 
before it by John A. McClernand, whom the Gov- 
ernor had nominated for the office. Thereupon that 
dignified body was denounced as a "Whig Court!" 
endeavoring to establish the principle of life-tenure 
of office. 

A new law was adopted re-organizing the Judici- 
ary, and under it five additional Supreme Judges 
were elected by the Legislature, namely, Thomas 
Ford (afterward Governor), Sidney Breese, Walter B. 
Scates, Samuel H. Treat and Stephen A. Douglas — 
all Democrats. 

It was during Cov. Carlin's administration that the 
noisy campaign of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too " oc- 
curred, resulting in a Whig victory. This, however, 
did net affect Illinois politics very seriously. 

Another prominent event in the West during Gov. 
Carlin's term of office was the excitement caused by 
the Mormons and their removal from Independence, 
Mo., to Nauvoo, 111., in 1840. At the same time 
they began to tigure somewhat in State politics. On 
account of their believing — as they thought, accord- 
ing to the New Testament — that they should have 



"all things common," and that consequently "all 
the earth " and all that is upon it were the" Lord's " 
and therefore the property of his " saints," they 
were suspected, and correctly, too, of committing 
many of the deeds of larceny, robbery, etc., that 
were so rife throughout this country in those days. 
Hence a feeling of violence grew up between the 
Mormons and "anti-Mormons." In the State of 
Missouri the Mormons always supported the Dem- 
ocracy until they were driven out by the Democratic 
government, when they turned their support to the 
Whigs. They were becoming numerous, and in the 
Legislature of 1 840- 1, therefore, it became a matter 
of great interest with both parties to conciliate these 
people. Through the agency of one John C. Ben- 
nett, a scamp, the Mormons succeeded in rushing 
through the Legislature (both parties not darin^^ to 
oppose) a charter for the city of Nauvoo which vir- 
tually erected a hierarchy co-ordinate with the Fed- 
eral Government itself. In the fall of 184 1 the 
Governor of Missouri made a demand upon Gov. 
Carlin for the body of Joe Smith, the Mormon leader, 
as a fugitive from justice. Gov. Carlin issued th; 
writ, but for some reason it was returned unserved. 
It was again issued in 1842, and Smith was arrested, 
but was either rescued by his followers or discharged 
by the municipal court on a writ of habeas corpus. 

In December, 1841, the Democratic Convention 
nominated Adam W. Snyder, of Belleville, for Gov- 
ernor. As he had been, as a member of the Legisla- 
ture, rather friendly to the Mormons, the latter 
naturally turned their support to the Democratic 
party. The next spring the Whigs nominated Ex- 
Gov. Duncan for the same office. In the meantime 
the Mormons began to grow more odious to the 
masses of the people, and the comparative prospects 
of the respective parties for success became very 
problematical. Mr. Snyder died in May, and 
Thomas Ford, a Supreme Judge, was substituted as 
a candidate, and was elected. 

At the close of his gubernatorial term, Mr. Carlin 
removed back to his old home at Carrollton, where 
he spent the remainder of his life, as before his ele- 
vation to office, in agricultural pursuits. In 1849 
he served out the unexpired term of J. D. Fry in the 
Illinois House of Representatives, and died Feb. 4. 
1S52, at his residence at Carrollton, leaving a wife 
and seven children. 




oM^ 



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GOJTEttXORS OF ILUAXHS. 



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Tlioma-*i ForcL^tf 




HOMA5 



FOKD, GoviSEnaF 
- : ~ ; : ?4j^ asnd ast- 



hacn. 




:j iaDed m iSoz. 



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das ffciTT^- 
ito 



loo^bMlhe 



£k wUc& te kad &9 walk £&iee KEies. Hk Hodics; 
etoai^ \m \\m^ a. t h ou w^ ^ edacstiaB, was a wumjm 
<tf ■^uppii i ni fa^til eaoKiwiMeats,, joined to ci ii u tgy 
aad detanainairinM of cbaiarcfse. Sbe iJufakata l no 
her cUdiem Ebose faj^-fiODed |Mizici|ies «&k& dis- 
Ei^msfaed fasr 3005 ia pnbSc fife. Sfae eBBRdbed z 
i^d eooao^H' to paovide hecdiildiea 2b ed u mri oa; 
bst Geoegp foEqaa; bsr oldest sxa (six jeais older 
thaa Tbooaas Faid)( at: aa eadf ^p bad to qiat 
sdaooE tBDzidbf bs labor iaEtesopfnct of tkefiiaAf. 
He aikeiwad U i iiii aai fwgniFnr aaa ia HEoois 
z^H^aad bat fiv bis eai^ deaA «oald | Mi 4 K i iiT y 
bz«e beea dknred to tbe UEiagd Stages Senate. 

Yocng Facd, wiA aocBesbst beeeer opportnaities, 
leoareda beSEer edoczEian, tfann^ EaitBd to tbe 
1 ' li i eMn lnrBM qC tbe ooooHaM 'J I m » iI of tbosc niaaeer 

-rs. Tliii iimIhiI j^iih I nlj | in> M ii > irf" iii|ii_Liut ui 

ic«iaeBls, wiA aa jmrfiimj l lwi n far ansbeamics. ffis 

mtfideacj altiartrd tbe awnn a obw of Hoa. Dnd P. 

:t.«ba hpmwf Iks eSdeal patam aad fnend. 

^ :^ latter geadeMaa was aaeaiaeBt niM««^ states- 

oaaa wbo^as a T fi u ni t i nCfmiryTri. "'^ -■" ■ ^ ■ ^ T agriait 

: :act acies of laad to aid ia iiwi|ii riin^ tbe 

:'c yfkfd^m Caa^ aad alter wbon tbe 

. -- - ^ vrss aaaed. Tkra^^ tbe advice of 



140 



THOMAS FORJD. 



this genileman, Mr. Ford turned his attention to the 
study of law; but Forquer, then merchandising, re- 
garding his eJuc.ition defective, sent him to Transyl- 
vania University, where, iiowever, he remained but 
one term, owing to Forquer's failure in business. On 
his return he alternated his law reading with teach- 
ii'.g school for support. 

In 1829 Gov. Edwards appointed him Prosecuting 
Attorney, and in 1831 he was re-appointed by Gov. 
Reynolds, and after that he was four times elected a 
Judge by the Legislature, without opposition, twice a 
Circuit Judge, once a Judge of Chicago, and as As- 
sociate Judge of the Supreme Court, when, in 1841, 
the latter tribunal was re-organized by the addition 
of five Judges, all Democrats. Ford was assigned to 
the Ninth Judicial Circuit, and while in this capacity 
he was holding Court in Ogle County he received a 
notice of his nomination by the Democratic Conven- 
tion for the office of Governor. He immediately re- 
signed his place and entered upon the canvass. In 
August, 1842, he was elected, and on the 8th of De- 
cember following he was inaugurated. 

All the offices which he had lield were unsolicited 
by him. He received them upon the true Jefferson- 
ian [jrinciple, — Mever to ask and never to refuse 
office. Both as a lawyer and as a Judge he stood 
deservedly high, but his cast of intellect fitted him 
rather for a writer u|X)n law than a practicing advo- 
cate in the courts. In the latter capacity he was void 
of the moving power of eloquence, so necessary to 
success with juries. As a Judge his opinions were 
Tound, lucid and able expositions of the law. In 
practice, he was a stranger to the tact, skill and in- 
iinuating address of the politician, but he saw through 
the arts of demagogues as well as any man. He was 
plain in his demeanor, so much so, indeed, tiiat at 
one time after the expiration of his term of office, 
during a session of the Legislature, he was taken by 
a stranger to be a seeker for the position of door- 
keeper, and was waited upon at his hotel near mid- 
night by a knot of small office-seekers with the view 
of effecting a " combination ! " 

Mr. Ford had not the "brass" of the ordinary 
politician, nor that impetuosity which characterizes a 
ixilitical leader. He cared little for money, and 
hardly enough for a decent support. In person he 
was of small stature, slender, of dark complexion, 
with black hair, sharp features, deep-set eyes, a 
pointed, aquiline nose having a decided twist to one 
side, and a small mouth. 

The three most important events in Gov. Ford's 
administration were the establishment of the high 
financial credit of the State, the " Mormon War "and 
.he Mexican War. 

In the first of tnese the Governor proved himself 
*£) be eminently wise. On coming into office he found 
the State badly paralyzed by the ruinous effects of 
sne notorious "internal improvement' schemes of 



the i)reccding decade, with scarcely anything to 
show by way of "improvement." The enterprise 
that seemed to be getting ahead more than all the 
rest was the Illinois & Michigan Canal. As this 
promised to be the most important thoroughfare, 
feasible to the people, it was well under headway in 
its construction. Therefore the State policy was 
almost concentrated upon it, in order to rush it on tc 
completion. The bonded indebtedness of the State 
was growing so large as to frighten the people, and 
they were about ready to entertain a proposition for 
repudiation. But the Governor had the foresight to 
recommend such measures as would maintain the 
public credit, for which every citizen to-day feels 
thankful. 

But perhaps the Governor is remembered more for 
his connection with the Mormon troubles than for 
anything else; for it was during his term of office 
that the " Latter- Day Saints " became so strong at 
Nauvoo, built their temple there, increased their num- 
bers throughout the country, committed misdemean- 
ors, taught dangerous doctrines, suffered the loss of 
theirleader, Jo Smith, by a violent death, were driven 
out of Nauvoo to the far West, etc. Having been a 
Judge for so many years previously, Mr. Ford of 
course was no i-committal concerning Mormon affairs, 
and was ilierefore claimed by both parties and also 
accused by each of sympathizing too greatly with the 
other side. Mormonism claiming to be a system of 
religion, the Governor no doubt was "between two 
fires," and felt compelled to touch the matter rather 
" gingerly," and doubtless felt greatly relieved when 
that pestilential people left the State. Such compli- 
cated matters, especially when religion is mixed up 
with them, expose every person participating in 
them to criticism from all parties. 

The Mexican War was begun in the spring of 
1845, and was continued into the gubernatorial term 
of Mr. Ford's successor. The Governor's connection 
with this war, however, was not conspicuous, as it 
was only administrative, commissioning officers, etc. 

Ford's " History of Illinois " is a very readable and 
entertaining work, of 450 small octavo pages, and is 
destined to increase in value with the lapse of time. 
It exhibits a natural flow of compact and forcible 
thought, never failing to convey the nicest sense. In 
tracing with his trenchant pen the devious operations 
of the professional politician, in which he is inimit- 
able, his account is open, perhaps, to the objection 
that all his contemporaries are treated as mere place- 
seekers, while many of them have since been judged 
by the people to be worthy statesmen. His writings 
seem slightly open to the criticism that they exhibit 
a little splenetic partiality against those of his con- 
temporaries who were prominent during his term of 
office as Governor. 

The deaih of Gov. Ford took place at Peoria, lU., 
Nov. 2, i8i;o. 



Go VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



143 





Augustus Cc French. 



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iUGUSrUS C. FRENCH, 
Governor of Illinois from 
1846 to 1852, was born in 
the town of Hill, in the 
State of New Hampshire, 
Aug. 2, 1808. He was a 
descendant in the fourth 
generation of Nathaniel 
French, who emigrated from England 
in 1687 and settled in Saybury, Mass. 
In early life young French lost his 
father, but continued to receive in- 
struction from an exemplary and 
Christian mother until he was i 9 years 
old, when she also died, confiding to 
his care and trust four younger broth- 
ers and one sister. He discharged his trust with 
parental devotion. His education in early life was 
Euch mainly as a common school afforded. For a 
Srief period he attended Dartmouth College, but 
from pecuniary causes and the care of his brothers 
and sister, he did not graduate. He subsequently 
read law, and was admitted to the Bar in 183 1, and 
shortly afterward removed to Illinois, settling first at 
Albion, Edwards County, where he established him- 
self in the practice of law. The following year he 
removed to Paris, Edgar County. Here he attained 
eminence in his profession, and entered public life 
by representing that county in the Legislature. A 
strong attachment sprang up between him and Ste- 
phen A. Douglas. 

In 1839, Mr. French was appointed Receiver of 
the United States Land Office at Palestine, Craw- 
ford County, at which place he was a resident when 



elevated to the gubernatorial chair. In 1844 he was 
a Presidential Elector, and as such he voted for 
James K. Polk. 

The Democratic State Convention of 1846, meet- 
ing at Springfield Feb. 10, nominated Mr. French 
for Governor. Other Democratic candidates were 
Lyman Trumbull, John Calhoun (subsequently of 
Lecompton Constitution notoriety), Walter B. Scates, 
Richard M. Young and A. W. Cavarly,— an array of 
very able and prominent names. Trumbull was per- 
haps defeated in the Convention by the rumor that 
he was opposed to the Illinois and Michigan Canal. 
as he had been a year previously. For Lieutenant 
Governor J. B. Wells was chosen, while other candi- 
dates were Lewis Ross, Wm. McMurtry, Newton 
Cloud, J. B. Hamilton and W. W. Thompson. The 
resolutions declared strongly against the resuscita- 
tion of- the old State Banks. 

The Whigs, who were in a hopeless minority, held 
their convention June 8, at Peoria, and selected 
Thomas M. Kilpatrick, of Scott County, for Governor, 
and Gen. Nathaniel G. Wilco.x, of Schuyler, for 
Lieutenant Governor. 

In the campaign the latter exposed Mr. French's 
record and connection with the passage of the in- 
ternal improvement system, urging it against his 
election; but in the meantime the war with Mexico 
broke out, regarding which the Whig record was un- 
popular in this State. The war was the absorbing 
and dominating question of the period, sweeping 
every other political issue in its course. The elec- 
tion in August gave Mr. French 58,700 votes, and 
Kilpatrick only 36,775. Richard Eells, Abolitionist 
candidate for the same office, received 5,152 vot*s. 



144 



AUGUSTUS C. FRENCH. 



By the new Constitution of 184S, a new election for 
State officers was ordered in November of that year, 
before Gov. French's term was half out, and he was 
re-elected for the term of four years. He was there- 
fore the incumbent for six consecutive years, the 
only Governor of this State who has ever served in 
that capacity so long at one time. As there was no 
organized opposition to his election, he received 67,- 
453 votes, to 5,639 for Pierre Menard (son of the 
first Lieutenant Governor), 4,748 for Charles V. 
Dyer, 3,834 for W. L. D. Morrison, and 1,361 for 
James T-. D. Morrison. But Wm. McMurtry, of 
Knox County, was elected Lieutenant Governor, in 
place of Joseph B. Wells, who was before elected 
and did not run again. 

Governor French was inaugurated into office dur- 
ing the progress of the Mexican War, which closed 
during the summer of 1847, although the treaty of 
Guadalupe Hidalgo was not made until Feb. 2, 
1848. The policy of Gov. French's party was com- 
mitted to that war, but in connection with that affair 
he was, of course, only an administrative officer. 
During his term of office, Feb. 19, 1847, the Legisla- 
ture, by special permission of Congress, declared that 
all Government lands sold to settlers should be im- 
mediately subject to State taxation ; before this they 
were exempt for five years after sale. By this ar- 
rangement the revenue was materially increased. 
About the same lime, the distribution of Government 
-and warrants among the Mexican soldiers as bounty 
threw upon the market a great quantity of good 
lands, and this enhanced the settlement of the State. 
The same Legislature authorized, with the recom- 
mendation of the Governor, the sale of the Northern 
Cross Railroad (from Springfield to Meredosia, the 
first in the State and now a section of the Wabash, 
St. Louis & Pacific). It sold for $100,000 in bonds, 
although it had cost the State not less than a million. 
The salt wells and canal lands in the Saline reserve 
in Gallatin County, granted by the general Govern- 
ment to the State, were also authorized by the 
Governor to be sold, to apply on the State debt. In 
1850, for the first time since 1839, the accruing State 
revenue, exclusive of specific appropriations, was 
sufficient to meet the current demands upon the 
treasury. The aggregate taxable property of the 
State at this time was over $100,000,000, and th."? 
population 851,47.-3. 



In 1S49 the Legiaiature adopted the township or- 
ganization law, which, however, proved defectivi, 
and was properly amended in 185 1. At its session 
in the latter year, the General Assembly also passed 
a law to exempt homesteads from sale on executions 
This beneficent measure had been repeatedly utgecj 
upon that body by Gov. French. 

In 1850 some business men in St. Louis com- 
menced to build a dike opposite the lower part of 
their city on the Illinois side, to keep the Mississippi 
in its chanhel near St. Louis, instead of breaking 
away from them as it sometimes threatened to do. 
This they undertook without permission from the 
Legislature or Executive authority of this State ; and 
as many of the inhabitants therd complained that 
the scheme would inundate and ruin much valuable 
land, there was a slight conflict of jurisdictions, re- 
sulting in favor of the St. Louis project ; and since 
then a good site has existed there for a city (East St. 
Louis), and now a score of railroads center there. 

It was in September, 1850, that Congress granted 
to this State nearly 3,000,000 acres of land in aid of 
the completion of the Illinois Central Railroad, 
which constituted the most important epoch in the 
railroad — we might say internal improvement — his- 
tory of the State. The road was rushed on to com- 
pletion, which accelerated the settlement of the in- 
terior of the State by a good class of industrious citi- 
zens, and by the charter a good income to tlie State 
Treasury is paid in from the earnings of the road. 

In 185 I the Legislature passed a law authorizing 
free stock banks, v/hich was the source of much leg- 
islative discussion for a number of years. 

But we have not space further to particularize 
concerning legislation. Gov. Frencii's administra- 
tion was not marked by any feature to be criticised, 
while the country was settling up as never before. 

In stature. Gov. French was of medium height, 
squarely built, light complexioned, with ruddy face 
and pleasant countenance. In manners he was 
plain and agreeable. By nature he was somewhat 
diffident, but he was often very outspoken in his con- 
victions of duty. In public speech he was not an 
orator, but was chaste, earnest and persuasive. In 
business he was accurate and methodical, and in his 
administration he kept up the credit of the State. 

He died in 1S65, at his home in Lebanon, St 
Glair Co., ^',1. 



GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



t47 




i:^''*f 




foe! S- gl^rtteso 




OEL A. MATTESON, Governor 
' ^M I S5 3-6, was born Aug. 8, 1808, 
in Jefferson County, New York, 
to wliich place his father had re- 
moved from Vermont three years 
before. His father was a farmer 
in fair circumstances, but a com- 
mon Enghsh education was all 
that his only son received. Young 
Joel first tempted fortune as a 
small tradesman in Prescott, 
Canada, before he was of age. 
He returned from that place to 
his home, entered an academy, 
taught school, visited the prin- 
cipal Eastern cities, improved a farm his father had 
given him, made a tour in the South, worked there- 
in building railroads, experienced a slorm on tlic 
Gulf of Mexico, visited tiie' gold diggings of Northern 
Georgia, and returned via Nashville to St. Louis and 
through Illinois to his fatlier's home, when he mar- 
ried. In 1S33, having sold his farm, he removed, 
with his wife and one child, to Illinois, and entered 
a claim on Government land near the head of Au 
Sable River, in what is now Kendall County. At 
that time there were not more than two neighbors 
within a range of ten miles of his place, and only 
■ htee or four houses between him and Chicago. He 
opened a large farm. His fauiily was boarded i z 



miles away while he erected a house on his claim, 
sleeping, during this time, under a rude pole shed. 
Here his life was once placed in imminent peril by 
a huge prairie rattlesnake sharing his bed. 

In 1835 he bought largely at the Government land 
sales. During the speculative real-estate mania which 
broke out in Chicago in 1836 and spread over the State, 
he sold his l.inds under the inflation of that period 
and removed to Joliet. In 1838 he became a heavy 
contractor on the Illinois & Michigan Canal. Upon 
the completion of his job in 1841, when hard times 
prevailed, business at a stand, contracts paid in State 
scrip; when all the public works except the canal 
were abandoned, the State offered for sale 700 tons 
of railroad iron, which was purchased by Mr. Mat- 
teson at a bargain. Tiiis he accepted, shipped and 
sold at Detroit, realizing a very handsome profit, 
enough to pay off all his canal debts and leave him a 
surplus of several thousand dollars. His enterprise 
next prompted him to start a woolen mill at Joliet, 
in which he prospered, and which, after successive 
enlargements, became an enormous establishment. 

In T842 he was first elected <x State Senator, but, 
by a bungling apportionment, jc. tn Pearson, a Senator 
holding over, was found to be in the same district, 
and decided to be entitled to represent it. Mat- 
teson's seat was declared vacant. Pearson, however 
with a nobleness difficult to appreciate in this day of 



148 



JOEL A. MATTESON. 



greed for office, unwilling to represent his district 
under the circumstances, immediately resigned his 
unexpired term of two years. A bill was passed in a 
few hours ordering a new election, and in ten days' 
time Mr. Matteson was returned re-elected and took 
his seat as Senator. From his well-known capacity 
as a business man, he was made Chairman of the 
Committee on Finance, a position he held daring 
this half and two full succeeding Senatorial terms, 
discharging its important duties with ability and faith- 
fulness. Besides his extensive woolen-mill interest, 
when work was resumed on the canal under the new 
loan of $[,600,000 he again became a heavy con- 
tractor, and also subsequently operated largely in 
building railroads. Thus he showed himself a most 
energetic and thorough business man. 

He was nominated for Governor by the Demo- 
cratic State Convention which met at Springfield 
April 20, 1852. Other candidates before the Con- 
vention were D. L. Gregg and F. C. Sherman, of 
Cook ; John Dement, of Lee ; Thomas L. Harris, of 
Menard; Lewis W. Ross, of Fulton ; and D. P. Bush, 
of Pike. Guslavus Koerner, of St. Clair, was nom- 
inated for Lieutenant Governor. For the same offices 
the Whigs nominated Edwin B. Webb and De.xter A. 
Knowlton. Mr. Matteson received 80,645 votes at 
the election, while Mr. AVebb received 64,408. Mat- 
teson's forte was not on the stump; he had not cul- 
tivated the art of oily flattery, or the faculty of being 
all things to all men. His intellectual qualities took 
rather the direction of efficient executive ability. His 
turn consisted not so much in the adroit manage- 
ment of party, or the powerful advocacy of great gov- 
ernmental principles, as in those more solid and 
enduring operations which cause the physical devel- 
opment and advancement of a State, — of commerce 
and business enterprise, into which he labored with 
success to lead the people. As a politician he was 
just and liberal in his views, and both in official and 
private life he then stood untainted and free from 
blemish. As a man, in active benevolence, social 
cirtues and all the amiable qualities of neighbor or 
citizen, he had few superiors. His messages present 
a perspicuous array of facts as to the condition of the 
State, and are often couched in forcible and elegant 
diction. 

The greatest excitement during his term of office 
was the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, by Con- 



gress, under the leadership of Stephen A. Douglas in 
1854, when the bill was passed organizing the Terri- 
tory of Kansas and Nebraska. A large portion of 
the Whig party of the North, through their bitter op- 
position to the Democratic party, naturally drifted 
into the doctrine of anti-slavery, and thus led to what 
was temporarily called the "Anti-Nebraska" party, 
while the followers of Douglas were known as " Ne- 
braska or Douglas Democra.ts." It was during this 
embryo stage of the Republican party that Abraham 
Lincoln was brought forward as the "Anti-Nebraska" 
candidate for the United States Senatorship, while 
Gen. James Shields, the incumbent, was re-nom- 
inated by the Democrats. But after a fewballotings 
in the Legislature (1855), these men were dropped, 
and Lyman Trumbull, an Anti-Nebraska Democrat, 
was brought up by the former, and Mr. Matteson, 
then Governor, by the latter. On the nth ballot 
Mr. Trumbull obtained one majority, and was ac- 
cordingly declared elected. Before Gov. Matteson's 
term expired, the Republicans were fully organized 
as a national party, and in 1856 put into the field a 
full national and State ticket, carrying the State, but 
not the nation. 

The Legislature of 1855 passed two very import- 
ant measures, — the present free-school system and a 
submission of the Maine liquor law to a vote of the 
people. The latter vi^as defeated by a small majority 
of the popular vote. 

During the four years of Gov. Matteson's admin- 
istration the taxable wealth of the State was about 
trebled, from $137,818,079 to $349,951,272; the pub- 
lic debt was reduced from $17,398,985 to $12,843,- 
144; taxation was at the same time reduced, and the 
State resumed paying interest on its debt in New 
York as fast as it fell due; railroads were increased 
in their mileage from something less than 400 to 
about 3.000 ; and the population of Chicago was 
nearly doubled, and its commerce more than quad- 
rupled. 

Before closing this account, we regret that we have 
to say that Mr. Matteson, in all other respects an 
upright man and a good Governor, was implicated 
in a false re-issue of redeemed canal scrip, amount- 
ing to $224,182.66. By a suit in the Sangamon Cir- 
cuit Court the State recovered the principal and all 
the interest excepting $27,500. 

He died in the winter of 1872-3, at Chicago. 




/ 




^-.^.e^^-..^^^^. 



GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



151 










.^>i— 1€- a<S$-«ig)»-$S-o ^ j< » 



ILLIAM H. BISSELL, Gov- 
ernor 1857-60, was born 
April 25, i8n, in the 
State of New York, near 
Painted Post, Yates County. 
His parents were obscure, 
honest. God-fearing people, 
who reared their children under the daily 
example of industry and frugality, accord- 
ing to the custom of that class of Eastern 
society. Mr. Bissell received a respecta- 
ble but not thorough academical education. 
By assiduous application he acquired a 
knowledge of medicine, and in his early 
manhood came West and located in Mon- 
roe County, this State, where he engaged in the 
practice of that profession. But he was not enam- 
ored of his calling: he was swayed by a broader 
ambition, to such an extent that the mysteries of the 
healing art and its arduous duties failed to yield him 
further any charms. In a few years he discovered 
his choice of a profession to be a mistake, and when 
he approached the age of 30 he sought to begin 
anew. Dr. Bissell, no doubt unexpectedly to him- 
self, discovered a singular facility and charm of 
speech, the exercise of which acquired for him a 
ready local nptoriety. It sgon came to be under- 



stood that he desired to abandon his profession and 
take up that of the law. During terms of Court he 
would spend his time at the county seat among the 
members of the Bar, who extended to him a ready 
welcome. 

It was not strange, therefore, that he should drift 
into [jublic life. In 1840 he was elected as a Dem- 
ocrat to the Legislature from Monroe County, and 
was an efficient member of tliat body. On his re- 
turn home he qualified himself for admission to the 
Bar and speedily rose to the front rank as an advo- 
cate. His powers of oratory were captivating. Witli a 
pure diction, charming and inimitable gestures, 
clearness of statement, and a remarkable vein of sly 
humor, his efforts before a jury told with irresistible 
effect. He was chosen by the Legislature Prosecut- 
ing Attorney for the Circuit in which he lived, and 
in that position he fully discharged his duty to the 
State, gained the esteem of the Bar, and seldom 
failed to convict the offender of the law. 

In stature he was somewhat tall and slender, and 
with a straight, military bearing, he presented a dis- 
tinguished appearance. His complexion was dark, 
Iris head well poised, though not large, his address 
pleasant and manner winning. He was exemplary 
in his habits, a devoted husband and kind parent. 
He w^9 twice married, the first time to Miss James, 



^52 



WILLIAM H. BISSELL. 



of Monroe County, by whom he had two children, 
botli daughters. She died soon after the year 1840, 
and Mr. B. married for his second wife a daughter 
of Elias K. Kane, previously a United States Senator 
from this State. She survived hin hut a short time, 
and died without issue. 

When the war with Mexico was declared in 1846, 
Mr. Bissell enlisted and was elected Colonel of his 
regiment, over Hon. Don Morrison, by an almost 
unanimous vote, — 807 to 6. Considering the limited 
opportunities he had had, he evinced a high order of 
military talent. On the bloody field of Buena Vista 
he acquitted himself with intrepid and distinguished 
ability, contributing with his regiment, the Second 
Illinois, in no small degree toward saving the waver- 
ing fortunes of our arms during that long and fiercely 
contested battle. 

After his return home, at the close of the war, lie 
was elected to Congress, his opponents being the 
Hons. P. B. Fouke and Joseph Gillespie. He served 
two terms in Congress. He was an ardent politician. 
During the great contest of 1850 he voted in favor 
of the adjustment measures; but in 1854 he opposed 
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise act and 
therefore the Kansas-Nebraska bill of Dougl^, and 
thus became identified with the nascent Republican 
party. 

During his first Congressional term, while the 
Southern members were following their old practice 
of intimidating the North by bullying language, 
and claiming most of the credit for victories in the 
Mexican War, and Jefferson Davis claiming for the 
Mississippi troops all the credit for success at Buena 
Vista, Mr. Bissell bravely defended the Northern 
troops ; whereupon Davis challenged Bissell to a duel, 
which was accepted. This matter was brought u|) 
against Bissell when he was candidate for Governor 
and during his term of office, as the Constitution of 
this State forbade any duelist from holding a State 
office. 

In 1856, when the Republican party first put forth 
a candidate, John C. Fremont, for President of the 
United States, the same party nominated Mr. Bissell 
for Governor of Illinois, and John Wood, of Quincy, 
for Lieutenant Governor, while the Democrats nomi- 
nated Hon. W. A. Richardson, of Adams County, 
for Governor, and Col. R. J. Hamilton, of Cook 
County, for Lieutenant Governor- The result pf the 



election was a plurality of 4,729 votes over Richard- 
son. The American, or Know-Nothing, party had a 
ticket in the field. The Legislature was nearly bal- 
anced, but was politically opposed to the Governor. 
His message to the Legislature was short and rather 
ordinary, and was criticised for expressing the sup- 
posed obligations of the people to the incorporators 
of the Illinois Central Railroad Company and for re- 
opening the slavery question by allusions to the 
Kansas troubles. Late in the session an apportion- 
ment bill, based upon the Stale census of 1855, was 
passed, amid much partisan strife. The Governor 
at first signed the bill and then vetoed it. A furious 
debate followed, and the question whether the Gov- 
ernor had the authority to recall a signature was 
referred to the Courts, tliat of last resort deciding in 
favor of the Governor. Two years afterward another 
outrageous attempt was made for a re-apportionment 
and to gerrymander the State, but the Legislature 
failed to pass the bill over the veto of the Governor. 

It was during Gov. Bissell's administration that 
the notorious canal scrip fraud was brought to light, 
implicating ex-Gov. Matteson and other prominent 
State officials. The principal and interest, aggregat- 
ing $255,500, was all recovered by the State except- 
ing $27,500. (See sketch of Gov. Matteson.) 

In 1859 an attempt was discovered to fraudu- 
lently refund the Macalister and Stebbins bonds and 
thus rob the State Treasury of nearly a quarter of a 
million dollars. The State Government was impli- 
cated in this affair, and to this day remains unex- 
plained or unatoned for. For the above, and other 
matters previously mentioned. Gov. Bissell has been 
severely criticised, and he has also been most shame- 
fully libelled and slandered. 

On account of exposure in the army, the remote 
cause of a nervous form of disease gained entrance 
into his system and eventually developed paraplegia, 
affecting his lower extremities, which, while it left 
his body in comparative health, deprived him of loco- 
motion except by the aid of crutches. While he was 
generally hopeful of ultimate recovery, this myste- 
rious disease pursued him, without once rela.xing its 
stealthy hold, to the close of his life, March 18, 
i860, over nine months before the expiration of hii 
gubernatorial term, at the early age of 48 years. He 
died in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church, 0/ 
which he hai-> been a member since 1854, 



GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



155 





■*- 



;-^^ iHN WOOD, Governor 1860-1, and 
l^«« the first settler of Qaincy, 111., 
was born in the town of Sempro- 
nius (now Moravia), Cayuga Co., 
N. Y., Dec. 20, 1798. He was 
the second child and only son of 
Dr. Daniel Wood. His mother, 
7iee Catherine Crause, was of 
German parentage, and died 
while he was an infant. Dr. 
Wood was a learned and skillful 
physician, of classical attain- 
ments and proficient in several 
modern lai.guages, who, after 
serving throughout the Revolu- 
tionary War as a Surgeon, settled on the land granted 
him by the Government, and resided there a re- 
spected and leading influence in his section until his 
death, at the ripe age of 92 years. 

The subject of this sketch, impelled by the spirit 
of Western adventure then pervading everywhere, 
left his home, Nov. 2, 1818, and passed the succeed- 
ing winter in Cincinnati, Ohio. The following sum- 
mer he pushed on to Illinois, landing at Shawneetown, 
and spent the fall and following winter in Calhoun 
County. In 1820, in company with Willard Keyes, 
he settled in Pike County, about 30 miles southeast 
of Quincy, where for the next two years he pursued 
farming. In 1821 he visited "theBlufTs" (as the 
present site of Quincy was called, then uninhabited) 
and, pleased with its prospects, soon after purchased 
a quarter-section of land near by, and in the follow- 
ing fall (1822) erected near the river a small cabin, 



-^* 



18 X 20 feet, the first building in Quincy, of which 
he then became the first and for some months the 
only occupant. 

About this time he visited his old friends in Pike 
County, chief of whom was William Ross, the lead- 
ing man in building up the village of Atlas, of that 
county, which was thought then to be the possible 
commencement of a city. One day they and others 
were traveling together over the country between the 
two points named, making observations on the com- 
parative merits of the respective localities. On ap- 
proaching the Mississippi near Mr. Wood's place, 
the latter told his companions to follow him and he 
would show them where he was going to build a city. 
They went about a mile off the main trail, to a high 
point, from which the view in every direction was 
most magnificent, as it had been for ages and as yet 
untouched by the hand of man. Before them swept 
by the majestic Father of Waters, yet unburdened by 
navigation. After Mr. Wood had expatiated at 
length on the advantages of the situation, Mr. Ross 
replied, "But it's too near Atlas ever to amount to 
anything!" 

Atlas is still a cultivated farm, and Quincy is 9 
city of over 30,000 population. 

In 1824 Mr. Wood gave a newspaper notice, 
as the law then prescribed, of his intention to apply 
to the General Assembly for the formation of a new 
county. This was done the following winter, result- 
ing in the establishment of the present Adams 
County. During the next summer Quincy was se- 
lected as the county seat, it and the vicinity then 
containing but fpur aduU wale residents and half 



IS" 



rOHN WOOD. 



that number of females. Since tliat period Mr. 
Wood resided at the place of his early adoi)tion un- 
til his death, and far more tiian any other man was 
he identified with every measure of its progress and 
history, and almost continuously kept in public posi- 
tions. 

He was one of the early town Trustees, and after 
the place became a city he was often a member of 
the City Council, many times elected Mayor, in the 
face of a constant large opposition political majority. 
In 1850 he was elected to the State Senate. In 1856, 
on the organization of the Republican party, he was 
chosen Lieutenant Governor of the State, on the 
ticket with Wm. H. Bissell for Governor, and on the 
death of tiie latter, March 18, i860, he succeeded to 
the Chief Executive chair, which he occupied until 
Gov. Yates was inaugurated ncar'.y ten months after- 
ward. 

Nothing very marked characterized the adminis- 
tration of (Jov. W^ood. The great anti-slavery cam- 
paign of i860, resulting in the election of the honest 
Illinoisan, Abraham Lincoln, to the Presidency of the 
United States, occurred during the short period 
while Mr. Wood was Governor, and tne excitement 
and issues of that struggle dominated over every 
other consideration,— indeed, supplanted them in a 
great measure. The people of Illinois, during all 
that time, were passing the comparatively petty strifes 
under Bissell's administration to the overwhelming 
issue of preserving the whole nacion from destruction. 

In 1861 ex-Gov. Wood was one of the five Dele- 
gates from Illinois to the " Peace Convention " at 
Washington, and in April of the same year, on the 
breaking out of the Rebellion, he was appointed I 



Quartermaster-General of the State, wliich position 
he held throughout the war. In 1S64 he took com- 
mand as Colonel of the 137th 111. Vol. Inf, with 
whom he served until the period of enlistment ex- 
jiired. 

Politically, Gov. Wood was always actively identi- 
fied with the Whig and Republican parties. Few 
men have in personal experience comprehended so 
many surprising and advancing local changes as 
vested in the more than half century recollections of 
Gov. Wood. Sixty-four years ago a solitary settler 
on the "Bluffs," with no family, and no neighbor 
within a score of miles, the world of civilization away 
behind him, and the strolling red-man almost his 
only visitant, he lived to see growing around him, 
and under his auspices and aid, overspreading the 
wild hills and scraggy forest a teaming city, second 
only in size in the State, and surpassed nowhere in 
beauty, prosperity and promise; whose people recog- 
nize as with a single voice the proverbial honor and 
liberality that attach to the name and lengthened 
life of their pioneer settler, "the old Governor." 

Gov. Wood was twice married,— first in January, 
1826, to Ann M. Streeter, daughter of Joshua Streeteri 
formerly of Salem, Washington Co., N. Y. They had 
eight children. Mrs, W. died Oct. 8, 1863, and in 
June, 1865, Gov. Wood married Mrs. Mary A., widow 
of Rev. Joseph T. Holmes. Gov. Wood died June 4, 
1S80, at his residence in Quincy. Four of his eight 
children are now living, namely: Ann E., wife^'of 
Gen. John Tillson; Daniel C, who married Mary J. 
Abernethy ; John, Jr., who married Josephine Skinner, 
and Joshua S., who married Annie Bradley. The 
last mentioned now resides at Atchison, Kansas, and 
all the rest are still at Quincy. 




GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



'5.) 








p<>i]^ard Tal:<>^ 





ilCHARD YATES, the "War 
Governor," 1 86 1-4, was born 
Jan. 18, 1818, on the banks of 
the Ohio River, at V'arsaw, 
Gallatin Co., Ky. His lather 
moved in 1831 to Illinois, and 
after stopping for a time in 
Springfield, settled at Island 
Grove, Sangamon County. Here, 
after attending school, Richard joined 
the family. Subsequently he entered 
Illinois College at Jacksonville, 
where, in 1837, he graduated with 
first honors. He chose for his pro- 
fession the law, the Hon. J. J. Har- 
din being his instructor. After ad- 
mission to the Bar he soon rose to distinction as an 
advocate. 

Gifted with a fluent and ready oratory, he soon 
appeared in the political hustings, and, being a 
passionate admirer of the great Whig leader of the 
West. Henry Clay, he joined his political fortunes to 
he party of his idol. In 1840 he engaged with great 
^■rdor in the exciting " hard cider " campaign for 
rfarrison. Two years later he was elected to the 
Legislature from Morgan County, a Democratic 
stronghold. He served three or four terms in the 
Legislature, and such was the fascination of his ora- 
r:'iry that by 1850 his large Congressional District, 
extending from Morgan and Sangamon Counties 
1 orth to include LaSalle, unanimously tendered him 
tiie Whig nomination for Congress. His Democratic 
opponent was Maj. Thomas L. Harris, a very pop- 
vlar man who had won distinction at the battle of 
Cerro Gordo, in the Me.xican War, and who had 

oeaten Hon. Stephen T. jliogan for the same position, 



two years before, by a large majority. Yates wa.~ 
elected. Two years later he was re-elected, over 
John Calhoun. 

It was during Yates second term in Congress that 
the great question of the repeal of the Missouri Com- 
promise was agitated, and the bars laid down for re- 
opening the dreaded anti-slavery question. He took 
strong grounds against the repe.il, and thus became 
identified with the rising Republican party. Conse- 
quently he fell into the minority in his district, which 
was pro-slavery. Even then, in a third contest, he 
fell behind Major Harris only zoo votes, after the 
district had two years before given Pierce 2,000 
majority for President. 

The Republican State Convention of i860 met at 
Decatur May 9, and nominated for the office of Gov- 
ernor Mr. Yates, in preference to Hon. Norman B, 
Judd, of Chicago, and Leonard Swett, of Blooming- 
ton, two of the ablest men of the State, who were 
also candidates before the Convention. Francis A. 
Hofifman, of DuPage County, was nominated for 
Lieutenant Governor. This was the year when Mr. 
Lincoln was a candidate for President, a period re- 
membered as characterized by the great whirlpool 
which precipitated the bloody War of the Rebellion. 
The Douglas Democrats nominated J. C. Allen cf 
Crawford County, for Governor, and Lewis W. Ross, 
of Fulton County, for Lieutenant Governor. The 
Breckenridge Democrats and the Bell-Everett party 
had also full tickets in the field. After a most fear- 
ful campaign, the result of the election gave Mr. 
Yates 172,196 votes, and Mr Allen 159,253. Mr. 
Yates received over a thousand more votes than did 
Mr. Lincoln himself. 

Gov, Ysites occupied the chair of State during the 



i6o 



RICHARD YATES. 



most critical period of our country's history. In the 
fate of the nation was involved that of each State. 
The life struggle of the former derived its sustenance 
from the loyalty of the latter; and Gov. Yates 
seemed to realize the situation, and proved himself 
both loyal and wise in upholding the Government. 
He had a deep hold upon the affections of the 
people, won by his moving eloquence and genial 
manners. Erect and symmetrical in person, of pre- 
possessing appearance, with a winning address and a 
magnetic power, few men possessed more of the ele- 
ments of popularity. His oratory was scholarly and 
captivating, his hearers hardly knowing why they 
were transported. He was social and convivial. In 
the latter respect he was ultimately carried too far. 

The very creditable military efforts of this State 
during the War of the Rebellion, in putting into the 
field the enormous number of about 200,000 soldiers, 
were ever promptly and ably seconded by his excel- 
lency ; and tlie was ambitious to deserve the title of 
"the soldier's friend." Immediately after the battle of 
Shiloh he repaired to the field of carnage to look 
after the wounded, and his appeals for aid were 
promptly responded to by the people. His procla- 
mations calling for volunteers were impassionate 
appeals, urging upon the people the duties and re- 
quirements of patriotism ; and his special message 
ill i86_^ to the Democratic Legislature of this State 
pleading for material aid for the sick and wounded 
soldiers of Illinois regiments, breathes a deep fervor 
of noble sentiment and feeling rarely equaled in 
beauty or felicity of expression. Generally his mes- 
sages on political and civil aff^iirs were able and com- 
prehensive. During his administration, however, 
there were no civil events of an engrossing character, 
although two years of his time were replete with 
partisan quarrels of great bitterness. Military ar- 
rests, Knights of the Golden Circle, riot in Fulton 
County, attempted suppression of the Chicago Times 
and the usurping State Constitutional Convention of 
1862, were the chief local topics that were exciting 
during the Governor's term. This Convention assem- 
bled Jan. 7, and at once took the high position that 
'he law calling it was no longer binding, and that it 
■.ad supreme power; that it represented a virtual 
assemblage of the whole people of the State, and was 
sovereign in the exercise of all fwwer necessary to 
effect a. peaceable revolution of the State Government 



and to tlie re-establishment of one for the "happiness, 
prosperity and freedom of the citizens," limited only 
by the Federal Constitution. Notwithstanding the 
law calling the Convention required its members to 
take an oath to support the Constitution of the State 
as well as that of the general Government, they 
utterly refused to take such oath. They also as- 
sumed legislative powers and passed several imixsrt- 
ant "laws!" Interfering with the (then) present 
executive duties, Gov. Yates was provoked to tell 
them plainly that " he did not acknowledge tlie right 
of the Convention to instruct him in the performance 
of his duty." 

In 1 863 the Governor astonished the Democrats 
by " proroguing " their Legislature. Tliis body, after 
a recess, met June 2, that year, and soon began to 
waste time upon various partisan resolutions ; and, 
while the two houses were disagreeing upon the 
question of adjourning «'«if die, the Governor, having 
tlie authority in such cases, surprised them all by 
adjourning them " to the Saturday next preceding the 
first Monday in January, 1865 ! " This led to great 
excitement and confusion, and to a reference of the 
Governor's act to the Supreme Court, who decided in 
his favor. Then it was the Court's turn to receive 
abuse for weeks and months afterward. 

During the autumn of 1864 a conspiracy was de- 
tected at Chicago which had for its object the liber- 
ation of the prisoners of war at Camp Douglas, the 
burning of the city and the inauguration of rebellion 
in the North. Gen. Sweet, who had charge of the 
camp at the time, first had his suspicions of danger 
aroused by a number of enigmatically worded letters 
which passed through the Camp postoflice. A de- 
tective afterward discovered that the rebel Gen. 
Marmaduke was in the city, under an assumed 
name, and he, with other rebel oflScers— Grenfell, 
Morgan, Cantrell, Buckner Morris, and Charles 
Walsh — was arrested, most of whom were convicted 
by a court-martial at Cincinnati and sentenced to 
imprisonment, — Grenfell to be hung. The sentence 
of the latter was afterward commuted to imprison- 
ment for life, and all the others, after nine months' 
imprisonment, were pardoned. 

In March, 1873, Gov. Yates was appointed a Gov- 
ernment Director of the Union Pacific Railroad, in 
which office he continued until his decease, at St. 
Louis, Mo., on the 27th of November following. 



GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



,63 








-^•^ 



P^^ICHARD J. OGLESBY, Gov- 
ernor 1865-8, and re-elected 
ill 1872 and 1884, was born 
July 25, 1824, in Oldham Co., 
Ky., — the State which might 
fwc-A. be considered the " mother of 
Illinois Governors." Bereft of 
his parents at the tender age 
of eight years, his early education 
was neglected. When 12 years of 
age, and after he had worked a year 
and a half at the carpenter's trade, 
he removed with an uncle, Willis 
Oglesby, into whose care he had 
been committed, to Decatur, this 
State, where he continued his ap- 
prenticeship as a mechanic, working six months for 
Hon. E. O. Smith. 

In 1844 he commenced studying law at Spring- 
field, with Judge Silas Robbins, and read with him 
one year. He was admitted to the Bar in 1845, and 
commenced the practice of his chosen profession at 
Sullivan, the county seat of Moultrie County. 

The next year the war with Mexico was com- 
menced, and in June, 1846, Mr. Oglesby volunteered, 
was elected First Lieutenant of Co. C, Fourth Illinois 
Regiment of Volunteers, and participated in the bat- 
tles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. 

On his return he sougiit to perfect his law studies 
by attending a course of lectures at Louisville, l)ut 
on the breaking out of the California "gold fever " in 
1849, he crossed the plains and mountains to the 

new Eldorado, driving a six-mule team, with a com- 



pany of eight men, Henry Prather being the leader, 
In 1852 he returned home to Macon County, and 
was placed that year by the Whig party on the ticket 
of Presidential Electors. In 1856 he visited Europe, 
Asia and Africa, being absent 20 months. On his 
return home he resumed the practice of law, as a 
member of the fir.n of Gallagher, Wait & Oglesby. 
In 1858 he was the Republican noninee for the 
Lower House of Congress, but was defeated by the 
Hon. James C. Robinson, Democrat. In i860 he 
was elected to the Illinois State Senate ; and on the 
evening the returns of this election were coming in, 
Mr. Oglesby liad a fisticuff encounter with " Cerro 
Gordo Williams," in which he came out victorious, 
and which was regarded as " the first fight of the 
Rebellion." The following spring, when the war 
had cominenced in earnest, his ardent nature 
quickly responded to the demands of patriotism and 
he enlisted. The extra session of the Legislature 
elected him Colonel of the Eighth Illinois Infantry, 
the second one in the State raised to suppress the 
great Rebellion. 

He WIS shortly eatrusted with important com- 
mands. For a time he was stationed at Bird's Point 
and Cairo ; in April he was promoted Brigadier Gen- 
eral ; at Fort Donelson his brigade was in the van, 
being stationed on the right of General Grant's army 
and the first brigade to be attacked. He lost 500 
men before re-inforcements arrived. Many of these 
men were from Macon County. He was engaged in 
the battle of Corinth, and, in a brave charge at this 
place, was shot in the left lung with an ounce ball, 
and was carried from the field in e.xpectation of im- 



164 



RICHARD J. OGLESBY 



mediate death. That rebel ball he carries to this 
day. On his partial recovery he was promoted as 
Major General, for gillantiy, his commissioa to rank 
from November, 1862. In the spring of 1863 he 
wae assigned to the command of the i6th Army 
Corps, but, owing to inability from the effects of his 
wound, he relinquished this command in July, that 
year. Gen. Grant, however, refused to accept his 
resignation, and lie was detailed, in December folloiv- 
ing, to court-martial and try the Surgeon General of 
the Army at Washington, where he remained until 
May, 1864, when he returned home. 

The Republican, or Uiion, State Convention of 

1864 was held at Springfield, May 25, when Mr. 
Oglesby was nominated for the office of Governor, 
while other candidates before the Convention were 
Allen C. Fuller, of Boone, Jesse K. Dubois, of Sanga- 
mon, and John M. Palmer, of Macoupin. Wni. 
Bross, of Chicago, was nominated for Lieutenant 
Governor. On the Democratic State ticket were 
James C. Robinson, of C'lark, for Governor, and S. 
Corning Judd, of Fulton, for Lieutenant Governor. 
The general election gave Gen. Oglesby a majority 
of about 31,000 votes. The Republicans had also a 
majority in both tha Legislature and in the repre- 
sentation in Congress. 

Gov. Oglesby was duly inaugurated Jan. 17, 1865. 
The day before the first time set for his installation 
death visited his home at Decatur, and took from it 
his only son, an intelligent and sprightly lad of six 
years, a great favorite of the bereaved parents. This 
caused the inauguration to be postponed a week. 

The political events of the Legislative session of 

1865 were the election of ex-Gov. Yates to the 
United States Senate, and the ratification of the 13th 
amendment to the Constitution of the United States, 
abolishing slavery. This session also signalized 
itself by repealing the notorious " black laws," part 
of which, although a dead letter, had held their place 
upon the statute books since 1S19. Also, laws re- 
quiring the registration of voters, and establishing a 
State Board of Equalization, were passed by this Leg- 
islature. But the same body evinced that it was cor- 
ruptly influenced by a mercenary lobby, as it adopted 
some bad legislation, over the Governor's veto, nota- 
bly an amendment to a cliarter for a Chicago horse 
railway, granted in 1859 for 25 years, and now 
sought to be extended 99 years. As this measure 
was promptly passed over his veto by both branches 
of the Legislature, he deemed it useless further to 
attempt to check their headlong career. At this 
session no law of a general useful character or public 
interest was perfected, unless we count such the 
turning over of the canal to Chicago to be deepened. 
The session of 1867 was still more productive of 
private and special acts. Many omnibus bills were 
proposed, and some passed. The contests over the 
APcation of the Industrial College, the Capital, the 



Southern Penitentiary, and the canal enlargement 
and Illinois River improvement, dominated every- 
thing else. 

During the year 1872, it became evident that i( 
the Republicans could re-elect Mr. Oglesby to the 
office of Governor, they could also elect him to the 
United States Senate, which they desired to do. 
AccDidingly they re-nominated him for the Execu- 
tive chair, and placed upon the ticket with him for 
Lieutenant Governor, John L. Beveridge, of Cook 
County. On the other side the Democrats jjut into 
the field Gustavus Koerner for Governor and .John 
C. Black for Lieutenant Governor. The election 
gave the Republican ticket majorities ranging from 
35,334 to 56,174, — the Democratic defection being 
caused mainly by their having an old-time Wliig and 
AboUtionist, Horace Greeley, on the national ticket 
for President. According to the general understand- 
ing had beforehand, as soon as the Legislature met 
it elected Gov. Oglesby to the United States Senate, 
whereupon Mr. Beveridge became Governor. Sena- 
tor Oglesby's term expired March 4, 1879, having 
served his party faithfully and exhibited an order of 
statesmanship beyond criticism. 

During the campaign of 1884 Mr. Oglesby was 
nominated for a "third term" as Executive of the 
State of Illinois, against Carter H. Harrison, Mayor 
of Chicago, nominated by the Democrats. Both 
gentlemen "stumped " the State, and while the peo- 
ple elected a Legislature which was a tie on a joint 
ballot, as between the two parties, they gave the 
■ jovial " Dick" Oglesby a majority of 15,018 for Gov- 
ernor, and he was inaugurated Jan. 30, 1885. The 
Legislature did not fully organize until this date, on 
account of its equal division between the two main 
parties and the consequent desperate tactics of each 
party to checkmate the latter in the organization of 
the House. 

Gov. Oglesby is a fine-appearing, affable man, with 
regular, well defined features and rotund face. In 
stature he is a little above medium height, of a large 
frame and somewhat fleshy. His physical appear- 
ance is striking and prepossessing, while his straight- 
out, not to say bluff, manner and speech are weli. 
calculated favorably to impress the average masses. 
Ardent in feeling and sirongly committed to the pol- 
icies of his party, he intensifies ' Republicanism 
among Republicans, while at the same time his jovial 
and liberal manner prevents those of the opposite 
party from hating him. 

He is quite an effective stump orator. With vehe- 
ment, passionate and scornful tone and gestures, 
tremendous physical power, which in speaking he 
exercises to the utmost; with fretjuent descents to 
the grotesque; and with abundant homely compari- 
sons or frontier figures, expressed in the broadest 
vernacular and enforced with stentorian emphasis, 
he delights a promiscuoug audience beyond measure. 




s^ 



.K^,^^ 




&--£^i^c.c^ 



GO VER IVORS OF ILLINOIS. 



\%i 









J 0' HN M. Fa L 31 MR 





:OHN Mc AULEY PALMER, Gov- 
ernor 1869-72, was born on 
Engle Creek, Scott Co., Ky , 
Sept. 13, 1817. During his in- 
fancy, his father, who had been 
a soldier in the war of 181 2, re- 
moved to Christian Co., Ky., 
where lands were cheap. Here 
the future Governor of the great 
Prairie State spent his childhood 
and received such meager school- 
ing as the new and sparsely set- 
tled country afforded. To this 
he added materially by diligent 
reading, for which he evinced an 
ily aptitude. His father, an ardent Jackson man, 
IS also noted for his anti-slavery sentiments, which 
: thoroughly impressed upon his children. In 1831 
; emigrated to Illinois, settling in Madison County. 
ere the labor of improving a farm was pursued for 
lOut two years, when the death of Mr. Palmer's 
other broke up the family. About this time Alton 
)llege was opened, on the "manual labor " system, 
id in the spring of 1834 young Palmer, with his 
der brother, Elihu, entered this school and remained 
> months. Next, for over three years, he tried 
iriously coopering, peddling and school-teaching. 
During the summer of 1838 he formed the ac- 
laintance of Stephen A. Dougla,s, then making his 



first canvass for Congress. Young, eloquent and in 
political accord with Mr. Palmer, he won his confi- 
dence, fired his ambition and fixed his purpose. The 
following winter, while teaching near Canton, he be- 
gan to devote his spare time to a desultory reading 
of la.v, and in the spring entered a law office at Car- 
linville, making his home with his elder brother, 
Elihu. (The latter was a learned clergyman, of con- 
siderable orginality of thought and doctrine.) On 
the next meeting of the Supreme Court he was ad- 
mitted to the Bar, Douglas being one of his examiners. 
He was not immediately successful in his profession, 
and would have located elsewhere than Carlinville 
had he the requisite means. Thus his early poverty 
was a blessing in disguise, for to it he now attributes 
the success of his life. 

From 1839 on, while he diligently pursued his 
profession, he participated more or less in local 
politics. In 1843 he became Probate Judge. Ip 
1847 he was elected to the State Constitutional Con 
vention, where he took a leading part. In 1852 hd 
was elected to the State Senate, and at the special 
session of February, 1854, true to the anti-slaver) 
sentiments bred in him, he took a firm stand in op- 
position to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, 
and when the Nebraska question became a ])art) 
issue he refused to receive a re-nomination for th< 
Senatorship at the hands of the Democracy, issuinj, 
a circular to that effect. A few weeks afterward, 



i6& 



JOHN MC AULEY PALMER. 



however, hesitating to break with his party, he par- 
ticipated ill a Congressional Convention which nonii- 
T. L. Harris against Richard Yates, and which 
unqualifiedly approved the principles of the Kansas- 
Nebraska act. But later in the campaign he made 
the plunge, ran for the Senate as an Anti-Nebraska 
Democrat, and was elected. The following winter 
he put in nomination for the ^United States Senate 
Mr. Trumbull, and was one of the five steadfast men 
who voted for him until all the Whigs came to their 
support and elected their man. 

In 1856 he was Chairman of the Republican State 
Convention at Bloomington. He ran for Congress in 
1859, but was defeated. In i860 he was Republican 
Presidential Elector for the State at large. In 1861 
iie was appointed one of the five Delegates (all Re- 
publicans) sent by Illinois to the peace congress at 
Washington. 

When the civil conflict broke out, he offered his 
services to his country, and was elected Colonel of the 
J4th 111. Vol. Inf , and participated in the engagements 
at Island No. 10 ; at Farmington, where he skillfully 
extricated his command from a dangerous position ; 
at Stone River, where his division for several hours, 
Dec. 31, 1862, held the advance and stood like a 
rock, and for his gallantry there he was made Major 
General; at Chickamauga, where his and Van Cleve's 
divisions for two hours maintained their position 
when they were cut off by overpowering numbers. 
Under Gen. Sherman^ he was assigned to the i4lh 
Army Corps and participated in the Atlanta campaign. 
At Peach-Tree Creek his prudence did much to avert 
disaster. In Feliruary, 1865, Gen. Palmer was as- 
signed to the military administration of Kentucky, 
which was a delicate post. That State was about 
half rebel and half Union, and those of the latter 
element were daily fretted by the loss of their slaves. 
He, who had been bred to the rules of common law, 
trembled at the contemplation of his extraordinary 
power over the persons and property of his fellow 
men, with which he was vested in his capacity as 
military Governor ; and he exhibited great caution in 
the execution of the duties of his post. 

Gen. Palmsr was nominated for Governor of Illi- 
nois by the Republican State Convention which met 
at*Pejri;x May 6, 1868, and his nomination would 
probably have been made by acclamation had he not 
oersistently declared that he could not accept a can- 



didature for the office. The result of the ensuing 
election gave Mr. Palmer a majority of 44,707 over 
John R. Eden, the Democratic nominee. 

On the meeting of the Legislature in January, 
1869, the first thing to arrest public attention was 
that portion of the Governor's message which took 
broad Slate's rights ground. This and some minor 
points, which were more in keeping with the Demo- 
cratic sentiment, constituted the e.itering wedge for 
the criticisms and reproofs he afterward received 
from the Republican party, and ultim.itely resulted 
in his entire aleniation from the Litter element. Tiie 
Legislature just referred to was noted for the intro- 
duction of numerous bills in the interest of private 
parties, which were embarrassing to the Governor. 
Among the public acts passed was that which limited 
railroad charges for passenger travel to a maximum 
of three cents per mile ; and it was passed over the 
Governor's veto. Also, they passed, over his veto, 
the "tax-grabbing law" to pay r^.ilrotid subscriptions, 
the Chicago Lake Front bill, etc. The new State 
Constitution of 1870, far superior to the old, was a 
peaceful " revolution" which took place during Gov. 
Palmer's term of office. The suffering caused by the 
great Chicago Fire of October, 187 r, was greatly 
alleviated by the prompt responses of his excellency. 

Since the expiration of Gov. Palmers 's term, he has 
been somewhat prominent in Illinois politics, and 
has been talked of by many, especially in the Dem- 
ocratic party, as the best man in the State for a 
United States Senator. His business during life has 
been that of the law. Few excel him in an accurate 
appreciation of the depth and scope of its principles. 
The great number of his able veto messages abun- 
dantly testify not only this but also a rare capacity to 
point them out. He is a logical and cogent reasoner 
and an interesting, forcible and convincing speaker, 
though not fluent or ornate. Without brilliancy, his 
dealings are rather with facts and ideas than with 
appeals to passions and prejudices. He is a patriot 
and a statesman of very high order. Physically he is 
above the medium height, of robust frame, ruddy 
com|)lexion and sanguine-nervous temperament. He 
has a largo cranial development, is vivacious, social 
in disposition, easy of approach, unostentatious in his 
habits of life, democratic in his habits and manners 
and is a true American in his fundamental principle.' 
of statesmanship. 




n 





GU VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



17 1 




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OHN LOWRfE BEVER- 
IDGE, Governor 1873-6, was 
born in the town of Green- 
wich, Washington Co., N. Y., 
July 6, 1824. His parents 
were George and Ann Bever- 
idge. His father's parents, An- 
drew and Isabel Bcveridge, be- 
fore their marriage emigrated 
from Scotland just before the 
Revolutionary War, settling in 
Washington County. His father 
was the eldest of eight brothers, the 
youngest of whom was 60 years of 
age when the first one of the num- 
ber died. His mother's parents, 
James and Agnes Hoy, emigrated 
from Scotland at tlie close of tiie 
Revolutionary War, settling also in 
'pi Washington Co., N. Y., with their 
first-born, whose " native land " was 
the wild ocean. His parents and 
grandparents lived beyond the time 
allotted to man, their average age 
eing over 80 years. They belonged to the " Asso- 
iate Church," a seceding Presbyterian body of 



America from the old Scotch school ; and so rigid 
was the training of young Beveridge that he never 
heard a sermon from any other minister except that 
of his own denomination until he was in his 19th 
year. Later in life he became a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, which relation he still 
holds. 

Mr. Beveridge received a good common-school ed- 
ucation, but his parents, who could obtain a livelihood 
only by rigid economy and industry, could not send 
him away to college. He was raised upon a farm, 
and was in his i8th year when the family removed 
to De Kalb County, this State, when that section was 
very sparsely settled. Chicago had less than 7,000 
inhabitants. In this wild West he continued as a 
farm laborer, teaching school during the winter 
months to supply the means of an education. In the 
fall of 1842 he attended one term at the academy at 
Granville, Putnam Co., 111., and subsequently several 
terms at the Rock River Seminary at Mount Morris, 
Ogle Co., 111., completing the academic course. At 
this time, the fall of 1845, ^'^ parents and brothers 
were anxious to have him go to college, even though 
he had not money sufficient; but, njt willing to bur- 
den the family, he packed his trunk and with only 
$40 in money started South to seek his fortune 



172 



JOHN L. BEVERIDGE. 



Poor, alone, witlunit friends and influence, he thus 
entered ui)on the battle of life. 

First, he taught school in Wilson, Overton and 
Jackson Cos., Tenn., in which experience he under- 
went considerable mental drill, both in book studies 
and in the ways of the world. He read law and was 
admitted to the Bar, in the South, but did not learn 
to love the institution of slavery, although he ad- 
mired many features of Southern character. In De- 
cember, 1847, he returned North, and Jan. 20, 1848, 
he married Miss Helen M. Judson, in the old Clark- 
Street M. E. church in Chicago, her father at that 
time being Pastor of the society there. In the spring 
of 1848 he returned with his wife to Tennessee, 
where his two children. Alia May and Philo Judson, 
were born. 

In the fall of 1849, through the mismanagement 
of an associate, he lost what little he had accumu- 
lated and was left in debt. He soon managed to 
earn means to pay his debts, returned to De Kalb 
Co., 111., and entered upon the practice of his pro- 
fession at Sycamore, the county seat. On arrival 
from the South he had but one-quarter of a dollar in 
money, and scanty clothing and bedding for himself 
and family. He borrowed a little money, practiced 
^aw, worked in public offices, kept books for some of 
the business men of the town, and some railroad en- 
gineering, till the spring of 1854, when he removed 
to Evanston, 12 miles north of Chicago, a place then 
but recently laid out, under the supervision of the 
Northwestern University, a Methodist institution. 
Of the latter his father-in-law was then financial 
agent and business manager. Here Mr. Beveridge 
prospered, and the next year (1855) opened a law 
office in Chicago, where he found the battle some- 
what hard; but he persevered with encouragement 
and increasing success. 

Aug. 12, 1 86 1, his law partner, Gen. John F. 
Farusworth, secured authority to raise a regiment of 
cavalry, and authorized Mr. Beveridge to raise a 
company for it. He succeeded in a few days in rais- 
ing the company, of course enlisting himself along 
with it. The regiment rendezvoused at St. Charles, 
111.,- was mustered in Sept. 18, and on its organiza- 
tion Mr. B. was elected Second Major. It was at- 
tached, Oct. II, to tlie Eighth Cavalry and to the 
Army of the Potomac. He served with the regiment 
until November, 1863, participating in some 40 bat- 



tles and skirmishes : was at Fair Oaks, the seven days 
fight around Richmond, Fredericksburg, Chancellors- 
ville and Gettysburg. He commanded the regiment 
thegreaterpartofthesummerof 1863, and it was while 
lying in camp this year that he originated the policy 
of encouraging recruits as well as the fighting capac- 
ity of the soldiery, by the wholesale furlough system. 
It worked so well that many other officers adopted 
it. In the fall of this year he recruited another com- 
pany, against heavy odds, in January, 1864, was 
commissioned Colonel of tlie 17th 111. Cav., and 
skirmished around in Missouri, concluding with the 
reception of the surrender of Gen. Kirljy Smith's 
army in Arkansas. In 1865 he commanded various 
sub-districts in the Southwest. He was mustered 
out Feb. 6, 1866, safe from the casualties of war and 
a stouter man than when he first enlisted. His men 
idolized him. 

He then returned to Chicago, to practice law, with 
no library and no clientage, and no political experi- 
ence except to help others into office. In the fall of 
1866 he was elected Sheriff of Cook County, serving 
one term; next, until November, 1870, he practiced 
law and closed up the unfinished business of his 
office. He was then elected State Senator; in No- 
vember, 187 I, he was elected Congressman at large; 
in November, 1872, he was elected Lieutenant Gov- 
ernor on the ticket with Gov. Oglesby; the latter be- 
ing elected to the U. S. Senate, Mr. Beveridge became 
Governor, Jan. 21, 1873. Thus, inside of a few 
weeks, he was Congressman at large. Lieutenant 
Governor and Governor. The principal events oc- 
curring during Gov. Beveridge 's administration were: 
The completion of the revision of the statutes, begun 
in 1869; the partial success of the "farmers' move- 
ment;" " Haines' Legislature " and Illinois' exhibit at 
the Centennial. 

Since the close of his gubernatorial term ex-Gov 
Beveridge has been a member of the firm of Bever- 
idge & Dewey, bankers and dealers in commercial 
paper at 7 1 Dearborn Street (McCormick Block), 
Chicago, and since November, 1881, he has also been 
Assistant United States Treasurer: office in tlie 
Government Building. His residence is still at Ev- 
anston. 

He has a brother and two sisters yet residing in 
De Kalb County — James H. Beveridge, Mrs. Jennet 
Henry and Mrs. Isabel French. 



GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



175 



SEELBY M, CVLLOBL 










'\ ■^Sj 





HELBY M. CULLOM, Gover- 
nor 1877-83,18 the sixth child 
of the late Richard N. Cullom, 
and was born Nov. 22, 1829, in 
Wayne Co., Ky., where his fa- 
ther then resided, and whence 
both tlie lUinois and Tennessee 
branches of the family originated. In 
the following year the family emi- 
grated to the vicinity of Washington, 
Tazewell Co., 111., when that section 
was very sparsely settled. They lo- 
cated on Deer Creek, in a grove at 
the time occupied by a party of In- 
dians, attracted there by the superior 
hunting and fishing afforded in that 
vicinity. The following winter was 
known as the " hard winter," the snow being very 
deep and lasting and the weather severely cold; and 
the family had to subsist mainly on boiled corn or 
hominy, and some wild game, for several weeks. In 
the course of time Mr. R. N. CuUoro became a prom- 
inent citizen and was several times elected to the 
Legislature, both before and after the removal of the 
capital from Vandalia to Springfield. He died about 

'873- 

Until about 19 years of age young Cullora grew up 
to agricultural pursuits, attending school as he had 
onportunity during the winter. Within this time, 
nowever, he spent several months teaching «chool- 



and in the following summer he "broke prairie "with 
an ox team for tlie neighbors. With the money ob- 
tained by these various ventures, he undertook a 
course of study at the Rock River Seminary, a 
Methodist institution at Mt. Morris, Ogle County; 
but the sudden change to the in-door life of a stu- 
dent told severely upon his health, and he was taken 
home, being considered in a hopelesi condition. While 
at Mt. Morris he heard Hon. E. B. V/ashburne make 
his first speech. 

On recovering health, Mr. CuUom concluded to 
study law, under the instruction of Abraham Lincoln, 
at Springfield, who had by this time attained some 
notoriety as an able lawyer; but the latter, being ab- 
sent from his office most of the time, advised Mr. 
Cullom to enter the office of Stuart & Edwards. 
After about a year of study there, however, his health 
failed again, and he was obliged to return once more 
to out-door life. Accordingly he bought hogs for 
packing, for A. G. Tyng, in Peoria, and while he re- 
gained his health he gained in purse, netting $400 in 
a few weeks. Having been admitted to the Bar, he 
went to Springfield, where he was soon elected City 
Attorney, on the Anti-Nebraska ticket. 

In 1856 he ran on the FlHmore ticket as a Presi- 
dential Elector, and, although failing to be elected as 
such, he was at the same time elected a Representa- 
tive in the Legislature from Sangamon County, by a 
local coalition of the American and Republican par- 
ties. On the organization of the House, he received 
th? vpte of the Fillmore men for Speaker. Practicir^" 



176 



SHELBY M. CULLOM. 



law until i860, he was again elected to the Legisla- 
ture, as a Republican, while the county went Demo- 
cratic on the Presidential ticket. In January follow- 
ing he was elected Speaker, probably the youngest 
man who had ever presided over an Illinois Legis- 
lature. After the session of 1S61, he was a candidate 
for the State Constitutional Convention called for 
that year, but was defeated, and thus escaped the 
disgrace of being connected with that abortive parly 
scheme to revolutionize the State Government. In 
1862 he was a candidate for the State Senate, but 
was defeated. The same year, however, he was ap- 
pointed by President Lincoln on a Government 
Commission, in company with Gov. Boutwell of 
Massachusetts and Cnarles A. Dana, since of the 
New York Sun, to investigate the affairs of the 
Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments at 
Cairo. He devoted several months to this duty. 

In 1864 he enteied upon a larger political field, 
being nominated as the Republican candidate for 
Congress from ;'ue Eighth (Springfield) District, in 
opposition to the incumbent, JohnT. Stuart, who had 
been elected in 1862 by about 1,500 majority over 
Leonard Svvett, then of Bloomington, now of Chicago. 
The result was the election of Mr. Cullom in Novem- 
ber following by a majority of 1,785. In 1866 he 
was re-elected to Congress, over Dr. E. S. Fowler, by 
the magnificent majority of 4 103! In 1868 he was 
again a candidate, defeating the Hon. B. S. Edwards, 
another of his old preceptors, by 2,884 votes. 

During his first term in Congress he served on the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs and E.xpenditures in 
the Treasury Department; in his second term, on 
the Committees on Foreign Affairs and 0:1 Territories ; 
and in his third term he succeeded Mr. Ashley, of 
Ohio, to the Chairmanship of the latter. He intro- 
duced a bill in the House, to aid in the execution of 
law in Utah, which caused more consternation among 
the Mormons than any measure had previously, but 
which, though it passed the House, failed to pass the 
Senate. 

The Republican Convention which met May 25, 
1876, nominated Mr. Cullom for Governor, while the 
other contestant was Gov. Beveridge. For Lieuten- 
ant-Governor they nominated Andrew Shuman, editor 
of the Chicago Journal. For the same offices the 
Democrats, combining with tlie Anti-Monopolists, 
nlaced iu nomin^tiotj Lewis Steward, a wealthy 



farmer and manufacturer, and A. A. Glenn. The 
result of the election was rather close, Mr. Cullom 
obtaining only 6,800 majority. He was inaugurated 
Jan. 8, 1877. 

Great depression prevailed in financial circles at 
this time, as a consequence of the heavy failures of 
1873 and afterward, the effect of which had seemed 
to gather force from that time to the end of Gov. 
Cullom's first administration. This unspeculative 
period was not calculated to call forth any new 
issues, but the Governor's energies were at one time 
put to task to quell a spirit of insubordination that 
had been begun in Pittsburg, Pa., among the laboring 
classes, and transferred to Illinois at Chicago, East 
St. Louis and Braidwood, at which places laboring 
men for a short time refused to work or allow others 
to work. These disturbances were soon quelled and 
the wheels of industry again set in motion. 

In May, 1880, Gov. Cullom was re-nominated by 
the Republicans, against Lyman Trumbull, by tlie 
Democrats; and althougli the former party was some- 
what handicapped in the campaign by a zealous 
faction opposed to Grant for President and to Grant 
men for office generally, Mr. Cullom was re-elected 
by about 314,565, to 277,532 for the Democratic State 
ticket. The Greenback vote at the same time was 
about 27,000. Both Houses of the Legislature again 
became Republican, and no representative of the 
(^ireenback or Socialist parties were elected. Gov. 
Cullom was inaugurated Jan. 10, iSSr. In his mes- 
sage he announced that the last dollar of the State 
debt had been provided for. 

March 4, 1883, the term of David Davis as United 
States Senator from Illinois expired, and Gov. Cul- 
lom was chosen to succeed him. This promoted 
Lieutenant-Governor John M. Hamilton to the Gov- 
ernorship. Senator Cullom's term in the LTnited 
States Senate will expire March 4, 1889. 

Ai a practitioner oflaw Mr. C. has been a member 
f)f the firm of Cullom, Scholes & Mather, at Spring- 
field; and he has also been President of the State 
National Bank. 

He has been married twice, — the first time Dec. 
12, 1855, to Miss Hannah Fisher, by whom he had 
two daughters; and the second time May 5, 1863, 
t ) Julia Fisher. Mrs. C is a member of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church, with which religious body Mr, 
C. is also in sympathy, 



GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



'79 




-}-^lE^>7^^ 



*^;&«»s;s-^^;s-'S>v';^e«-S;g«.^;$«.^;s-*^:s<.^;-j#^;s.*-£;s^s;gig>S;g-^^!S*-g;s«^g 







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^SSHJH*^ 



OHN MARSHALL HAMIL- 
,^ TON, Governor 1S83-5, was 
born May 28, 1847, in a log 
house upon a farm about two 
miles from Richwood, Union 
County, Ohio. His father was 
Samuel Hamilton, the eldest son 
cf Rev. Wm. Hamilton, who, to- 
getb.er with his brother, the Rev. 
Samuel Hamilton, was among the 
early pioneer Methodist preachers in 
Ohio. The mother of the subject of 
this sketch was, before her marriage, 
Mrs. Nancy McMorris, who was 
born and raised in Fauquier or Lou- 
doun County, Va., and related to the 
two large families of Youngs and Marshalls, well 
known in that commonwealth ; and from the latter 
family name was derived the middle name of Gov. 
Hamilton. 

In March, 1854, Mr. Hamilton's father sold out 
his little pioneer forest home in Union County, O., 
and, loading his few household effects and family 
(of six children) into two emigrant covered wagons, 
moved to Roberts Township, Marshall Co., 111., being 
2 1 days on the route. Swamps, unbridged streams 
and innumerable hardships and privations met them 
on their way. Their new home had been previously 
selected by the father. Here, after many long years 
of toil, they succeeded in payii.g for the land and 
making a comfor'a'''" home. John was, of course, 



brought up to hard manual labor, with no schooling 
except three or four months in the year at a common 
country school. However, he evinced a capacity 
and taste for a high order of self-education, by 
studying or reading what books he could borrow, as 
the family had but very few in tiie house. Much of 
his study he prosecuted by the light of a log fire in 
the old-fashioned chimney place. The financial 
panic of 1857 caused the family to come near losing 
their home, to pay debts; but the father and two 
sons, William and John, "buckled to" and perse 
vered in hard labor and economy until they redeemed 
their place from the mortgage. 

When the tremendous excitement of the political 
campaign of i860 reached the neighborhood of Rob- 
erts Township, young Hamilton, who had been 
brought up in the doctrine of anti-slavery, took a zeal- 
ous part in favor of Lincoln's election. Making special 
efforts to procure a little money to buy a uniform, he 
joined a company of Lincoln Wide- Awakes at Mag- 
nolia, a village not far away. Directly after the 
ensuing election it became evident that trouble 
would ensue with the South, and this Wide-Awake 
company, like many others throughout the country, 
kept up its organization and transformed itself into a 
military company. During the ensuing summer they 
met often for drill and became proficient ; but when 
they offered themselves for the war, young Hamilton 
was rejected on account of his youth, he being then 
but 14 years of age. During the winter of 1863-4 'le 
attended an academy at Henry, Marshall County. 



JOHN MARSHALL HAMILTON. 



and ill the following May he again enlisted, for the 
fourth time, when lie was placed in the 141st 111. 
Vol Inf., a regiment then being raised at Elgin, 111., 
for the roo-day service. He took with him 13 other 
lads from his neighborhood, for enlistment in the 
service. This regiment operated in Southwestern 
Kentucky, for about five months, under Gen. Paine. 
Tlie following winter, 1864-5, ^'■- Hamilton taught 
school, and during the two college' years 1865-7, '^"^ 
went through three years of the curriculum of the 
Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. The 
.third year he graduated, the fourth in a class of 46, 
in the classical department. In due time he received 
the degree of M. A. For a few months he was the 
Principal of iVIarshall " College " at Henry, an acad- 
emy under the auspices of the M. E. Church. By 
this lime he had coiiimenced the study of law, and 
after earning some money as a temporary Professor 
of Latin at the Illinois Wesleyan University at 
Bloomington, he entered the law office of Weldon, 
Tipton & Benjamin, of that city. Each member of 
this firm has since been distinguished as a Judge. 
Admitted to the Bar in May, 1870, Mr. Hamilton 
was given an interest in the same firm, Tipton hav- 
ing been elected Judge. In October following he 
formed a partnership with J. H. Rowell, at that time 
Prosecuting Attorney. Their business was then 
small, but they increased it to very large proportions, 
practicing in all grades of courts, including even the 
U. S. Supreme Court, and this partnership continued 
unbroken until Feb. 6, 18S3, when Mr. Hamilton 
was sworn in as E.xecutive of Illinois. On the 4th 
of March following Mr. Rowell took his seat in Con- 
gress. 

In July, 187 I. Mr. Hamilton married Miss Helen 
M. Williains, the daughter of Prof. \Vm. G, Williams, 
Professor of Greek in the Ohio Wesleyan University. 
Mr. and Mrs. H. have two daughters and one son. 

In 1876 Mr. Hamilton was nominated by the Re- 
publicans for the State Senate, over other and older 
competitors. He took an active part " on the stump " 
in the campaign, for the success of his party, and was 
elected by a majority of 1,640 over his Democratic- 
Greenback opponent. In the Senate he served on 
the Committees on Judiciary, Revenue, State Insti- 
tutions, Appropriations, Education, and on Miscel- 
lany ; and during the contest for the election of a 
U. S. Senator, the Republicans endeavoring to re- 



elect John A. Logan, he voted for the war chief on 
every ballot, even alone when all the other Republi- 
cans had gone over to the Hon. E. B. Lawrence and 
the Democrats and Independents elected Judgi? 
D ivid Davis. At this session, also, was passed the 
first Board of Health and Medical Practice act, of 
whicii Mr. Hamilton was a champion, again;'; . ; 
much opposition that the bill was several times 
" laid on the table." Also, this session authorized 
the location and establishment of a southern peni- 
tentiary, which was fixed at Chester. In the session 
of 1879 Mr. Hamilton was elected President //■<? /V-wz. 
of the Senate, and was a zealous supporter of John 
A. Logan for the U. S. Senate, who wai this tiine 
elected without any trouble. 

In May, 1880, Mr. Hamilton was nominated on 
the Republican ticket for Lieutenant Governor, his 
princi|)al competitors before the Convention being 
Hon. Wm. A. James, ex-Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, Judge Robert Bell, of Wabash 
County, Hon. T. T. Fountain, of Perry County, and 
Hon. M. M. Saddler, of Marion County. He engaged 
actively in the campaign, and his ticket was elected 
by a majority of 41,200. As Lieutenant Governor, 
he presided almost continuously over the Senate in 
the 32d General .\ssembly and during the early days 
of the 33d, until he succeeded to the Governorship. 
When the Legislature of 1883 elected Gov. Cullom 
to the United States Senate, Lieut. Gov. Hamilton 
succeeded him, under the Constitution, taking the 
oath of office Feb. 6, 1883. He bravely met all the 
annoyances and embarrassments incidental upon 
taking up another's administration. The principal 
events with which Gov. Hamilton was connected as 
the Chief Executive of the State were, the inine dis- 
aster at Braidwood, the riots in St. Clair and Madison 
Counties in May, 1883, the appropriations for the 
State militia, the adoption of the Harper high-license 
liquor law, the veto of a dangerous railroad bill, etc. 

The Governor was a Delegate at large to the 
National Republican Convention at Chicago in June, 

1884, where his first choice for President was Joh:i 
A. Logan, and second choice Chester A. Arthur; but 
he afterward zealously worked for the election of Mr 
Blaine, true to his party. 

Mr. Hamilton's term as Governor expired Jan. 30. 

1885, when the great favorite " Dick " Oglesby was 
inaugurated. 






t/ ^c^l^^ 



GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



183 







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^OSEPH WILSON FIFER. Tins 
distinguished gentleman was 
l^^'w elected Governor of Illinois 
November G, 1H88. He was 
popularly known during the 
campaign as "Private Joe." He 
had served with great devotion 
to his country during the Ke- 
hellion, in the Thirty-third 
Illinois Infantry. A native of 
Virginia, he was born in 1840. 
His parents, John and Mary 
( Daniels) Fifer, weie American 
born, though of German de- 
scent. His father was a brick 
and stone mason, and an old 
Henry Clay Whig in politics. Jolin and Mary 
Fifer had nine children, of whom Joseph w.as the 
sixth, .and naturall}' with so large a family it was 
all tlie father could do to keep the wolf from the 
door; to sa}' nothing of giving his children any- 
thing like good educational advantages. 

Young Joseph attended school some in Vir- 
ginia, but it was not a good school, and when 
his father removed to the West, in 1857, Joseiih h.-id 
not advanced much further than the "First Reader." 



Our suljject was sixteen then and suffered a great 
misfortune in the loss of his mother. After the death 
of Mrs. Fifer, which occurred in Missouri, the 
family returned to Virginia, but remained onl}- a 
short time, as during the same year Mr. Fifer 
came to Illinois. He settled in McLean County and 
started a brickyard. Here Joseph and his broth- 
ers were put to work. The elder Fifer soon 
bought a farm near Bloomington and Ijegan life .as 
an agriculturalist. Here Joe worked and attended 
the neighboring school. He alternated farm-work, 
brick-laying, and going to the district school for 
the succeeding few years. It was all work and no 
play for Joe, yet it by no means made a dull boy 
of him. All the time he was thinking of the great 
world outside, of which he had caught a glimpse 
when coming from Virginia, j'et he did not know 
just how he was going to get out into it. He 
could not feel that the woods around the new 
farm and the log cabin, in which the family lived, 
were to hold him. 

The opportunity to get out into the world was 
soon offered to young Joe. He traveled a dozen 
miles barefoot, in company with his brother George, 
and enlisted in Company C, 33d Illinois Infantry; 
he being then twenty years old. In a few days 



184 



JOSEPH W. FIFER. 



the regiment was sent to Camp Butler, and tlien 
over into Missouri, and saw some vigorous service 
there. After a setoud time helping to chase Price 
out of Missouri, the 33d Regiment went down 
to Miilikou's Bend, and for several weelis -Private 
Joe " worked on Grant's famous ditch. The regi- 
ment tlien joined tlie forces operating against Port 
Gibson and Vickshnrg. Joe was on guar.! <inty in 
the front ditclies when the flag of surrender was 
run up on the 4th of .Tuly, and stuck the bayonet 
of his gun into the embankment and went into the 
city witii the vanguard of Union sohliers. 

Tlie next day. July 5, the 38d joined the force 
after Johnston, who had been threatening Grant's 
rear; and finally an assault was made on him at 
Jackson, IMiss. In this charge -Private Joe" fell, ter- 
ribly wounded. He was loading his gun when a 
minie-ball struck him and passed entirely through 
his body. He was regarded as mortally wound<"l 
Ilisbrother. George, who had been made a Lieu- 
tenant. i)roved to be the means of saving his life. 
The Surgeon told i,im unless he had ice his In-other 
Joe could not live. It was lifty miles to the nearest 
point where ice could be obtained, and the ro.ads 
were rough. A comrade, a McLean county man. who 
iiad been wounded, ottered to make the trip. An 
••iml.ulance w:is secured and the brother soldier 
started on the journey. He returned with the ice. 
bul the trip, owing to the roughness of the roads." 
"•as yery hard on him. After a few months' care- 
ful nursing Mr. Fifer was able to come home. The 
33d came home on a furlough, and when the 
boys were ready to return to the tented field, 
young Fifer was ready to go with them; for he was 
determined to finish his term of three years. He 
w.as mustered out in October, KStM. having been 
in the service three years and two months'^ 

•Private Joe" came out of the army a tall, 
l^'"n..d. and awkward young man of twenty-foni.' 
About all he possessed was ambition to besome- 
l)oily-and pluck. Though at an age when most 
men have finished their college course, the youn<. 
soldier saw tlmt if he was to be anybody bJ mus^t 
have an education. Yet he had no means to ena- 
ble him to enter school as most vouno- men do 
He was determined to have an education ^however, 
and that to him meant success. For the followin<^ 



four years he struggled with his books. He entered 
Wesleyan University Jan. 1. 1865. He was not a 
brilliant student, being neither at the head nor the 
foot of his class. He was in great earnest, how- 
ever, studied hard and came forth with a well- 
stored and disciplined mind. 

Immediately after being gradnated he entered 
an office at DIoomington as a law student. He had 
already re.id law some, and as he continued to work 
l>md, with the spur of poverty and promptings of 
ambition ever with him, he Avas ready to hang out 
his professional shingle in 18G9. Being trust- 
worthy he soon gathered about him some Influen- 
tial friends. In 1871 he was elected Corporation 
Counsel of Bloomington. . In 1872 he was elected 
State's Attorney of McLean County. This ottice 
he held for eight years, when he took his seat in 
the State Senate. Here he served for four years. 
His ability to perform abundance of hard 'work 
made him a most valued member of the Legisla- 
ture. "^ 

jMr. Fifer was married in 1870 to Gertie, dauiih- 
t''i- of AVilliam J. Lewis, of Bloomini.ton. Mr. 
Fifer is six feet in height and is spare, wei^diin..- 
<»>l.v 150 pounds. He has a swarthy complexion^ 
keen black eyes, quick movement, and possesses a 
trank and sympathetic nature, and naturally makes 
friends wherever he goes. During the late'Gubei- 
natorial campaign his visits throughout the State 
proved a great power in his behalf. His happy 
faculty of winning the confidence and good wishes 
of those with whom he comes in personal contact is a 
sourceof great jwpularity, especially duringa polit- 
ical battle. As a speaker he is fluent, his lanyu.age 
IS good, voice clear and agreeable, and manner 
forcible. His manifest earnestness in what he says 
as well as his tact as a public speaker, and his elo- 
quent and forceful Language, makes him a most 
yaluable campaign orator and a powerful pleader 
at the bar. At the Kepubliean State Convention, 
hel.l in May, 1888, Mr. Fifer was chosen as its candi- 
date for Governor. He proved a popular nominee, 
and the name of " Private Joe " I,ecaine familiar 
to everyone throughout the State. He wasjcd a 
vigorous campaign, was elected by a good m.-ijority, 
and in due time assumed the duties of the Chief 
Kxecutive of Illinois. 














TRANSPORTATION 





NE of ilie most ira[)(jil;int fac- 
tors ill llie business duvflop- 
mcnt nii.l prosijcril}' of a 
cit_v, coiml>' or Mali', is its 
railroad coiniiiuiiicaliiins. A 
retrospeclioii of the history 
'^i ^"^ of Macoupin County since Iho ad- 
'^'jlL^.O vent of railroad facililiis, will con- 
vince tliG careful observer of llie 
immense benefit resulting from the 
introduction of this essential adjunct 
y r^_,^ of commercial enterprise. The fol- 
p MV^ lowing brief sketches of the leading 
dc.. railroads of this section of the great 
commonwealtii will form an interesting feature of 
this Record. It may be remaiked in tliis connec- 
tion that the roads referred to are not only the im- 
portant cori)orations of Illinois, but stand among 
the first in the Nation. 



^^VHif5:>^ 



^«-<-«,— ' 



Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, 

OPULARLY known as the Santa Fe Route. 
1) The initial lines of this great sjstem were 
first built from Atchison to Topeka, in 
1869, and for man}- 3'ears tlie former city 
was the Eastern terminus of the road. The maii- 
agemcnt of the Santa Fe, with wonderful energy. 




pushed out its lines in every direction into tiie 
young and growing State of K:insas, and in the 
majority- of instances preceding settlement and 
civilizn.tion. This road was the first to penetrate 
acioss the southern part of Colorado, via Pueblo 
and Trinidad into New Mexico, until its lines pen- 
etrated the old adobe town of Snnta Fe, whose cit- 
izens were half .Spanish and half Mexican. As ils 
course penetrated the wilderness it sometimes fol- 
lowed the old Santa Fe Trail, and generally not far 
distant at any time from the "trail" which had 
been made famous years before by lra[)pers and 
also by the Government freighters. The mar- 
velous growth and dev('lo|>mcnt of the State of 
Kansas is in a great measure due to the enterprise 
and public spirit of the managers of the Santa Fe 
System. Not only did thej' devote their energy 
to the upbuilding of the road, but at great expense 
they maintained emigration and Colonial agents in 
the various countries of Europe, as well as in the 
Eastern, Middle and Southern States, thereby ail- 
vertising the State of Kansas as no other State has 
heretofore been done. Its climate, its soil and 
great advantages to the home seeker were at times 
fully portrayed b\' the enterprise of this road — 
every fostering care was given to the stock and 
ranchmen, to the merchant, the mechanic and the 
manufacturer, to settle in Kansas — as a result we 
have here a State in the center of the Union, of 
boundless agricultural resources, settled by a wide 



TRANSPORTATION. 



awake, eiitcrprisiiiif ami prosperous people. The 
Santa Vc owns antl operates more miles of road in 
Kansas than any other line, with its vast s^'stoiu of 
East and West, North and South lines reaching 
ever^' important town in the .State, and penetrating 
sixty-three counties in Kans.as. The magnitude of 
its business is immense. Its lines beginning at the 
Missouri River towns in Kansas are St. Joseph, Atch- 
ison, Leavenworth and Kansas City; extends sohUi 
to Coffey vi lie, Arkansas City, Hunnewell, Caldwell, 
New Kiowa (thence to the I'an Handle of Texas), 
and north to Superior, in Nebraska; Concordia, 
Cla}' Center, Minneapolis, and other Northern 
Kansas cities. Its main lines and branches reacii 
nearly ever^- important city in the State. St. Jo- 
seph, on the Missouri side of the river, has a (wpu 
lation of nearly one hundred thousand, and its 
wholesale trade is heavy throughout the West, 
Atchison is a growing city of about twenty thous- 
and people; the Soldiers' Orphans [lomc of tlu' 
State is located here. Leavenworth, with her thirty 
thousand people, is an important maiiuf.Tcturiiig 
center. Leavenworth was the earliest famous city 
of Kansas, as it was the original outfitting point 
for travel and traffic across the plains. The Kansas 
system may be described as a main east and west 
line, over four hundred miles in lengili.with braiu h 
lines extending in every direction where an aie.i of 
(jarticularly rich country, or some other s|)eci,il 
advantages invited a line of rails. 

The road from Topeka, after liSG',), w.as ex' ended 
west and south, and then east to Kansas City by 
purchase of a line built by another company. From 
Kansas City, in 1887-88, the line was extemled to 
Chicago, under the name of the Chicago, Santa Fe 
ife California Road; in 1887, also the purchase of 
the Gulf. C^olorado ife Santa Fe Road, and the ex- 
tension of the Kansas lines through the Indian 
Territory to Texas, gave the company a line to the 
Gulf of Mexico. So that at the present time the 
Santa Fe System proper begins at Chicago, passes 
through Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kans.as, Colorado, 
Indian Territory, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona 
and California, and has for its Southern terminals 
Galveston, on the Gulf of Mexico, and Ki Paso, on 
the Mexican frontier; and for its Western terminals 
San Diego and Lof Angeles, on the Pacific Coast, 



(San Francisco being practically a Pacific-Coast 
terminal, .as it is reached via Mojave, over the 
tracks of ihe Southern Pacific Railway); and for 
its Northern terminals Chicago, St. Joseph, Mo., 
Superior, Neb., and Denver, the capital of Colo- 
rado. 

Chicago to Kansas City is practically an air line, 
being the most straight and direct of an^- road 
between the two cities. It passes through a large 
number of important towns in Illinois, including 
Joliet, with its great steel works, and other manu- 
facturing interests. The next important place is 
Streator, a few miles south of the hitter place ; a 
branch extends to the thriving city of Pekin, on 
the Illinois River. From Streator the main line 
crosses the Illinois at Chillicothe, and extends 
throUiili Peoria and Knox Counties to the beauti- 
ful ;ind enterprising cit}' of (ialesburg, here it 
comes in competition with several lines of the 
Burlington System; thence running in southwest- 
erly direction through a rich and populous section, 
crossing the Mississippi at Ft. Madison, on a mag- 
nificent steel bridge. Here the com|)any have 
established shops, that being the terminus of the 
two operating divisions of the road. F'rom Ft. 
!\Iadis;)n by a spur Keokuk is reached. The line 
through .Missouri shows very heavy construction 
woik. ui.ade to secure what was dcsirul in the w.ay 
of distances and grades. Along the Santa Fe new 
towns are s[)ringiiig up. and new industries are be 
ing developed. 'I'went^' miles east of Kansas City 
the Missouri River is crossed b3- a steel bridge, so 
that the line erte-'s Kansas City on the south side 
of the river. From Kansas Cit}' to Topeka the 
line runs on the South bank of the Kansas River: 
at Wilder and Ilolliday are points for the depart- 
ure of branch line — one northwest to Atchison, 
and the other southwest through Ottawa and .South- 
ern Kansas, being known as the Southern Kansas 
division of the Santa Fe System. From Lawrence 
to Topeka the road is still in the Kans.as Valley, 
through a veritable garden. Native trees of great 
height overhang the railw.ay here and there, and in 
the spring and summer the crops look green and 
luxuriant. The a|)proach to Topeka is through the 
long 3-ards. and by the vast machine shops of the 



TRANSPORTATION. 



<anta Fe Company, across various broarl streets to 
1 coromoiiioiis brick station. 

Tlic general ottices of tlic road are in Toueka, 
and occupy- a handsome and commodious buiidini^ 
near tlic .State capilol. From Topcka to Denver 
the .Santa Fe Route runs for about .seventy-five 
mites in a southwesterly direction to tiic upper wa- 
ters of Neosiio River, at Emporia, passing through 
Osage County, wiiere are found some of the lichest 
coal fields of the West. At Newton the line di- 
verges south through .Southern Kansas, the Indian 
Teriitory and Texas to Galveston; continuing 
west from Newton the first city of importance 
readied is llutcliinson ; here are some of tlie heaviest 
salt works in the United .States, besides other ex- 
tensive manufacturing inteiests. West of Hutch- 
inson the line extends llirough a fertile, prosperous 
and rapidly growing district. The line is beautiliid 
liere and there by many tliriving cities and villages. 
At La Junta, in Colorado, the line for New Mex- 
ico. Arizona and beyond, turns south. Pueblo, 
sixty-five miles due west of La Junta, for yciirs the 
terminus of the Santa Fe System, is a growing 
manufacturing city. It is admirably located with 
reference to the great ore-producing cnnousof Col- 
orado. All roads leading to it, coal. iron, silver, 
gold, lead, copper, buihling stone, everything in 
fact which is produced in the greatest mining State 
in the I'nion, roll naturally down hill to Pueblo. 
Be3-ond Pueblo to the west are many thriving cities 
founded on mining and agriculture, notably: Lesid- 
ville, the ijreatest mining camp in Colorador while 
forty miles north, on the line of the .Santa Fe, are 
the lovely villages of Colorado .Springs and Mani- 
tou, nestling at the foot of Pike's Peak. Manilou 
is at the mouth of a deep canon, and is one of the 
most lovely summer resorts in America. Near here 
is the famous "Garden of the Gods," whose won 
drous beauty and grandeur is unsurpassed. From 
Colorado Springs westward, through Manitou and 
up the canon beyord Pike's Peak, the Color.ado 
Midland Railway is pushing its way far toward the 
western borders of the State. Eighty miles north 
of Colorado Springs the .Santa Fe line terminates 
at Denver, a magnificently built city of nearly 
two liundred thousand people. It is probable 
that no American city h.as so many features of 



unique beauty as Denver. Its splendid public build- 
ings, and its broad avenues lined with ijeautiful 
residences cozily located at the foot of the snow- 
c.ipped mountains of the Rocky range, render it 
unlike any other city of its size in the world. The 
ride from Pueblo to Denver along the foot of the 
mountains is one never to be missed. The snow- 
covered peaks, the many combinations of sun and 
cloud, and rain an<l snow: the marvelous atmos- 
phere, nil combine to surprise and chaim the be- 
holder. 

From Newton to Galveston, the line leaving the 
main cast and west linr- in Kansas at Newton, runs 
directly south to Galveston. The first place of 
importance reached is the phenomenal city of Wich- 
ita, located on the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers, 
a city of thirty- five thousand people, where only a 
few years ago was an Indian tr.ading-post. Wichiia 
IS one of the most remarkable cities in the West. It 
has a heavj' and growing wholesale trade, and a 
l.Trge amount of maiuifacturing business, incliuiing 
the Burton Slock Car Works, the Dodd & Whit- 
aker meat-|)acking establishments. The citj' is 
handsomely laid out, and has manj' handsome pub 
lie buildings, commodious business houses and 
spacious residences, situated on broad avenues, 
lined with beautiful shade trees. .South of Wichita 
is a cluster of growing cities, comprising Winfield, 
Wellington. Arkansas City and Caldwell. Wichita 
and Arkansas City have profiled much by the 
opening up of Okla!ioii!a to settlement. Entering 
the Indian Territory the line passes through a 
magnificent agricultural country, as yet almost 
wholly undeveloped. In Tex.as the principal cities 
on the line between the Indian Territory and Gal- 
veston, are Gainesville. I'ans, F"t. Worth, Cleburne, 
Dallas, Morgan, Temple, Brenham, Houston and 
Richmond. Galveston, the terminus, is a rapidly 
growing city of fifty thousand inhabitants. It is 
charmingly situated on the Gulf Coast, and has an 
unsurii.-issed climate in both summer and winter. 

From La Junta to El Paso, the line leaving La 
Junta climbs to the summit of the Raton Range, 
seventy-six hundred and twenty-two feet above the 
sea. On the waj' up it passes through the impor- 
tant Colorado towns of El Moro and Trinidad. The 
village of Raton is an important division point for 



TRANSPORTATION. 



llie railway, and then comes Las Vegas aiul its 
famous liot springs, six miles distant from tiie main 
lino, but connected with it l)y a short line with 
good equipments. At the Hot Springs is thePho3- 
nix Hotel. The si)rings are unsnri)assed an^'where 
in the world, and tlie hotel is conducted by tiie 
company in the most generous manner imaginable. 
The springs are forty-two in number, and are hot 
and cold, and have a variel}' of mineral properties 
which render them remarkably strong in their cura- 
tive power. South of Las Vegas the line passes 
through fertile valleys, lieavj' forests, and black 
and rugged canons, until the valley of the Rio 
Grande is reached. A branch line from Lamy ex- 
tends up the mountain to Santa Fe, the ca[)ilal of 
New Mexico, next to St. Augustine, the oldest city 
in America. .Santa Fe has a new State House, and 
its quaint old churches and dwellings are inter- 
spersed with modern structures. It should be seen 
before the peculiar charm of it? antiqu:t\' has been 
entirely destroyed. Albuquerque, Socorro and San 
Marcial are the chief (joints between Santa Fe and 
El I'aso. All are important points for the business 
of mining, cattle 'aL^ing and general commerce. 
From Rincon a branch line leads to Demiiig, where 
jurclion is made with the Southern Pacific Rail- 
way, and to Silver City, and to the other raiuiu"' 
towns of Southern New Mexico. It is the fortunate 
destiny of New Mexico generally, and the Rio 
Grande Valley particularly, to soon take front rank 
in the line of fruit production. The grapes produced 
in the Lower Rio Gran(1e Valley arc not sur|)assed 
in either quality or quantity by the product of any 
part of the Continent. 

From Albuquerque to the Pacific Coast, ii the 
heart of New Mexico, due west, the Atlantic it 
Pacific Railroad forms the main Santa Fe Route to 
California. The line passes through a great mining 
and stock-raising countiy, where the climate is per- 
fect. Prescott, the capital of Arizona, is reached 
by a branch from Prescott Junction. Constant 
changes of scenery characterize the line, and the 
crossing of the Colorado Canon is one of the most 
remarkable accomplishments known in the railroad 
world. In Southern California the lines of the 
California Central & Southern reach every impor- 
tant city. Barstow, .San IJernardino, Colton, San 



l>irgo, National City, Los Angeles, and a hundred 
other beautiful towns offer unequalled inducements 
to the seeker after health, wealth and pleasure. 
San Francisco and otiier cities of Central and 
Northern California are reached by the lines of the 
Southern Pacific by virtue of a special arrangement 
for traffic. Hetween Chicago and Kansas City 
meals are served on the finest dining cars; on the 
other lines and branches are superb eating-houses 
and hotels. No expense is spared in securing ele- 
gant accommodations; the supplies are secured 
from the best markets Fast and West. 

From the resume thus given of the facilities pos- 
sessed by the Santa Fe Railway, fcir interchanging 
traffic at its termini anti various junctions, it must 
lie apparent to the reader that the line is admirably' 
situated, and that in many respects it occupies a 
strategic position, superior to that of other trans- 
Missouri and Mississip|)i railroads. These advan- 
tages have been utilized In the past, as they will be 
in the future, in developing the localities through 
which the various branches extend, and to build 
up the permanent prosperity of the property whose 
history is so closely interwoven with thesettlement, 
development and prosperity of the West beyond 
the Missouri River. Its local traffic compares fa- 
voiably with that of other competing lines. To 
this purely local trafiic must be added the contri- 
butions of its several ttrmini, all large cities and 
l)rominent trade centers in the Missouri and Mis- 
sissippi Valleys. With the growth and steady 
development of the manufacturing and other indus- 
tries of Chicago, Kansas City, St. Joseph. Atchi- 
son, Leavenworth, Topeka, Wichita, Galveston, 
El Paso, Pueblo and Denver, the Santa Fe Rail- 
way must materially make corresponding strides 
toward attaining that proud financial position which 
has been the life dream of its origin.itors and pres- 
ent owners. Under the present progressive and 
conservative management, all advantages of geo- 
graphical position, and all the resources of the 
through line will be constantly utilized in building 
up the future prosperity of the road itself, and in 
developing the extended area of Chicago's com- 
mercial supremacy. The Land Grant from the 
Government amounted substantially- to three mill- 
ion acres. In brief its commanding geographical 



TRANSPORTATION. 



losiliun, eouplerl witli its direct Eastern alliance 
or lliroiigli business, must render llie Sniita Fe 
vfintuall}' one of the raost remunerative of our 
Vestern railroads. 



-^ 



The Wabash. 

V/ ^ O tiie public and our thousands of readers 
li^\- '" "cneral : — -It will no doubt be interesting 
^^' to all if we give a biief description of this 
oad. The Wabash, as now known, has been opcr- 
ted under several names from time to lime. It is 
lie offspring, as it were, of the first line of road 
rojected in Illinois, then known as the Northern 
h'oss Railroad, extending from Danville to Quincy. 
"■his was chartered in 1837, and upon i*j the first 
:)Cora(jtive was placed in the winter of 1838-39, 
unning from Meredosia, on the Illinois River, to 
acksonville. In 1842 the road was eonijileted 
I'om Jacksonville to Siiringfield, and three trips 
'ere made per week. The track was of the old 
at rail style, which was made by nailing thin strips 
f iron on two parallel lines of limbers placed at 
lie proper distance apart, and running longihways 
f the road. The engine as well as the road soon 
ecame so impaired that the former had to be 
bandoned, and mules substituted as the motor 
ower. However, such locomotion was (destined 
:j be of short dnralion, for the State soon after 
aid the entire road for a nominal sum, and thus 
or a short time was suspended one of the first rail- 
uad enter|irises in Illinois. Hut in the West a 
ew era — one of prodigious industrial activitj' and 
nr-reaching results in the practical arts — was dawn- 
)g, and within thirty years of the temporary fail- 
re of the road mentioned, Illinois had oulslri|)pcd 
II others in gigantic internal improvements, and 
t present has more miles of railroad than any 
Iher State in the Union. 

The Great Western, v^ hose name has been suc- 
essively changed to Toledo, Wabgsh & Western. 
V^abash, and Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific, and 
V'abash Railroad, and The Wabash, the last of 
diicli it still bears, was an extension of 'he North- 
rn Cross Railroad, above mentioned, and traverses 



some of the finest portions of Illinois, In<1iana and 
Ohio. It soon became the popular highway of 
travel and traffic between the East and the West. 
Through a system of consolidation, unparalleled in 
American railways, it has l)econie a giant ,among 
them, and has ,a(l(led many millions of dollars to 
the value of bonds and shares of the various com- 
panies now inc()ri)oralod in the Wabash system. 
The road takes its title from the river of that name, 
a triliutar^- of the Ohio, which in part separates the 
Stales of Illinois and Indiana. In looking over the 
ma|) of the Wabash Railroad it M'ill be seen that 
the line extends through the most fertile and 
wealthy portions of the center of the United Slates, 
having termini at more large cities than any other 
Western road. It was indeed a far-reaching sagac- 
ity which consolidated these various lines into the 
Wabash system, forming one immense chain of 
great commercial activity and power. Its terminal 
facilities are unsurpassed by any competing line. 
Its home offices are established in commodious 
quarters in St. Louis. The lines of the road a-e 
co-extensive with the importance of the gre.'it trans- 
portation facilities required for the products of the 
31ississi|)pi Valley. This line pa.sses through the 
States of Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio 
and Michigan. 

The various lines of road may be divided into 
the following : 

Miles. 

.St. Louis to Chicago 286 

Toledo to Kansas City 662 

St. Louis to Des Moines 360 

Logansport to Detroit 207 

Chicago to Laketon -Junction 123 

Clayton to Keokuk 42 

Bluffs to (Juincy 10.5 

Streator to Forest 37 

Attica to Covington 15 

Champaign to Sidney 12 

Edwardsville to Edwardsville 

Crossing il 

Bement to Altamont and Ellingham 63 

Brunswick to (^maha 225 

Roseberry to Clariuda 21 ^ 

.Salisbury to Glasgow 15 

Centralia to Columbia 22 

Miles of main lines and branches. . 2204 
From the above main line and branches as in- 



TRANSPORTATION. 



dieated. it will readily be seen that the Wahasli 
connects with more large cities and great marts of 
trade tban any other line, bringing Omaha. Kansas 
City, Des Moines. Keokuk, (^)iiii,cy, St. Louis, Clii- 
eago, Toledo and Detroit together with one contin- 
uous line of steel rails. This road has an immense 
freighl traffic of the cereals, live-stock, various 
productions and manufactured articles of the West 
and the Slates through wliicli it passes. Its facili- 
ties for rapid transit for the vast productions of 
the i)acking houses of Kansas City and St. Louis, 
to Detroit. Toledo and the Eastern marls of trade, 
is uue(|ualle(l. A large portion of the grain pro- 
ductions of Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Illi- 
nois and Indiana, linds its way to the Eastern mar- 
kets over the lines of tiiis road. The Wabash has 
always taken an advanced position in tariffs, and 
its course towanl its patrons has been just and 
lil>eral, so that it has always enjoyed the commen- 
dation of the business and traveling jmblie. The 
road t)ed is one of the best in the country, and is 
ballasted with gravel and stone, well lied and laid 
with steel rails. The bridges along the various 
lines and branches are subsl.inlial structures. The 
depots, grounds and general property of the road 
are in good condition. The management of the 
Wabash is fidly abreast of the times. The road 
is |)rogressive in every respect. The finest pas- 
senger cars on the continent are run on its lines, 
and every effort made to .adv.ance the interests of 
its patrons. The passenger department is unex- 
celled for the elegant and substantial comfort 
afforded travelers. On several of the more im- 
portant branches of the system, dining cars are 
run. 

- tx-«j . 
•' ooio ■• 

(Jhiiago & Alton Ifailroiid. 

SHIS road traverses some of the best territory 
of Illinois and Missouri, with its western 
terminus in Kansas City and southern in St. 
Louis, and the principal terminus and headquarters 
in Chicago. It is one of the most important roads 
of the great system of railroads in the Mississippi 
A'alley. '1 he air-line between St. Louis and Chi- 
cago, the most |)rominent cities of the Great West, 
and the most i)ronounce<l commercial riv:ds, occu- 




pies a prominent position among the trans-Missis- 
sippi Railroads, This may be attributed i)artly to 
the manner in which the management has fostered 
and develoi)e<l the local business along the line of 
the roud sir.ce its organization in 18G2. Its man- 
agement iLas always ke|)t abreast of the times. 

The length of the system is practically nine hun- 
dred miles. In brief the Chicago cVr Alton Rail- 
road has by a judicious system of permanent im- 
provement, and by the introduction of modern 
a|)i)liances which tend to the preservation of life 
and property, placed itself in such a condition, 
materia ly and physically, thai its financial condi- 
tion is not easily affected. Its success as one of the 
great, highways of the W^st is an .assured reality. 
It might he approiniately noted here that while 
much of this ro.ad's success maj be attributed to its 
admirable geographical location, .'mbracing a very 
rich section of the country for local Iratlic, and 
with termini on Lake Michigan and the Mississippi 
an.l Missouri Rivers, yet equally as much is due to 
the wisdom and stability of the management. 



t'hioago, Buillnotoii A: Quiiioy Kailioad. 

"pp*'!'-: (.iuincy ct Louisiana branch of this ex- 
(^^ l'^"s'^e system passes through a |)ortiou of 
^^f Pike County. It strikes the county at See- 
horn, running in a soutlieasterly direction to Rock- 
port, where it diverges in a southwesterly direction 
to tlie Mississipiii River, and crosses the Chicago 
it Alton Railroad bridge to Louisiana, Mo. At 
Hulls it crosses the Wabash Railroad. The prin- 
cipal stations on this line in the county are New 
Canton and Rockport. It furnishes an excellent 
feeder for the system, and is an important auxiliary 
to the transportation facilities for the people of the 
west side of the county. 



*^=5='^I 



Biff Four, 



^ip^'ORMERLY known .as Indiana ct St. Louis 
M^ Railroad, is one of the tJreat Trunk lines of 
J, '^ the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys, connects 
the four important cities of Cincinnati, In.liana|)o- 



TRANSPORTATION. 



lis, Cliicago and St. Louis, and it affords direct 
coramutiication for the citizens of the soutli part 
of Macoupin County, with these great marls of 
trade as well as direct connection with the \'ander- 
bilt system leading to the seaboard. The road-bed 



is well ballasted, and of a substantial character. The 
rolling stock is Grst-class. The principal stations 
in this county are Bunker Hill, Gillespie and Dor- 
chester. 






^>. 















asowpin Qsuniv 







!^-* 




„ int:"roduqt:"ory.„^. 




^««-«W®>^ 




jHE time has arrived when it 
becomes the duty of the 
people of this county to per- 
petuate the names of their 
pioneers, to furnish a record 
of their early settlement, 
and relate the story of their 
progress. The civilization of our 
day, the enlightenment of the age 
and the duty that men of the pres- 
ent time owe to their ancestors, to 
themselves and to their posterity, 
demand that a record of their lives 
and deeds should be made. In bio- 
graphical history is found a power 
to instruct man by precedent, to 
enliven the mental faculties, and 
to waft down the river of time a 
safe vessel in which the names and actions of the 
ITeopie who contributed to raise this country from its 
primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly 
the great and aged men, who in their jirime entered 
tlie wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their 
heritage, are passing to their graves. The number re- 
maining who can relate the incidents of the first days 
if settlement is becoming small indeed, so that an 
actual necessity exists for the collection and preser- 
vation of events without delay, before all the early 
settlers are cut dow.i by the scytjie of Time. 

To be forgotten has been the great dread of mankind 
from remotest ages. All will be forgotten soon enough, 
in spite of their best worivs and the most earnest 
efforts of their friends to perserve tiie memory of 
their live-;. The me.ins employ^>d to prevent oblivion 
and to perpetuate their memory iias l)een in propor- 
tion to the amount of intelligence they possessed. 
ThT pyrami<ls of Kgypt were built to perpetuate the 
names and deeds of their great rulers. The exhu- 
mations made by the archeologists of Egypt from 
buried Memphis indicate a desire of those people 



to perpetuate the memory of their achievements 
The erection of the great obelisks were for the same 
purpose. Coming down to a later period, we find the 
Greeks and Romans erecting mausoleums and monu- 
ments, and carving out statues to chronicle their 
great achievements and carry them down the nges. 
It is also evident that the Mound-bu'lders, in piling 
up their great mounds of earth, had but this idea — 
to leave something to show tliat they had lived. All 
these works, though many of them costly in the ex- 
treme, give but a faint idea of the lives and charac- 
ters of those whose memory they were intended to 
perpetuate, and scarcely anything of the masses of 
the people that then lived. The great pyramids and 
some of the obelisks remain objects only of curiosity ; 
the mausoleums, monuments and statues are crum- 
bling into dust. 

It was left to modern ages to establish an intelli- 
gent, undecaying, immutable method of perpetuating 
a full history — immutable in that it is ahnost un- 
limited in extent and perpetual in its action; and 
this is through the art of printing. 

To the present generation, however, we are in- 
debted for the introduction of the admirable system 
of local biography. By this system every man, thougl 
he has not achieved what the world calls greatness, 
has the means to perpetuate his life, his liistory, 
through the coming ages. 

The scythe of Time cuts down all ; nothing of the 
physical man is left. The monument which his chil- 
dren or friends may erect to his memory in the ceme- 
tery will crumble into dirst and pass away; but his 
life, his achievements, the work he has accomplished, 
which otherwise would be forgotten, is i)erpetuated 
by a record of this kind. 

To preserve the lineaments of our companions we 
engrave their [wrtraits, for the snine reason we col- 
lect the attainable facts of their history. Nor do we 
thir.k it necessary, as we speak only truth of them, to 
wait until they are dead, or until those who know 
them are gone: to do this we are ashamed only to 
publish to the world the history of those whose livec 
are unworthy of public record. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



191 





50.SKPII BIRD. The annals of 
: American bioj^iapliy are filled willi 
wreeords of heroic endeavors on 
the part of brave hciys who at 
the same time that they were 
1^.* burdened by (joverty, cherished 
a burning ambition to excel in 
some branch of human Ivnowledge 
or skill. Many a noble boy has 
not only tenderly cared for the 
dear ones who have been left 
destitute b^' their father's death 
but has also planned for the ac- 
quisition of a liberal education 
that he might become fitted for 
the work to which he looked for- 
ward. Such an experience has been his of whom 
we write, and success has crowned his efforts, as it 
usually rewards the industrious and judicious. Mr. 
Bir(J. whose portrait appears on the oi)posite page, 
is a wealthy capitalist of Carlinville. His riches 
have enableil him to do much for i.he benefit of his 
adopted city and county, and his name is closely 
associated witii various enterprises that have ma- 
terially advanced their interests. He is well-known 
as the President of the Macoui)in County Agricul- 
tural Board. 

A native of the Slate of Pennsylvania Mr. Bird 



was born on a farm in Butl?r County, May 4, 1828. 
His paternal grandfather, Joseph Bird, was of Eng- 
lish birth and spent his entire life in his native 
land. But two of his children ever came to Amer- 
ica, William, the father of our subject, and Mary, 
who married William Potter and died in Butler 
County, Pa. William Bird was born in London, 
England, and passed his early life in his ?]nglish 
home, but soon after marriage came to this country 
and located in Butler County, Pa . where he bought 
a tr.ict of land three miles north of Harmon^'. He 
resided there until 1836, when he sold his property 
and came to Illin(jis, traveling with a team to Pitts- 
burg, tliirty miles distant. There he embarked on 
the Ohio River, and voyaged on the waters of that 
and the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to Co'um- 
biana. Greene County, this State. He rented land 
there, and was in a fair way to prosper when death 
cut short his career in August, 1837, the county 
thus losing a practical, iiard-working pioneer. His 
widow was left in limitL'd circumstances with three 
children to care for. 

Our subject was only nine 3'ears old when he 
was tluis sadly bereft of his father's care, and as lie 
was the only son, he harl to commence at once to 
help support the family. He was a bright, sturciy 
little l.ad and the twenty-five cents a day that he 
earned working on a farm during the busy season 



192 



POR'J'RAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



was a welcome addition to tlie family income. In 
1839 and 1810 lie worked during the summer sea- 
son for 16 a monlii and his board, in 1839 his 
mollier removed to Carrolllon, and there he worked 
out in 1840 and 1841. Then, his raothor having 
bought a farm, he assisted her in its management, 
and was thus cngageil until 1849, when he rented 
the place of his motlicr and carried it on until 1851. 
In that 3ear he came to this county and purchased 
three hundred and five acres of land in what is now 
llird Township, paj-ing $5 an acre for it. One hun- 
dred and forty sicres vvero under cultivation, and a 
small frame house and a log stable stood in the 
place. 

Mr. Bird resided on that farm until 1879, and 
in the meantime sold a |>arl of tlie land, but as his 
means accumulate<l he l)ought cither land in tlie 
same township, and linally liad one thousand and 
twenty-six acres of valuable land in his possession. 
In 1879 he came to Cirlinville and bought his 
present elegant residence, which is pleasantly lo- 
cated on the corner of East Main and High Streets. 
With its vvell-kei)t grounds, handsome interior and 
rich and tasteful fuinishings it is one of the most 
attractive homes in the cit}'. 

Mr. Bird generously attributes a siiare of his 
prosperity to the capable assistance of his wife, 
who is endowed with those attributes of character 
tiiat make her wise in counsel, an efficient house- 
wife, and a true helpmate to her husband. They 
began their wedded life mtire than foity years ago, 
in 1849. They have had children, of whom these 
three are spared to bless their declining years: 
Carrie, who married Forrest Gore and resides 
near Girard; Mar^^ Olive, wife of Coy Roach, 
of Girard; and Daisy Mabel, who lives at home 
with her parents. The following is the record 
of the children of our subject and his wife 
who have departed this life: Rlorris Edwin, 
their only son, born Jul^- 9, 18.08, died February 
6, 1877; Ida Alice, born September IG, 1864, mar- 
ried Ellsworth Childs, and died .lune 3, 1890; Ada 
E., their fiist child, born August 11, 185G, died in 
December, 1858; Anna C, born May 22, 1860, died 
at the age of ten montiis. 

Mrs. Bird's name [irevious to her marriage was 
Eliza Ann Laster. She is a native of Greene 



County, 111., and a daughter of Enoch and Charity 
(Hill) Laster, pioneers of that county. Her father 
was born near Mnrfreesborough, Tenn., and was a 
son of Hardy Laster, one of the pioneer farm- 
ers of that section, who died in that State. 
Enoch Laster came to this .State when a young 
man as early as 1829, and was one of the first set- 
tlers of Greene County, locating eight miles east of 
Carrolllon, where he improved a farm, upon which 
he passed the remainder of his days. He was quite 
prominent in the community. He was the Justice 
of the Peace for many years, and in his politics he 
w.as a sturdy Democrat. The Rev. Abner Hill, the 
maternal grandfather of Mrs. Bird, was a native of 
North Carolina, whence he removed to Tennessee. 
In 1830 he came from there to Illinois, and was a 
pioneer Baptist preacher of Greene County. He 
was famous in his day in that section of the coun- 
try, preached in different places, and helped to or- 
ganize several churches. He develoced a farm on 
String Prairie, and lived on it until 1850, when he 
sold it, and thereafter made his home witii his 
children in this count}, dying at the home of his 
daughter. The maiden name of his wife was Annie 
Hill. Mrs. Bird's mother married a second time 
alter the death of her first husband, becoming the 
wife of .Tohn Courtney', and she died in Bird 
Township. 

Mr. Bird is eminently a self-made man, as he be- 
gan life on his own account with no olhe/ capital 
than his mental and physical endowments, but 
these have served him well, and he has accumu- 
lated a handsome fortune by a determined effort to 
overcome all obstacles in tlie pathway of complete 
success, and bj' the exercise of a quick, unerring 
judgment in regard to the best means of making 
money. A man of strong, firm character and of 
large enterprise, he h.as been influential in various 
ways in pushing forward undertakings of import- 
ance that have been useful in furthering the rise 
and progress of the county. EspecisUy is this true 
in regard to his connection with the Macoupin 
County Agricultural Board, of which he is one of 
the leading members. He was one of its organizers 
and as its President for the last six years he has 
greatly helped to make it one of our most servic- 
able institutions, which has done much to introduce 



I'ORTKAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



193 



the best modern methods of farming and stock rais- 
ing to tlie notice of tlie people. Mi-. IJird was also 
one of tlie organizers of the Carliiiville National 
Bank in Ma_v, 1890, of wliicli lie was then elected 
Director. 



^E 



UILLIAAI E. TAYLOR, a prosperous farmer 
of Bushy Mound 'rownsliip, is a native of 
W^I Macoupin County, liorn in one of its early 
pioneer iiomes in Gillespiu Township, July 26, 
1837. His father. Arthur Taylor, w.as a uative of 
Soutli Carolina, horn in Greenville district in 1813. 
He in turn was theson of William Taylor, a farmer, 
who is supposed to have been born in South Caro- 
lina and died in Georgia. 

Arthur Taylor was young when his parents re- 
moved to Georgia and there his youth was passed. 
When he was a young man he came to Illinois in 
1831 and spent the "winter of the deep snow" in 
this county. The following spring he returned to 
Georgia and when he heard of the Black Hawk 
War he came back to Illinois to take part in it. 
For his services he received a land warrant, which 
he sold. He homesleaded Government land in 
Gillesjjie Township, upon which some improve- 
ments had been made. He afterward sold that tract 
and bought another in the jSorthwestern part of 
the same township. He immediately proceeded to 
build a log house, riving the boards for a roof, 
making a puncheon floor and an earth aiid stick 
chimney'. Tlie remaining years of his long and 
useful life were passed on his homestead, where he 
died at a ri[)e old age, December 25. 1879. His 
widow is still living in the old home at a vener- 
able age. Her maiden name was Sarah Ann Rose, 
and she was born in New Jersev, a daughter of 
Enos and Rachael (Scott) Rose. She is the mother 
of the following children : William E., Andrew J., 
Louisa, Albert, Asa, Ezra and Jane. 

He of whom we write w.as reared in iiis native 
township and received his education in the pioneer 
schools tliat were taugiit in log houses, furnished 
with seats made by splitting small logs, with wooden 
pins for legs and without desks in front. When 



he was a boy, our subject remembers seeing deer 
and wolves quite frequently, and wild game often 
proved a welcome addition to the fare of the pio- 
neers. He resided with his parents until he was 
twenty-one, and then in 1858 set out from the old 
home to seek fortune's favors in California, going 
by way of New York and the Isthmus to San Fran- 
cisco. He engaged in both ranching and mining 
in that State and in Nevada until 1861. 

In that year Mr. Taylor returned to his native 
county, and buying laad in Brushy Mound Town- 
ship engaged in farming. At the time of his mar- 
riage in 1865 he bought a small farm on Spanish 
Needle Prairie, which remained in his possession 
until 1869, when he sold it and |)nrch.ased.land on 
the southeastern part of section 21, the same town- 
shi|). He resided there several years and devoting 
himself assiduously to agricultural pursuits was 
much prospered. In 1880 he purchased his pres- 
ent farm in Brushy Mound Township, where he has 
since made his home, and has two finely cultivated, 
well-improved farms that compare with the best in 
this locality. 

Mr. Taylor's marriage with Miss Martha Keltncr 
was celebrated March 25, 1865, and it has been 
blessed to them by the birth of the following six 
children — Luc}', Lydia, Annie, Willie, Ella and 
Lero3'. Mrs. Taylor is, like her husband, a native 
of this county, born in Brushy Mound Township, 
September 12, 1847. She is also a descendant of 
an old pioneer family. Her father, William S. 
Keltncr, was born in Tennessee in 1809 and was a 
son of Henry Keltner,who was a Virginian by birth 
and he was one of the early settlers of Tennessee. 
He carried on farming there until 1818 when he 
came to Illinois and cast in his lot with the pioneers 
of Morgan Count}'. He resided there many years, 
but finally removed to Iowa when it was still a 
Territory and locitted in Jefferson County, buying 
quite a large tract of land in the vicinity of Fair- 
field and passing his remaining days in that town. 
The maiden name of his wife was Sarah Smith. 
She was also born in "Virginia and died at Fairfield. 

Mrs. Taylor's father was nine years old when he 
came to Illinois with his parents, and his youth was 
passed in Morgan County. In 1832 he came to 
Macoupin County anil was one of the pioneers of 



194 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 




Brusliy Momid 'lownsliip, .vlicic he lioiiglit Gov- 
ernment liind on seclion 2.S. He built tliere nnd in 
the coni'so of years improvetl an excellent farm, 
which remained his home until lu' closed his eyes 
in death, Juno 1 , ISOG. 

Mrs. Taylor's mother is living at the ;i<l vaneeil 
age of eighty j'cars, and makes her home with her. 
Notwithstanding the burdm of many years she 
enjoys very good health, and her mind is still 
bright and active, liroiight up amid |)ioneer sur- 
roundings in the early yeais of the settlement of 
this State she still has a vivid recollec'.ion of those 
times an(i can trace back to their origin the many 
wonderful transformations Ihathave been wrought 
since she was young, and she n;iturall3' thinks that 
tlie rising generation will not live to see as manv 
great changes as she has seen. When she was a 
child there were no railways or canals, anil but few 
manufactories of any kind in the United States. 
She was taught to card, spin and weave, and in her 
early married life made all the cloth used by her 
family. Then all grain was sown by hand and 
i'ea|)ed by a sickle, and iiuslcad of being threshed 
by a ir.acliiue was tiainpled out by cattle or a Hail 
was used. Mrs. Keltuer's maiden name was Malihla 
Hughes, and she was born in Monroe County, K\-., 
December 10, If^ll. Her father was Thomas 
Hughes, a Virginian by birth, and he was a son of 
Hugh Hughes. 

Thomas Hughes was reared and married in Ken- 
tucky and in 1827 came to Illinois accompanied by 
his wife anil six children, making the journey with 
teams, taking all the household goods along and 
cooking and camping by the way at night. He 
located in Morgan County, whence he came in 
the ye? r 18:52 to Brushy Mound Township. He 
lirst settled on .Spanish Needle Prairie, where he 
iraprovei' a tract of land, which he afterward sold, 
and bought laud cast of the Monnil in the same 
township. He built and resided there until his 
demise. The maiden name of his wile was Susan 
Moore. She w.'.s born in Kentuckj' and died 'here 
in 1821. 

The life record of our subject as a |)raetical 
farmer ;ind as a man and a citizen, is alike honor- 
able to himself and creditable to his native count}'. 
He has taken part in the management of public af- 



fairs, and the same traits of character that have 
made him successful in his vocation have made 
him a good civic oflicial. In 1888 and 1889 he 
represented Brushy Mound Township as a member 
of the County Board of Supervisors. Mr. Taylor's 
social relations are with the Spanish Needle Lodge, 
F. M. B. A. Both he and his wife are Baptists in 
faith, and generously contribute of their means for 
religions objects, and are constant attendants at 
church, though not members thereof. 






_^E 



1=1-7; 



^.J 



\|]OSlAS R. niPLKV is a prominent business 
man of Staunton. He now holds the posi- 
tion of express agent, is connected with 
several of the old lire insurance companies, 
is Notary Public and ex-Police Magistrate. He 
has been conducting his business as at present 
for a good many ^ears, having been a resident of 
Staunton for over sixteen years. Almost his entire 
life has bren [lassed in this vicinity. He was born 
in Alton, 111., .lune 18. 18.30, and is a son of George 
Ripley, a native of Virginia, born of Virginian pa- 
rents. The grandfather of our subject died when 
George was an infant, and he grew up on a farm 
under the care of his maternal grandfather, with 
whom he emigrated to Illinois when quite young, 
the family settling in St. Clair County. After he 
had attained his majority, he was married in Madi- 
son County to Miss Martha P. Randall, a native of 
(Jeorgi.a, who came with Iier i)arents, when a child, 
to Illinois. The famil}' settled at Edwardsville 
when it was yet a fort, the year being 1818, the 
same in which Hlinois was admitted to the Union. 
Her father, .losias Randall, was the first Recorder 
of Deeds, and with the political and oflicial history 
of the county he was prominentlj' connected. He 
and his wife spent their last da^'s in Madison 
County, and lived to an advanced age. 

(ieorge Ripley and his wife began their domestic 
life in St. Clair County, and afterward removed to 
Alton, but returned to St. Clair in about 1837, 
making their home at that place until 1849, when 
they again located in Madison County, not far 
from Staunton. The mother is still living at the 



PORTRAIT AND lUOGRAPlIlCAL RPXORD. 



19i5 



age of eiglily-fonr yenrs, and is yet brip;ht and act- 
ive. She is a iiioraber of the INIetliodisl Clmrcii 
and a most estiinal)Ie l;idy. George Ripley died 
on the farm at the age of (ifly five 3'eavs. He 
was a Wiiig in politics and a life-long member of 
the JNIelhodist Clinreh. Our subject was the second 
in order of birth in their family of five children, 
two sons and three daughters, of whom the sons 
and one daughter are yet living. 

Josias Ripley was reared to manhood in Madison 
County, and has spent his entire life in that and 
Macoupin County, except a few years when he was 
temporarily absent. His educational advantages 
were limited, but by reading he has become a well- 
informed man, having an excellent knowledge con- 
cerning topics of general interest. He is one of 
the ()rominenl men of Staunton and a leader in all 
local affairs. He was prominently connected with 
the organization of the Republican party, of wdiicli 
he has since been a stalwart sup[)orter. A number 
of local ollices he has held, having served as Jus- 
tice of the Peace, Police M:igistrate, a mend)er of 
llic Town Council, and at present is Notary Public. 
In March, 18G3, he entered the (Government siu'vice 
as clerk in the t^uartermaster's Department, with 
headquarters at Little Rock and Halls Bluff. Aik., 
where he remained until July, 1866, when, the war 
being over, be was discharged and returned to 
Illinois. Since that time he has 'esided in Staunton 
or vicinity. 

Ml. Ripley was married in Montgomery County 
to Miss Sarah M. Sturgis. who was born in Clies- 
tertteld, Macoupin County, September 4, 1847. and 
under the parental roof was reared to womanhood. 
Slie was educated in the [lublic schools and a fe- 
male college at Galesburg, and is an intelligent and 
cultured lad}'. Her father, Isaac S. Sturgis, a na- 
tive of Ohio, became one of the pioneers of Ma- 
coupin County, and here married Miss Nancy 
Chaimian, who is said to have been the first white 
child born in the county, her i)arents having come 
to this State in an early day. Mr. Sturgis is a 
farmer and followed that occupation in Illinois 
until about fifteen years ago, when with his wife he 
removed to Elk County, Kan., where they still 
make their home. Mrs. Ripley is the third in order 
of birth of their six children, all of whom are now 



married and are prospering. By the union of our 
subject and his wife have been born five children 
— Mary M., wife of E. Friedman, a banker of 
Staunton; (ieorge B., who is employed as salesman 
in the general store of II. A. Jones; Walter, an 
emploje in the train dispatcher's office at Litch- 
field ; Grace I. and Albert K. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Ripley are members of the Methodist Church, in 
which he is an officer, and are active workers. 
In ihe social world they rank high, and their 
friends throughout the community are many. 



=^ij MOS INGOLD. Among the many prom- 
W/Ul inent farmers and citizens of Shaw's Point 




Township, Macoupin County, none arc 
more favorabi}' mentioned by their ac- 
quaintances than Mr. Ingold, who with his inter- 
esting family, lives on section 20. He is the son of 
JcjiiaLliiin and Mary M. (Michaels) Ingold, and was 
burn in Marion County, Ind., November I'j, 1834. 
His parents, who were natives of North Carolina 
came to .'Madison County, III., in 1840 and upon the 
farm which they purchased spent the remainder of 
their lives. They had a family of sixteen children, 
to whom they gave as good an education as oppor- 
tunity permitted, and taught them many things not 
found in text-books but nece.«sary to prosperity 
and lia|)piness. 

Our subject who was one of the younger mem- 
bers of the family circle, grew to manhood in Mad- 
ison County, III., and while still quite young 
learned how to carry on a farm and develop the 
resources of the land. When it was possible, he 
attended the pioneer schools and gained what 
knowledge he could under the circumstances, but 
was necessarily obliged to be content with a lim- 
ited amount or to ad<l to it by self-effort. He 
chose the latter, and by reading has ke|)t himself 
in touch with the world at large. In 185C he left 
his home in Madison County and going to Minne- 
sota, sojourned there one year. He then returned 
to this State, of which he has since been a resident. 

For three years Mr. Ingold resided in Bond 
County, this State, and it was during this time 



196 



PORTRAIT AND lilOGRAPtJlCAL RKCORD. 



tlial he was married in December, 1863, to Miss 
IMalinda Kingsbury. Mrs. IngoUl vvas born in In- 
diana, .hinc 16, 1839, and is llie daiigbter of Ira 
and Hannah Kingsbury, natives of Ohio, who came 
to Illinois at an early day and died in liond Coun- 
ty. Mrs. Ingold was the next to tlie youngest in 
their family of seven children, and under the pa- 
rental roof she was trained to a noble vvonianhood, 
learning those lessons which have enabled her to 
preside over her cozy home with hospitality and 
I'clinenient. They mourn the loss of six children, 
all of whom died in infancy excepting a daughter, 
Mary, who was taken from them at tiie age of four- 
teen. However three cliildren remain to brighten 
the home — .John, Oren and Flora. 

After his marriage i\Ii'. Ingold located in St. 
Clair County, where ho followed farming pursuits 
until 187C,at that time he came to Macoupin Coun- 
ty, and purchasing a farm of eighty acres in 
Shaw's Point Township, has devoted iiis attention 
since lo its cultivation and im|)rovement. Mr. In- 
gold believes it the duty of every man to keep 
himself well informed in matters of political an<l 
general importance and to be assured of his stand- 
ing on every question of nationtd or local interest. 
He has decidedly in favor of the i)rinciples of the 
Democratic party, and supports them with his vote 
and influence. He takes special interest in educa- 
tional matters and has served efficiently as School 
Director. He has also been Highway Commis- 
sioner, but has never sought office, caring little for 
the plaudits of the crovvd, and feeling that the re- 
sijonsibilities would far outweigh tiie [)leasures. 



ON. GEORGE J. CASTLE, who is inti- 
)j) mately associated with the prosperity' of 
this section of the State as one of the most 
active and progressive members of the 
Macoupin County Board of Agriculture, of which 
he is Secretary, and who has been otherwise iden- 
tified with the business interests of the county in 
former years, was a gallant officer in the late war, 
in which he won a distinguished reputation for 
high military qualities. Since taking u[> his resi- 




dence here, he has held several iin()ortant civic 
offices, and has proved a valuable acquisition to 
the citizenship not only of Carlinville, where he 
has his present home as Postmaster at this city, but 
to the county at large. 

3Ir. Castle is of New England biith and anteced- 
ants. born at Watertown, Litchfield County, Ct., 
March 22, 1839. His father, John Castle and his 
grand fatiier. Isaac Castle, were natives of that 
State. The latter was a machinist and followed 
his calling many years, the last [lart of his life 
being spent at Wateibury. 

The father of our suliject was reared amid the 
pleasant surroundings of his native Slate. For a 
number of \'ears he was prosperously engaged in 
fanning, but the closing years of his life were 
passed in retirement at Waterbury, Conn., where 
he died in 1852. The maiden nau.e of his wife was 
Clarinda AVclton. She was born in Litchfield 
County, Conn., and vvas a daughter of Jonathan 
Welton. She married a second time, becoming the 
wife of Samuel Holt, and now resides at New 
Haven, Conn. 

He of whom this biography is written was tiie 
only son of his parents, and he was thirteen ^ears 
old when he had the misforlune to lose his father. 
He oblaineil a practical education iu the public 
schools of Connecticut, which he attended until he 
was fourteen years old. He then came to Illinois 
with his uncle, Capt. Samuel AVelton, and resid- 
eil with him in Carli.iville Township, assisting on 
the farm until 1859, wiien he returned to the East, 
and ambitious to extend his education, he attend- 
ed school at Watertown. He devoted himself assi- 
duously to his books until 1801, making rapid 
progress in his studies. The great civil strife be- 
tween the North and the South broke out, and he 
watched its course with intense interest, aad in the 
opening years of a promising manhood, animated 
by the nolde and self-sacrificing patriotism that 
characterized both the old and the young men of 
that day, he enlisted in the service of his country, 
his name being enrolled .as a member of Co. D., 1st 
(lonnecticut Squ,adron, in August, 1861. His com- 
pany was mustered in the same month at Hartford, 
Conn., and was immediately attached to the Second 
New York Cavaliy, to which our subject belonged 



FOKTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



197 



iiiilil Maj', 1863. Fie was then |)roraote(l to the 
pusilion of Second Lieutenant, and was tiansferrud 
to the Tliiiteentli New York Cavalry. He was 
subsequent!}' made First Lieutenant of liis coni- 
pan}', and later was commissioned its Ca|)tain, and 
commanded tlic compan}- the last twelve montlis 
of Ills service. 

Our subject distinguished himself in various 
encounters with the enemy, ami won his spurs on 
many a iiard fought battlefield, where he gave 
ample proof of intrepidity, cool daring and de- 
votion to the cause of the Lnion, seconded by 
tact as a leader and quick wit and sagacity in case 
of emergencies. He was serving under Gen. Kil- 
patrick during Stoneman's raid, and it was his 
regiment that got inside tiic works around 
Richmond, captured a few prisoners, including 
some rebel officers, and dated their paroles from 
that city. C'a|)lain Castle was with the advanccil 
corps at tiie battle of Falmouth, his regiment being 
the first to cross the river into Fredericksburg,and 
it guarded the rear of Pope's army duiing the re- 
treat from Rapidan to Fairfax Court House. He 
was with Siieridan in his campaign in the Shenan- 
doali Valley, and took an active part in the battle 
of Winchester. January 11, 1865, the captain 
resigned his commission and bade farewell to mili- 
tary life on account of disability. 

Our subject returned to Connecticut after he i 
left the army, and then came once again to Carlin- i 
ville. He gave his attention to farming until 
1873, and then engaged in the livery business 
which he conducted until 1890. In February of 
that year he was appointed Postmaster, and has 
ever since been at the head of the postoffice in this 
city. He is managing the affairs entrusted to his 
care, methodically, promptl}-, and in a business 
like manner, so as to satisfy all concerned, and his 
courtesy and genialitj' render him very popular. 
He has lield other prominent positions, and in 
every case has displayed that true public spirit 
that seeks to promote the highest welfare of the 
country regardless of personal aggrandizement. 
He was a member of the Hoard of Aldermen, of 
Carlinville, from the First Ward one term, anil in 
1878 he was elected Mayor of the city. In that 
capacity he used his influence to forward all 



schemes for the benefit of the public, and gave 
heart}- support to all measures calculated to pro- 
mote the growth of the municipality. 

In 1884 Mr. Castle was elected to the Stale 
Legislature, and he took an active part in that 
memorable contest that lasted from .January until 
IMay, and terminated in the election of John A. 
Logan to the United States Senate, he standing 
lirnily by the General from first to last. Politic- 
ally, the Republican party has always found in him 
a stanch adherent since he cast his first Presidential 
vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has been identified 
with the Macoupin County Board of Agriculture 
for many years, has served it as Director and Pres- 
ident, and for six years he has been Secretary of 
the board, that owes much to his zeal in its behalf. 
Socially, he is a member of the Dan Messick Post, 
No. 339, G. A. R.;of Mt. Nebo Lodge, No. 76, A. 
F. & A. M.; of Orient Lodge, No. 95, K. P.; of 
Silver Lodge, No. 325, K. of H.; and of Carlinville 
Camp, No. 125, M. W. A. 

The marriage of our subject September 8, 1868, 
with Miss Emma B. Fishback, a native of Ala- 
bama, and a daughter of William H. and Margaret 
Fishback, has been one of mutual happiness. They 
have three children living — William II., Louisa R. 
and George J. Their joungest child, Clara Belle, 
died at the age of seven years. 



<"M-^-^r-^-i- 



^RAVIS M. MITCHELL, who resides on bis 
pleasant farm on section 36, Brushy Mound 
Township, enjo3'S the distinction of being 
the oldest native-born citizen of said township. 
His birth took place in his father's log cabin on sec- 
tion 24, February 13, 1833, he being the second 
son born to Elijah and Jane (Moore) Mitchell. 
See sketch of William T. Mitchell for parental his- 
tory. 

Travis M. attended the pioneer schools of this 
localitj', which were taught in a log house on the 
subscription plan, each family paj'ingin proportion 
to the number of scholars sent. The teacher 
'•boardeil around" with the parents of the pupils 




198 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIGAL RECORD. 



tlirougliout the district. Our subject was cloliied 
ill liomesiuin ir.anufrtcturcd l)}- the d^■ft hands of 
ills iiioUrm', and the fooil that he and tiie rest of the 
fatniiy ate was cooked by her before an open lire- 
pl.ice. Before the advent of tlie railways the pco- 
jile lived principally on tlie products of the farni. 

Our subject remained at home iinlil 1 So 4 wiili 
his parents, and his father then, on his attain- 
ing his majority, gave him a horse and saddle, 
which, with about ^20 in cash, comprised his entire 
capital with which to begin life on his own ac- 
count. Hut that was sulticient for a 3'oung man 
of his calibre and wide-awake activity, and in ihe 
course of time he has increaseii it many fold, and 
is one of the wealthy men of his township. In the 
fall of the same year that ho left the parental abode, 
after engaging for awhile in driving a team to 
break prairie, receiving half the profits, he rented 
of John Moore a tr.act of land in Honey I'oiiit 
Township, and put in a crop of wheat. In 1876 
his father gave him seventy acres of prairie on the 
western half of the northeast quarter of section 30, 
lirushy Mound Townshii), and which is included in 
his present farm. Thv' same year he bought twenty 
acres of land a<ljoining his place, and ten acres of 
whiih were timbjr. lie his developed his estate 
into a fine farm, wliieh is re|)lete with all niodein 
improvements, including a neat and commodious 
set of frame buildings, anil his well kept fields and 
pastures yield him a handsome income, lie has in- 
creased the acreage of his farm uu'il he lias four 
hundred and ninety-five acres of really that is in a 
fine condition. 

On the loth of April. 1858, Mr. Mitchell mar- 
ried Miss Sarah Elizi Jackson, a native of Honey 
I'oint Township, where she was born November 25, 
1840. Their pleasant wedded life has brouglit to 
them one son, Frederick Elijah. Diir subject and 
his estimable wife enjoy to a marked degree the 
esteem and confidence of all wlio know thcra, as in 
their (iailj- lives they show themselves to be kindly, 
warm-hearted people, who are thonghtfLd and gen- 
erous toward others, and are in every sense of the 
word Christians. Heligiously, they are valued 
members of the Baptist Church. 

Mrs. Mitchell comes of one of the old and well- 
known pioneer families of this county. Her father, 



Frederick A. Jackson, was born in Claysville, Har- 
rison County', Ky., October 1, 1818, and was a son 
of William Jackson, a native of the same county. 
The father of the latter, great-grandfather of Mrs. 
Mitchell, was .lonatlum Jackson. He was a native 
of Virginia, where he was reared and marrieil, 
Eliza Olds becoming his wife. She was also a Vir- 
ginian, and was a daughter of Jesse Olds, a native 
of the same Stale. Mr. OMs removed from Vir- 
ginia 1(1 the North west Territory in the early days 
of the settlement of that pirt of the country, and 
stopped fi^ir a time on the present site of Mncennes, 
which was tiien a trading post. F'rom there he 
went to Harrison County, Iv3'., ami taught in dif- 
ferent seminaries and academies in that .State, hav- 
ing |)reviously taught at N'erraont and Vincennes. 
He was a graduate of Yale College, and a fine 
scholar. He also seems to have been a thorough 
business man, for, coming to Macoupin County in 
1834, he settled i:i Honey Point Township, buying 
with his son Augustus quite a tract of land; he be- 
came wealthy, and at one time owned u|i\vard of 
thirty thousand, acres in this county. He langhl a 
few terms in Honey Point Tounshl|) when he first 
located there, and he resided there the remainder 
of his life. The maiden nauie t)f his wife, great- 
greal-grandmothcr of .Mrs. .Mitchell, was Mercy 
Taft. She was born in Massachusetts and died in 
Madison County, this .State. 

After his marriage. Jonathan Jackson went lo 
Kentucky and was a pioneer of Harrison County, 
where he bought land and improved a farm, his 
death taking place there. His son William .lack- 
son, was a blacksmith, and cariied on his traile in 
connection with farming, his entire life being 
passed in Harrison County, where he died in 18411. 
His wife survived him many years, her death finally 
occurring at Cl.aysville. Ky., in July, 1887. 

Frederick A. Jackson was reared in his native 
county, and when I'ighleen years old left the pa- 
rental home anil came to Illinois by the way of the 
Ohio ami iMississippi Rivers to Alton, and thence 
on foot to his destination in this county. He found 
employment on a farm, working b}' the month. At 
the time of his marriage he settled on a wild lr.ict 
of land be had purchased in Honey Point Town- 
ship. He erected a log house in which he and his 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



199 



bride commenced housekeeping, and lived there 
ahout seventeen years. He then sold his property 
in this county, and went bacli to Kentucky, and re- 
mained there three years. He then returned to 
Macoufiin County, where he has since resided, pur- 
chasing the farm he now occupies in Brushy Mound 
Township. 

Mr. Jackson was married March 7, 1839, to Miss 
Sarah Scott, a native of North Carolina, and is a 
daughter of Robert and Martha Scott, also natives 
of tiiat State, and pioneers of this county. After a 
marriage of more than lialf a century Mrs. Jackson 
departed this life June G, 1890, leaving behind her 
tlie record of many well -spent days. 




1' ESHACII Sliri/rZ, one of the leading 
i\ citizens of Slij[)nian, •vlio is now a rclired 



farmer, is the gentleman wliose name is at 
llie head of this biographical notice. His 
father was Ailain Slmltz who was l](>rn in Somerset 
Count}, Pa., aliout tlie year 17S9. Ills mother 
was Nancj' Shockey, wlio was also a native of the 
same portion of tin: country ns her h'.isband, licr 
birth year being lcS02. After uiairiago tiiey set- 
tied in their native county and in the course of 
time removed from there to Alleirliany County. 
Md., in May, 1836, and lived iliere until his 
deatli which occurred in 1804 wlien he was in his 
seventy-sixth year. His widow came to Illinois 
about 1866 and still resides in Shipman with her 
daughter. They had a large family of fourteen 
children of whom our subject was the seventh in 
order of birth. 

Mr. Shullz was born in Somerset County, Pa., 
Ma\" 28, 1831. He was about five years of age 
when his parents removed lo Alleghany County, 
Md. There he grew to manhood under the mild 
influences incident to farm life. Arriving at 3'ears 
of manhood he was united in marriage in his 
adopted State March 20, 1853 to Miss Charlotte 
Augustine, a daughter of Jacob F. R. and Jus- 
dinah (Null) Augustine. The former was a native 
of Somerset County, Pa., an<l the latter was born 
near Hagerstown, Md. They settled in Somerset 



County, Pa., and there Ijved until he died, when 
about forty years of age. The mother still sur- 
vives, at an advanced age. They had ten children 
of whom Mrs. Shultz is the third. She was born 
in Somerset County, Pa., April ."50. 1835. There 
she grew to womanhood and lived until her mar- 
riage. 

The original of this life record with his wife, 
spent the first years of married life in Alleghany 
County, Md., and Somerset Count}-, Pa., until 1869 
when they came to this county and settled in Ship- 
man Township on section 24, where they continued 
to live until the spring of 1891, when our subject 
retired from the active duties of farm life which 
he had so long pursued and removed to the village 
of Shipman where with his amiable and most 
worthy wife he intends to pass the afternoon of a 
life that has been occupied with the affairs and 
business of an energetic career. 

i\Ir. and Mrs. Shultz have welcomed to their 
hearthstone eight children. Tiiey are: Marshall A. 
Alonzo M., Jennie, Franklin S., Cora M., Herman 
J., Alice L., and Chester A. The eldest child died 
when only four years of age. Alonzo was united 
in niariiage lo Miss Margaret Mitchell. Jennie 
is llie wife of William A. Fisher. Franklin mar- 
ried Miss Jessie F. Talley ; Coia is the partner of 
the joys and sorrows of F. M. Dodson; Herman 
was united to Miss Winifred Smith. All of the 
children are briglit and intelligeal: and hold pro- 
niinent positions in the social life of the comrau- 
nit}'. 

The original of this sketeii has filled the office of 
Supervisor of Shipman To'Vnship fos three years 
and has been a Scluiol Director for three years. 
He is now serving as Supervisor. He is a man who 
takes an active interest in all local affairs. He af- 
filiates with the Democratic part}' with whom he 
casts the weight of his influence and vote. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Shultz are active members of the 
Lutheian C'liurch, being generous su|)porters of the 
same. The greater part of our subject's life has 
been siient in farming allliough for two years he 
was engaged in mercantile pursuits at firantsville, 
Md. The farm which he owned for so many years 
lioasts many fine buihlings. The home farm con- 
sisted of three hundred and twenty acres and he 



200 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



also ovvned an adjoining farm of two luimlied and 
forty acres, both located in Sliipnian Township. He 
is a member in good standing- of the Knights of 
Honor. 

~ ^^- 

"<tp«)RNST A. BKCHTEL, proprietor of tiie 
1^ Staunton Nursery, which is located on sec- 
/'' — :f tion 29, in the town of Staunton, is num- 
bered among the early settlers of tlie county of 
1856, his residence here comprising a period of 
thirty-five consecutive years. Of German birth, 
he first opened his eyes to the light of da^- in tiie 
city of Bremen, Januarj' 24, 18.30, and before he 
had attained his raajoritj' he came to this country. 
His fatl\er, Cornelius Bechtel, was also a native of 
Bremen, and became a leading wholesale merchant 
of !,hat city, wlierc he successfully carried on oper- 
ations, becoming a wealthy man. He grew to 
manhood under the care of an elder sister, for his 
father had died when he was ten years of age. In 
Aldenburg, German}-, he wedded Miss Sophia 
Gether, a native of that city. His death occurred 
in 1850, at the age of sixty three years. She long 
survived her husband and died November 30, 
1887, when nearly eightj'-three 3'ears of age. Both 
were members of tlie German Reformed Church 
and were people of prominence in Bremen, where 
they occupied a high social position. By their 
marriage were born two sons — our subject and his 
brother Heniy, who died in Germany when a young 
man. By a former marriage Mi'. Bechtel iiad be- 
come the father of six children, three daughters 
and three sons. The latter all came to America 
and two became prominent merchants of New York 
City. The other son returned and succeeded to 
liis father's wholesale business in Bremen. He died 
some joars ago. 

As his father was well off, our subject was en 
abled to secure a good education, and was tiius 
fitted for life's duties. At the age of nineteen, in 
1849, lie bade good-by to home and friends, took 
passage upon the sailing-vessel "Gaston." com- 
manded by Capt. Blanke, and at length arrived in 
New York. He spent one ye.ar in the eastern part 
of the Empire Stale and then went to Washing- 



ton, D. C, where li^ lived until he had attained 
his majority and wedded Miss Mary L. Gilde- 
meister, who was born in Prussia, January 17, 
1835, and conies of a very prominent and cultured 
family. Among her relatives was one famed for 
his literary productions. He was also a diplomat 
and Served as State Ambassador. He was killed by 
the hand of an assassin. Otto Gildemeister, a cousin 
of Mrs. Bechtel, is a prominent German author 
and translator, who has translated into his na 
five tongue the works of Shakespeare and Byron 
Mrs. Bechtel is a daughter of Henry and Wilhel- 
inina (Simonetti) Gildemeister, natives of Ger- 
man}', and they were descended from families of 
note and worth. Among their relatives were those 
who held high positions under Ihe Government. 
The mother was the daughter of an Italian musi- 
cian who became the leader of a celebrated or- 
chestra. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gildemeister began their domestic 
life in Bremen aud after some time he accepted a 
position as professor in a leading agricultural col- 
lege of I'russia, his situation being for life, but, 
desiring to give his children better opportunities, 
he decided to come to America and in 1848, with 
his family, sailed across the Atlantic. He pur- 
chased a farm in the District of Columbia and 
nine years later, with his wife and children, some 
of whom were already married, came to Macoupin 
County, III., locating in Bunker Hill Township, 
where they resided until their removal to Bunker 
Hill to live retired. Mrs. Gildemeister died in 
1870, at the age of sixty-five years. Mr. Gilde- 
meister is still living in Bunker Hill, at the ad- 
vanced age of ninetj--seven years. His mental 
faculties are still unimpaired, but he now suffers 
from a paralytic stroke. He belongs to the Ger- 
man Reformed Church, cf which his wife was also 
a member. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bechtel have been born five 
children. Willielmina Minnie became the wife of 
John W. Turk, who died in Staunton Township, 
in 1885, leaving his widow and a daughter. Bertha, 
to mourn his loss. They now reside with her 
parents. Henry C. is engaged in the wholesale 
grocer}' business in Springfield, Mo.; August R. 
is extensively engaged in business as a nursery- 



I 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL RPXORD. 



201 



man; Mary L. is the wife of Samuel Payne, an 
attorne3'-at-law residing in Greenfield, Mo.; Theo- 
dore is assisting his brother in the nursery busi- 
ness. The Bechtel farail3' is numbered among the 
prominent people of Macoupin County and well 
deserve to occupy that rank. 

Mr. Bechtel, the subject of this sketch, is a Re- 
publican in politics, and in all that pertains to the 
welfare and upbuilding of the community he lias 
ever borne his part. He made farming his busi- 
ness until he engaged in his present line of trade. 
On coming to this county, he located ui)on a farm 
in Dorchester Township, about half way between 
•Staunton and Bunker Hill, wliere he carried on 
.agricultural pursuits for six years. He then estab- 
lished a nursery and vineyard, and has since car- 
ried on that business. His home is now on sec- 
tion 29, where eight 3'ears ago he established the 
Staunton Nursery. He cariies all kinds of nur- 
sery plants, shrubbeiy and vegetables of excellent 
varieties, and h.is now a large wholesale and retail 
trade. The home comprises fifteen acres of fine land 
and is beautifully adorned with trees and shrubs. 
With Mr. Bechtel in business the sons are associ- 
ated, and they now do tlie princi|)al )iart of the 
work, relieving their father of the more arduous 
labors. 



7 OHN T. CAIN, who is engaged in farming 
on section 5, Honey Point Township, is a 
Southerner by birth, the i^lace of his nativ- 
'f^fj ity being Grayson County', Ky., and the 
date, May 3, 184G. He is a son of Abraham P. 
Cain, who is supposed to have been a native of the 
same county. The father of the latter, Patrick 
Cain, was born in Ireland, and on coming to Amer- 
ica settled among the pioneers of Grayson County, 
where he engaged in farming, and there spent his 
last years. 

Abraham P. Cain was reared on aKentuckj^ farm, 
and continued to live in his native State until 
1850, when he came to Illinois, accompanied by 
his wife and three children. They made the jour- 
ne3' with a team, bringing all their household ef- 
fects with them and cooking and cami)ing often 



by the way. After arriving in this .State, Mr. Cain 
located in Jersey- County, residing a short time on 
Hawkin's Pr.airie, then removed to Kemper's Sta- 
tion, where he lived two j-ears. He next rented a 
farm south of there, and dwelt upon it until 1860, 
when he came to Macoupin Count}-, and purchased 
a tract of partly improved land in Shipman Town- 
ship. At that time Alton was the nearest market 
and depot for supplies, there being no railways here 
then. He engaged in the improvement of his farm, 
and made his home here until his death. The name 
of his «ife before marriage was Nancy Downs. 
She is a Kentuckian by birth, and a daugliter of 
Israel Downs. She is living at a venerable age, 
making her home on the homo farm, and is the 
mother of seven children, namely, — Margaret A., 
John T., .Sarah C. Israel Taylor, James W., Mary 
E. and J. Hardin. 

John T. Cain, of whom these lines are written 
was but five years old when the famil}- came to Ill- 
inois, and he remembers well the incidents of pio- 
neer life in Jersey County, during his boyhood. 
At the time that they settled there the country 
still retained much ot its priniiiive condition, and 
deer and other wild game were numerous. He was 
reare'i on a farm, assisting in its manifold duties, 
and gaining a good practical knowledge of agricul- 
ture that has been of value to him since he began 
his independent career as a farmer. In 1872 he 
rented land in Brushy Mound Township, which he 
cultivated very profitably, and he continued to re- 
side in that township, until 1882, when he bought 
and removed to the farm he now occupies in Honey 
Point Townshi[). This farm, with its carefully 
tilled acres, its productive soil, and its excellent 
improvements, is a valuable piece of propert}', and 
yields its owner a comfortable income. 

November 4, 1875, Mr. Cain married Miss Mary 
E. Morgan, a native of this countj', East Carlinville 
Township, her birthplace. Their pleasant wedded 
life has been blessed to them by the birth of six 
children, namely: Edward R., Leola, Ruby C, Ina 
H., John K. and Margaret A. 

Mrs. Cain's father, Thom.as Morgan, was born in 
Shropshire, England, February 21, 1829. He re- 
mained in his native land until he was twenty four 
years old. when he came to America, crossing the 



202 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ocean in a sailing-vessel, and landing at New Or- 
leans. From that city be came northward as far 
as Memphis, Tenn., and after tarrying there a year, 
he came to this county. He resided for two years 
at Carlinville, and then settled at South Otter 
Township, of which he has since been a resident. 
He was a carpenter by trade, and worked on some 
of the first frame houses ever erected at Carlinville. 
He followed his trade for a time after locating in 
South Otter Township, but for many years has de- 
voted himself to farming, and owns a good farm 
of forty acres. 

Mr. Morgan was married in this county July 10, 
1851, to Miss Harriet Walton, who was born in New 
York City, February 20, 1832. They have five 
children as follows, — Mary E., Florence, William 
L., Minnie H. and Thomas E. 



'-i-t^F^<^ 4 ' ■ i - 



1^^ RS. CLARA M. (RICE)STEH)LEY, w.as 
born in Soutii Palmyra Township, Apid 
17, 1841. Her father, Richard Rice, was a 
Virginian and was horn April 30, 1795. 
His father, P2dwin Rice, also spen1 his entire days 
as far as is known in ^'irginia. The father of INLs. 
Steidlcy was reared and married in his native 
State, and removed thence to Kentucky, and in 
1830 to Illinois where he made his home in Mac- 
oupin County. This removal was made by team 
an<l he brought with him not only his wife and 
five children but also all his household goods and 
possessions. He settled in what is now South Pal- 
myra Township and made claim to a tract of Gov- 
ernment land. 

'J'hc same fall Mr. Rice returned to Kentucky on 
horseb.ick and brought back with him to Illinois 
his brother and family as well as two other fam- 
ilies. He returned to Illinois in lime to encounter 
the severities of the winter of 1830, which is noted 
as the season of deep snow. He and his family 
lived during that winter in a log cabin of one 
apartment. Nothing daunted by this experience 
which must have been a severe one to people coming 
from the southland, he went to work in the S|)ring 



to put his farm in condition for cnllivatlou, and 
made his residence there until his death in 1856. 

The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Clara Ann Cave. She was born in Virginia and 
was the daughter of Thomas Cave, who spent his 
last days in Kentucky and died in 1878. The 
mother of Mrs. Stcidley reared eleven children, 
five of whom are now living. In the early settle- 
ment of this county the farmers were obliged to 
live entirely upon the products of the farm as they 
were so far removed from any market and Mrs. 
Rice and her children were clothed from material 
manufactured by her own hand. They raised flax 
and sheep upon the farm and she was accustomed 
to card and spin the wool and to spin the llax and 
from these m.aterials to weave cloth for their 
clothing. 

Clara Rice resided with her mother until her 
marriage in 1861 to Solomon J. Steidley, who was 
born in A'irgiiiin, and was the son of Jo.seph and 
Elvira Steidle3\ After marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Steidley resided upon the old Steidley homestead 
in South Palmyra Townsliip for some time and 
then bougiit two hundred and eighty acres in North 
Palmyra Township adjoining the village of Palmj'- 
ra and partly situated within its bounds. He carried 
on agriculture and wasalso engaged in the sale of 
farming implements until his death. i)ut he was not 
destined to a long life for he vi-as called from earth in 
.Tune 1878, leaving a widow and three children to 
mourn his loss. The children are named Charles 
L., Rosa P.. and Mary E. In early life both Mr. 
and Mrs. Steidley became members of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church and ever found in it a broad 
field of labor and inlluence. Mr. Steidle\' served 
his church as both Stewnid .",nd Class Leader and 
was an active worker in the Sunday-school. In 
his death his brethren realized that they met -.i 
loss which was irreparable. He was a member of 
Palmyra Lodge, No. 163 A. F. & A. M., of Palmyra 
Lodge I. O. O. F., and in [lolitics casts his vote 
and uses his inlluence for the promotion of the 
Republican party. He has been a traveler to a 
considerable extent and in 1852 went to California, 
making the journej' across the [ilains with a team. 
Two of his brothers, Samuel and James, served 
their country during the War of the Rebellion. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



205 



Jolin Rice, Mrs. Steidley's brother, was one t>f tlie 
"one liundrerl flays' bn3-s" who went oiil in 1864 
anil James who belonged to the Tiiirty-scconil Illi- 
nois Infantry, fell mortallj- vvoiinded at Siiiluli, 
April 6, 1862. Mrs. Steidley's brother, Joseph 
Rice, was killed nX the battle of Shiloh. He was 
First Lieutenant. 



^^^Eti. RICHARD ROWKTT. At no lime in 
11 g— , the history of oisr nation were the srand- 
^^^ est qualities of hei'oism so brilliantly dis- 
plaj'ed as durin<r the Civil War, and high on the 
roll of honor we place the name of those who main- 
tained unsullied the glory of this mighty nation. 
When gloomy war with all its horrors rent in twain 
a once united |)eople, there were not wanting brave 
men to offer their lives in defense of liberty, to 
daie, and do and die before the altar of patriotism. 
In hours of peril no one faltered, but all, generals 
and privates, military and civilians, fought with an 
intrepidity which never failed them. In dire dis 
aster they became individuallj' heroic, and fought 
for that prosperity which in civic life they !iad 
achieved. 

The residents of Macoupin County and of ilie 
Stale of Illinois, point wiih pride to the record 
made in the Civil AVar by the late Gen. Howett, 
whose portrait accompanies this sketch. Imbued 
witli an intense love for the land of his adoption, 
and fired with a determin.".iion to ui)hold her in ■ 
stitutions, he enlisted at the breaking out of the 
war, and served valiantly on many a hard-fought 
battlefield. As a private citizen and as a public 
ofllcial his career was alike stainless and honorable; 
in his home, surrounded by a devoted wife and lov- 
ing children, he enjoyed a needed relaxation from 
the duties of puldic life and there found his great- 
est pleasures. Although removed from the scenes 
of earth ere yet old age iiad come to him. he had 
won a reputation which was not bounded b^- any 
arbitrary divisions of county or State. A grateful 
countr}' honors his memory, and generations yet 
to come will revere bisi name. 

Although not a native of the I'nited States, in 
his beliefs, ideas and [trinciples he was intensely 



American. The place of his nativity' w.as England, 
and he w.as born in East Loop, Cornwall, in 1830. 
In far-famed Britain he grew to manhood, and hav- 
ing early laid the foundation f)f an upright charac- 
ter and possessing an intellect of a very high order, 
there was everything in his [)erson3l qualities to 
indicate a career of usefulness. The knowledge 
which he gained from the best literature of the day 
was of inestimable value to him. History, bio- 
graphy and oratory gra<lually enkindled in his 
heart a desire to be something more than a mere 
worker with his hands, ami he became, almost un- 
known to himself, a well-informe<l, e Uicated man. 
When twenty-one years of age he left his home 
and crossed the broad Atlantic and sought in Amer- 
ica, what the future might h.old in keeping for him. 
In the State of Indiana he passed three years in a 
hugg3', harness and trimming establishment. In 
1854 he removed to this county where he remained 
until called hence. The first years of his residence 
here were times to try the souls of men; war w.as 
threatening and (hinger lurked on every hand. 
Finally- aff:iirs reached a crisis, and the gun fired at 
Ft. .Sumter echoed round the worM. When the 
war In-oke out in 1861 he was commissioned Ca|)- 
tain of Company K. Seventh Illinois Infantr\'. His 
skill as commander soon atlr.acted attention, and he 
was i)romoled to iNIajor. Lieutenant-Colonel, Col- 
onel and was brevetted Lrigadier-General for spec- 
ial acts of gallantry at Aliatooun. In three differ- 
ent engagements he received as manj' severe wounds, 
at Sliiloh. Corinth and Allaloona. 

Impressed with the ability and attainments of 
Gen. Rowett, Gov. Palmer appointed him Canal 
Commissioner, and in 1871 he acce|)ted the appoint- 
ment of Peritentiary Commissioner. In 1876 he 
took his seat in the Thirtieth General Assembly as 
a representative from Macoupin Count}-. Though 
never radical in politics, his vote and sympathies 
weie with the Republican party, and the testimony' 
comes from all his acquaintances tiiat his ability 
and integrity won, to a very unusual degree, the 
respect of his associates. His popularity obtained 
for him the office of Internal Revenue Commis- 
sioner for the Fourth District the appointment be- 
ing ma<le by President Garfield. Here as elsewhere, 
he nol)l\- discharged the duties ineiimbent uiiori 



206 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



him. and the orticiciicy wliieli elinracterized liis 
every effort was noli(*al)le in tliis important posi- 
tion. 

Notwithstanding tlie man}' official duties whicli 
devolved upon iiim. he pursued the interests of his 
f.irm, which consisted of tvvo hundred acres on sec- 
tion 17, and gave especial attention to the breeding 
of tlioroughhred horses. His death was very sud- 
den and occurred in Chicago, this State, at Wash- 
ington Park, July 13, 1887. .Since his demise his 
widow has superintended the affaiis of the farm be- 
side guarding the interests of her three children — 
Mary, Edith K. and Richard. Archibel died when 
three years old. Gen. Rovvett was twice marrieri, 
and by his first wife liad one son, Charles. His 
widow bore the maiden name of Ella Braley, and 
grew to womanhood among the (jeople of Macou- 
pin County, of which siic is still an honored resi- 
dent. Her father, Ellison Braley, is spoken of at 
length elsewhere in his volume; her mother Cath 
erine (Coon) Braley, was a native of New York. 
The parents were married in New Y'ork City, an(( 
emigrating to Illinois in 1840, settled in Collinsville, 
Madison County, where Mrs. Rowett was born Feb- 
ruary 22, 1848. Some j'ears afterward tliey re- 
moved to Macoupin County, and are now residents 
of Carlinville. Of the six children oorn to them, 
Mrs. Rowett was the third. The uneventful years 
of her maidenhood were passed in her father's home 
where she enjoyed the educational advunla:;;es of a 
common school. On February 12, IK74, she was 
united in marriage with Gen. Richard Rowett, in 
Carlinville, and their liappy wedded life was ter- 
minated by the death of the General in 1887. 



R. ROBERT J. ilORNSBY is the owner 
of one of the beautiful residences of 
(i^J^'' Bunker Hill, and it will probably continue 
to be his home during the remainder of 
his life. He has been identified with the hist<)r\' 
of the county for about forty-five years and is 
numbered among its wealthy citizens. He was 
born in Shelby Count}', Ky., September 13, 1819, 
and is of English desi'eiit, the family having been 



founded in America by.Toseph Hornshy, the grand- 
father of our subject, who left his English home 
and emigrated to America (Albemarle County ,A'a.,) 
prior to the Revolutionary War. He had followed 
merchandising in his native land and acquired a 
good propert)-, but upon coming to this country 
he became a large landowner. The British learn- 
ing that he was possesseil of considerable silver- 
ware, through some slaves who had deserted him, 
threatened to burn his home if he did not reveal 
its hiding-place and to save a shelter for his fam- 
ily he revealed the hidden treasure, which he had 
buried in a hole beneath the smokehouse in order 
to keep it safe. After the death of his wife he 
removed with his children to Kentucky, in 1801, 
locating in .Shelby County, where he entered land 
frofn the Government and tng.aged in farming until 
his death at a ripe old age. 

I'he father of our subject, Joseph Hornsby, Jr.. 
1 moved with his father to Kentucky, where he lo- 
j eated, and spent his entire life upon the old home- 
! stead, his death occurring at the age of sixty-four 
years He . w.as a successful farmer, owned a 
number of slaves and his landed possessions 
aggregated thirteen hundred acres. In politics he 
was a Whig and one of the great admirers of 
Ilenrj- Clay. In Kentuckj' he met and married 
Miss Cynblda Allen, who was born in Pennsylvania, 
and belonged to the old Allen family, which for 
many generations had resided in this countr}-. She 
was but a child when her parents emigrated to 
Shelby County and there she grew to womanhood. 
She survived her husband some years and after his 
death went u> live with her son, D. C, near St. 
Louis, where she died at the age of seventy-three 
years. She was a faithful member of the Presby- 
terian Church but Mr. Hornsby was a believer in 
the doctrine of the Episcopal Church. 

The Doctor was the sixth child and fifth sou in a 
family of ten children, numbering eight boys and 
two girls, of whom all but one lived to be grown 
while three yet survive. In the usual manner of 
farmer lads he spent the days of his boyhood and 
youth, until twelve years of age, after which he 
was sent by bis father to school in Jefferson County, 
Ky., for two years, after that to Danville College, 
for a short time, and then to college at Shel- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



207 



byville, Shelby County. Having deteimineil to 
make the practice of luerlicine his lit'e-woilv lie 
entered the otlice of Dr. Benjamin W. Dudley, of 
Lexington, Ky., a prominent physician with a 
world-wide reputation as a surgeon. After study- 
ing under his direction for two 3'ears, and graduat- 
ing. Dr. Hornsby began the practice of 'uedicine 
in Kentucky, where he remained three years. From 
Shelb}' County, he came to Illinois and entered 
soine tracts of land from the (iovernment in Madi- 
son County, and purchased other lands, settling 
near what is now Prairie Town, in 1846. The 
country round about was all wild and unimprove '. 
He also saw the advantage of buying cattle and 
feeding them upon the succulent grasses whicli 
covered the prairies and in this way also realized a 
handsome profit. From November, 1849. until 
1862, the Doctor made his home near Jefferson 
Barracks, St. Louis, where he was actively engaged 
in the practice of his profession, having at tiiat 
time bought land in the vicinity of St. Louis, which 
he still owns. In 1854 he laid out and founded 
the town of Clyde. Macoupin County. Four years 
later in (connection with L. L. Dorsey, he laiil out 
the village of Prairie City and his land at that 
place soon sold for a good profit. At one time lie 
owned over twelve hundred acres in Madison 
County, but as values have increased he has dis- 
posed of the greater (lari of it. He still owns 
two hundred and sevent^'-five acres near Prairie 
City, one hundred and sixty acres in Dorchester 
Township, Macoupin County, and. si.x hundred and 
forty acres near Clyde, III. Most of his land is 
well improved and is under tlie;cliarge of enter- 
prising farmers. 

Dr. Hornsby wedded Miss Frances Cordelia 
Dorsey, a native of Jefferson County, Ky., born 
December 1, 1825, and a daughter of Eli.as and 
Martha R. (Booker) Dorsey. Mrs. Dorsey was the 
daughter of Col. Richard Booker, who served in 
the War of 1812. P^lias Dorsey enlisted under 
him at the age of seventeen j ears and on the 
promise of good behavior, the Colonel' promised 
to give him one of his daughters in marriage on 
his return, which promise was fulfilled. Elias 
Dorsey and his wife were natives of Afaryland and 
Kentucky respertivelj* and tiieir married life was 



spent in Jefferson County of the latter State. They 
went on a prospecting tour to Illinois, preparatory 
to doterinining whether tiiey would make that State 
their home and wliile on the return trip Mrs. Dor- 
sey was thrown from a carriage wiiile crossing a 
bridge in Indiana. A limb was fractured and the 
accident resulted in tlie loss of lier life. Mr. Dor- 
sey continued his residence in Kentuck\- and after- 
ward married Mri^. Williamson, a lady of Balti- 
more, Md., after whose death he came to Illinois 
and died at tiie home of his sonin law, Edward C. 
Winchester, at the age of seventy -six. He was 
one of the largest landowners in this part of the 
S',ate. being the [lossessor of more than twenty 
thousand acres of good land. He was ver\' suc- 
cessful in all his business undertakings and although 
he iiad little when he started out in life he became 
very wealthy. In politics lie was a strong Jackson- 
ian Democrat. 

Mrs. Hornsby was one of thirteen children and 
her education was acquired in a Catholic school 
near Beardstown, Ky. She has proved a good 
helpmate to her husband and this honored and 
worthy couple have the res|)cct and esteem of all 
with whom they have come in contact. Botli are 
members of the Episcopal Church. In politics he 
is a stanch Democrat, and is well-informed con- 
cerning the political historj' of the country but has 
never been an office-seeker. The Hornsby house- 
hold numbers the following members: Tlie Doctor 
and his wife, Robery .). and Martha D. F^our chil- 
dren of the family are now deceased, William 
Walker, Tliomas Levin, Elias Dorsey and Robert 
Henry. The eldest of the surviving daughters is 
Julia B., who is married and resides in Bunker 
Hill; and Carmelite W. is the wife of Prof. Stiver, 
whose sketch appears on another page of this work. 

Dr. Hornsby located in Gilleapie, Macoupin 
County, in 1862, where for four years hecairied 
on a successful practice ftnd then came to Bunker 
Hill, where he has since made his home. Only a 
short time had elapsed before lie was again engaged 
in attending to a large practice and he always had 
all that he could take care of, often more than he 
wished for, until he announced that lie intended to 
retire and would no longer engage in practice. He 
deserves the greatest credit for his success in life. 



208 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



which is due not to goon liiek but to iiis own en- 
terprise and saa^acity. He knew how to make the 
most of every ojiportnnity, was industrious and 
enterprising and possessing good management and 
much natural ability he worked his wa> upward 
until he had attained a position among the wealtli- 
iest of Macoupin County's citizens. His life has 
been characterized by hontst\ and fair dealing and 
is well worthy of eiuulalion in man}' respects. Mr. 
Hornsby is now an old man of seventy-two years 
but in appearance seems hardly past the prime of 
life as he possesses botli a mental and physical 
vigor which accompany younger years. 



.».■$. 



EDWARD H. DAVIS, a retired farmer living 
on a farm which adjoins the city limits of 
~/ Bunker Hill, is numbered among the hoi.- 
ored pioneers ot the county, few having longer re- 
sided in this locality. He has not only b'-en an 
eyewitness of the growth and progress of the 
county but has also taken an active [jiiit in its up- 
building, especially has he been |)ioininently con- 
nected with its agricultural interests. He has seen 
its once wild lands transformed into lieautifu! 
farms, its cabin homes rejilaced by snbstMiitial and 
beautiful residences, towns and villages spring up 
and has witnessed the introduction of many inauu 
factures and industries, also tlieadveniof the rail- 
road, the telegra|)h and telephone. But we will 
speak more of his pioneer experiences in the re- 
cital of his life work. 

Mr. Davis was bom in Concord. N. II.. Febru- 
ary 25, 1821, and belongs to one of the prominent 
families of the Granite State. His grandparents, 
natives of England, emigrated to America prior to 
the Revclulionary War, and vvhen the Colonies re- 
solved to throw off the yoke of British tyranny the 
grandfather, David Davis, enlisted as a musician 
and became a notable patriot. The father of our 
subject, Robert Davis, was a jeweler of Concord, 
in whicli cit}- he spent his entire life, dying at the 
age of seventy-one years. He was a piominent 
politician .and as such gained a State reputation. 



He served as Postmaster of Concord and was also 
Quartermaster General for the State Militia. His 
political views were those of tiie Democracy. 

Our subject is the eldest son and second child 
born unto Mr. and Mrs. Robert Davis. He ac- 
quired an excellent education in the schools of Con- 
cord and Pembroke, N. II., and under his father's 
direction learned the jeweler's trade, which he fol- 
lowed for three j'ears in .Savannali, (in., iiefore 
coining to Illinois. The year ISol), witnessed his 
arrival in Macoupin County, since which time he 
has been numbered among the leading and influ- 
ential citizens of the eomnninity. Farming has 
been his life work and at his present home he has 
resided since 1852 engagid m general farming and 
stock-raising, whereby he has aequireil a handsome 
competence. Although he has led a busy life he 
has yt found time to devote to i)ublic interests 
and upon the Democratic ticket, being a stanch 
supporter of the Democracy, he has been elected 
to vaiious luiblic offices. He was the first Clerk 
elected afler the organization of his township, for 
the period of five years was Deputy Assessor of 
the county and for a term of eight years served as 
Deputy Sheriff. Every enterprise calculated to 
lii'iielit the community receives his hearty suiiport 
and co-o|>eialion and no man has done more for 
the upbuilding of the community in which he 
make s his home. 

It was after his arrival in this count}' that Mr. 
Davis, on the 5th of October, 1840, was united in 
mai riage with Miss Jane H. Cavender. For more 
than half a cciitury they have traveled life's jour- 
ney together, sharing with each other the joys and 
sorrows, the adversity anil prosperity which check- 
ers the lives of all. Their union has been blessed 
with ten children and only one h.as been called 
away — Eliza d. vvho died in childhood. Henry, 
the eldest, wedded Minnie Fansteil and resides in 
St. Paul, Mini.; Charles .vvho wedded Catherine 
Fullerton of Minnesota, is now an engineer of 
Minneapolis; Frank led to the marriage altar Miss 
Margaret Colmaa and the}' are living in Nevada, 
Mo., where he is employed as an engineer; Calista 
is the wife of Harry Winder, a farmer of Anoka, 
Minn.; Albert operates the home farm; Walter is a 
resident of Nevada, Mo.; Rebecca is the wife of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



209 



Ileni'v SnceringGr. a resident farmer of Bunker 
Hill Tovviisiiip; Lucy it> the wife of Cliarles Oliver, 
a painter of Bunker Hill; and Fred, who wedded 
Julia Alexaniler. makes his home in Bunker Hill. 

Mrs. Davis, the mother of this family, vvas horn 
in llillsboro County, N. II., May 22, 1823, and is 
a daughter of Charles Cavender, who wss horn and 
reared in New Hampshire and early in the spring 
of 183.S, left that Stale in eonipan}- with his daugh- 
ter and emigrated Westward to Illinois, settling on 
ail unbroken farm of one hnnilied and sixty acres 
of land jnst west of Bunker Hill, where lie spent 
the remainder of iiis life, dying at the age of eighty- 
tliree years, lie was a promiienl Democrat, a 
member of the Christian Church, and one of the 
leading citizens of the community. Mrs. Davis 
was only a child, when with her father she came to 
this county. Slie has now resided in the vicinity 
of Bunker Hill longer than any other lad>' resident 
of this locnlity. Both Mr. and Mrs. Davis are mem- 
bers of the Congregational Church. They aie 
numbered among Macoupin County's best citizens 
nnd arc held in universal esteem. 




,jpp=N^AMCKL CLARK, who carries on general 
fanning and stock-raising on section 28, 
Staunton Township, is a re|)r'^sentative of 
one of the early families of the county. 
He now lives upon a part of the old homestead 
where almost his entire life li:is been passed, having 
been brought to this State when a child of onl\' a 
few months. He was born in County Dare, Ire- 
land, on the 8th of June, 1842, of whijh county his 
l)irents, William and Eliza (LitUe) Clark, were 
also natives. The Clark family is of Scalch-Irish 
origin and in tlie neighborhood of his birth the 
father of our subject grew to manhood and was 
married. Some years later, with their familv, 
numbering three children, they started for Amer- 
ica, crossing the Atlantic in a sailing vessel, which 
after several weeks reached New York Harbor in 
safety. They at once came on to Illinois, travel- 
ing by water to Alton, and thence across the prai- 
rie with teams to Staunton Townslnp, I\[ac(inpin 



County, where Mr. Clark entered eighty acres of 
land from the Government. The family began life 
in tiiie pioneer style in a little log cabin which the 
father had built and the efforts of IMr. Clark and 
his sons were devoted to clearing and improving 
the land. He suld after eighteen years and made 
jjurchnse of one hundred and sixty acres on sec- 
tions 27 and 28, Staunton Townshi|), part of which 
is now occupied by our subject. Again he ])er- 
foi ined the arduous task of converting raw prairie 
into rich and fertile lields and the pleasant home 
whirli he there made continued to be his place of 
abode untd his deatii, which occurred .Tanuary 17, 
1878, at the very advanced a^e of ninety-seven 
yea's. He had been very successful in his business 
operaticnis and in the second farm which he devel- 
oped owned two hundred and forty acres of valu- 
able liind. A honest and industrious man, he lived 
in harmony with his iirofessions as a member of 
the Presbyterian Church and when called to his 
final rest many sincere friends mourned his loss. 
In i)olitics he was a supporter of Re|>ublican prin- 
ciples. His wife, who slill survives him, is likewise 
a member of the Presbyterian Church and is living 
with her younger son at the age of seventy five 
years. 

The early life of our subject passed unevent- 
fully. As soon as old enough he began work upon 
the farm and during the summer months labored 
at home, while in the winter season heattended the 
district schools of the neighborhood where his ed- 
ucation was acquired. Having arrived at years of 
maturity he began business on his own account 
and as a helpmate on life's journey chose Miss P^l- 
eanor Williamson, their wedding being celebrated 
in Madison County The lady was born in County 
Donegal, Ireland, in 1846, and is a daughter of 
John and Mary (Gallagher) Williamson, natives of 
the same country, and both descendants of Pro- 
testant families. At length they bade good-by to 
their native land and in J857 with their five child- 
ren crossed the broad ocean to America, landing in 
Philadelphia, Pa., whence they went to St. Louis, 
coming on to Macoupin County immediately after- 
wards. Upon a small farm in Mt. Olive Township 
they began life in the New World and there Mr. 
and Mrs. Williamson resided until having become 



210 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAI'HICAL RFX'ORD. 



% 



loo old to work tliey wunt Id the lioinc of llioir 
cliililreii in Olive Townsliip, Rljidisoii C'oiiiUy, 
wliero llie faliier died ;U the nge of eiyiity-four 
years. There the mother is still living with her 
Ihi-ee sons at the age of seventy-five. They united 
with the Presbyterian Ciuireh in early life and are 
numbered among ilu' res|H'i'led eilizens of this 
community. 

Only one child has been born of the union of 
Mr. and Mrs. Clark. Alice 1!., who is a bright 
3'onng maiden. The inollicr is a member of the 
Covenanters." Presbyterian Church and to its sup- 
port Mr. Clai'k contributes, although he does ni)t 
belong. In politics he is a Republican and what- 
ever tends to elevate or upbuild the conununily is 
sure of his hearty sy:;ipatliy jtid co-oporalion lie 
is numbered among the practical and progressive 
farmeis of Staunton Township .and owns one hund- 
reii and twenty acres of got)d land, a part of the 
old homestead ivhich he developed from Its primi- 
tive condition, llis pleasant anil tasty residence 
has in the rear good barns and <nitbuildings and 
surrounding these are well tilled tields, while an 
additii)nal forty acres of timber land in .Staunton 
Township is also the v;ro()erty of .Mr. Clark. 

R. .lOIlN ASII, who stands in the front 
raidv among bis pi'ofessioiial brethren of 
/^J|^ this county, is now engaged in practice 
in Hrightim. where he lias maiie his laimc 
since IHoS. He ela-ms I'eniisylvania as the State 
of his nativity, having been born in West Callen 
Township. Chester County, November 2',), ISIS. 
The family is of German origin and was founded 
in America by the great grainlfatlier of our subject, 
.loseph Ash. who emigrated from (Jermany prior to 
the Revolutionary War. He lived in the city of 
Philadelphia for a short tin'e and there married 
a (ierman lady, after which he removed to a farm 
in Chester County, where he died at the age of 
ninety-seven years. He was a man small of stat- 
ure but very wiry and only a few years before his 
death workeil as a haml in the harvest tield. t)ur 
subject is one of the four great-grandchildren who 



attended his funeral as pallbearers. His wife 
reached the ripe old age of ninety-five and both 
she and Mr. Ash were members of the Luth- 
eran Church. William Ash, the grandfather 
of our subject, was born and reared on his father's 
farm in Chester County, Pa., and there s|)ent his 
entire life. He died in 1S50, at the ageof seventy 
years, from a cancer on the lip. In the county of 
his nalivit3' he hail married Nancy Stepler, who 
was a member of the Society of Friends and lived 
to an advanced age. 

.loseph Ash, father of the Doctor, was also born 
in Chester County, Pa., where members of the fam- 
ily are still living. He married Miss Elizabeth 
Zigler, daughter of Tilchnian and Cathei ine Zigler, 
who were natives of (ierniany but spent the greater 
[lart of their lives in Chester County, Pa., where 
they passed away when well ailvanced in years. 
Joseph Ash and his wife emigrated Westward in 
1853, locating in Brighton, where the laily died at 
the age of si.xty-si.x ,vears. Mr. .Vsh long survived 
her and was called to his liual rest when ninety 
yeais of age. In the East they had both united 
with the Baptist Cliurch. but after coining to this 
county joined the Methodist Caurch. They lived 
consistent lives and were numbered among the 
highly respected people of the community. 

We now take up the personal history of the Doc- 
tor, who is the second in order of birth in a family 
of si.K children, four sons ami tvvo daughters, all of 
whom are living, are married, have families and 
are prospering. t)ur subject acquired his literary 
education in the i)ublic schools and having deter- 
mined to make the pr.aeticc of medicine his life 
work, he entered the Pennsylvania Medical Col- 
lego of Philadelphia, from which he was graduated 
in the spring of 1851. He also attended the Straws- 
burg Academy for two years. Believing in the 
West there were better openings than in the more 
thickly settled States of the East, he came at once 
to Illinois, locating in Delphi, .lersey County, but 
the same year removed to Pi.asa, where he remained 
until coming to Brighton in 1853. He hung out 
his shingle, oiH'ued an oltice and announced that he 
was ready to attend to an3- in need of medical ser- 
vices. From the beginning his business constantly 
increased and it was not long before Dr. Ash waa 



PORTRAIT AMD lilOGRAFUlCAL RECORD. 



211 



cunsirlcrefl oneof tlie best physicians of the county. 
In IJrisihlon llie Doctor vvedileil Miss Mary E. 
Lovclnnd, who wn.s born in Rhode Isl:iiiil, in ls;?0, 
:inci came lo liiis SlaLe when a chilil, with lier par- 
ents, Leonard a.ad Elizabelii Loveland, wiio spent 
llie remainder of their lives in Brighton Township, 
Macoupin County. She is a lady of culture and 
intelliifence, having been educated in Monlicello 
Seminary and .lackson Female College. Unto llie 
Doctor and his wife have been born four children, 
but Charles died in childhood ; Lena and D')ra are 
both graduates of Monticello Seminary ; the latter 
is now the wife of Dr. .Tames Mason, a leatling 
denial surgeon of the town of Carlinville; and 
.bilin R., whograilualed from the \'erin(jnl Hospital 
Medical College of St. I^ouis, is now engaged in |jrac- 
ticSe with his falho.- and is a leading and enlorprising 
young physician. Mrs. Asii is a prominent and ac- 
tive nieniber of the .AJelhodisl CMiurch and the Doctor 
holds nieiiiliershii) with the lliptist Church. He is 
also a Knight Templar Mason, belonging to Belvi- 
dere Commandery, No. 2. K. T. of Altcm, and in 
politics he and his son are Re|uil)li('ans. His skill 
and ability are recognized by his fellow-praclition 
ers and the liberal patronage which he receives is 
well merited. He is still a student of the profes- 
sion, keeping abreast with every discovery con- 
nected with the science of medicine and in his forty 
years' experience he has gained a [traetieal knowl- 
edge which classes him high in the ranks of his 
profession. During the late war he servcil f(jr 
some months as surgeon in Memphis, Tenn. 



^^^ 



E^^ 



HARLES ,1. C. FISCHER, M. D. Carlin- 
ville is the home of professional men f)f 
i^ ability, who.se success in their various lines 
has been commendable lo them and salisfactf)ry lo 
the people whom they have aided. In the ranks 
of medicine Dr. F"ischcr is numbered as one of the 
most successful in the cily. He was liberally edu- 
cated, and from his early youth applied himself to 
those studies which would be of benefit in the field 
of labor which he desired to enter. Not content 
with that which he learned in books, he has thought 



deeply and observed carefully, making of the 
human form and its needs a book in which to find 
continual interest. In the work of various medical 
societies he finds opportunity to further advance 
his theoretical knowledge and with a practical 
mind he applii'S every principle learned lo good 
purpose. 

Dr. Fischer is of (lerman [lareiilage, lieing a son 
of Jacob and Catherine (Furch) P'ischer, who were 
born in Wurlemberg, Germany. His father came 
lo America when a young man and joined an uncle 
who had located in New York tnany years before. 
He lived in that city for a lime and while there 
learned the trade of a blacksmith. He then went 
to Rochester, but returned to the metropolis and 
thence removed to Missouri in 18.38. He established 
a home in Perry County and engaged in farming, 
but after a residence of six years removed to Coll- 
insville, Madison Count}-, this State, and opened a 
wagon and blacksniiih shop. At a later period he 
engaged in mercantile pursuits. His death occurred 
in that place in 1879. Mrs. Fischer came to this 
country with her sister Rosa, when fourteen }■ ears 
old. She now makes her home in St. Louis, Mo. 
She reared nine children, named respectively: 
Caroline, Mary, Martha, (ieorge, Charles, Gustavus, 
Harry. William and All)ert. 

Dr. Fischer was born in Collinsville, Madison 
County, January 28, 18o4. When ready to take 
up studies beyond the family circle he attended a 
private school in his native place, but later entered 
the publico school. When sixteen years old he be- 
gan ihe study of Latin anil (ierman under n private 
tutor and pursued those languages most industri- 
ously two years. Soon after these branches were 
completed he began reading medicine under the 
guidance of Dr. A. M. Powell, and when a good 
foundation had been laiil he attended lectures in 
the St. Louis Medical College, from which he was 
graduated in March, 1877. In May following he 
opened an oHice in Carlinville, and ere long he hud 
<^ained a good following and become known as a 
young man well versed in therapeutical science, 
careful and sympalhetic in the diagnosis and treat- 
ment of disease, and successful in alleviating dis- 
tress. 

An event of much importunce lo Dr. Fischer 



212 



FOKTRAIT AND BlOGKAPIilCAL RKCORD. 



occurred January 28, 1879. [t was his marriasje to 
Sopliia E. Scluiricht. a joung lady who was born in 
St. Louis, Rio., of German parents, and w!io had a 
good education, had been carefully instructed in 
domestic arts and possessed an estimable character. 
The union has been blest by the birth of three 
daughters, who are named res[)ectively, Eleanor. 
Elfrida and Annie. 

Dr. Fischer has not been without his shave in 
promoting the civic interests of the cit3'. lie rep- 
resented the Fourth Ward as Alderman in 1885, 
and in 1887 was elected to the Mayor's chair. In 
both capacities he showed an interest in the im- 
provement of the city and the progress of her citi- 
zens in all that pertains to the best civilization. 
In politics he is a Democrat. *rho religious home 
of himself and family is in Zion's Eviingelical 
Lutheran Church. He is connected with the Ma- 
coupin County Society for Medical Improvement, 
Illinois Medical Society and Mississippi Valley 
Medical Association. In educated circles he is cor- 
(lially greeted, as he is a fine scholar aud is always 
interested in scholarly themes. 




IkM. ARTIN IL HEAD. M. D , one of the load- 
ing physicians of the county, has been 
piacticing his profession for many years at 
Carlinville, where he is held in honor and 
esteem by a large circle of friends and acquain- 
tances, lie was born May 3. 1827, about ten miles 
east of Louisville, Ky.. a son of Benjamin Head, 
who was a native of Virginia. The grandfather of 
our subject, Iladley Head, was, it is thought, born 
in Virginia of Welsh ancestry, and so far as known 
spent his whole life in his native State. 

Benjamin Head was reared and educated in the 
Old Dominion, and when a young man went to 
Kentucky, and for come years he was engaged in 
the mercantile business at Middleton, .lelTerson 
County. He subsequently purchased a farm ten 
miles east of Louisville, upon which he dnelt in 
comfort the remainder of his life, devoting himself 
to agriculture, his death occurring in 1837. He 
ha<l been twice married, the maiden name of his 



second wife, mother of our subject being Margaret 
N. Brengman. Siio is still living at t!ie venerable 
age of eight\-tive years, and makes her home at 
Middleton. She is a native of .Jefferson Count}', 
Ky.. and a daughter of Martin Brengman. Ti!e 
latter was born in Germany, whence he came to 
America and resided for a time in Maryland. From 
there he went to Kentu(^ky, and purchased a farm 
near Middleton, whereon he lived until his demise. 

Dr. Head was but ten years old when he was be- 
reft of a father's care and counsfl. He continued 
to make his home with his mother, assisting on the 
farm and attending school. At the ago of twenty- 
one he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. 
.T. M. Bemiss, of Miildleton, and he subsequently 
attended medical lectures at Louisville, being grad- 
uated from the Louisville Medical College in 1851. 
The same year he came to Carlinville and opened 
an olBce and has been in continuous practice in this 
city since. At that time it liad but a few hundred 
inhabitants, and the surrounding country was still 
iri the hands of the pioneers and was but sparsely 
settled, the people living on the edge of the timber, 
while deer and other wild game roamed over the 
prairies, the land all being open aiound and on the 
site of the village. 

Dr. Head continued in active practice until tiie 
commencement of the vvar, and he tlicn olTcred his 
professional services to tlie (Government in May, 
ISGl, and became Assistant Surgeon of the Four- 
teenth Illinois Inf.mtry, remaining with that regi- 
ment one year, and d<jing valualde work in reliev- 
ing the wounded and sick soldiers. In 1862 he 
entered hospital service at Memphis, Tenn., and in 
April, 1865 was transferred to Crittenden Hospital 
at St. Louis, wliere he was stationed until the fol- 
lowing October, vvlien he was honoralily discharged. 
He returned to Carlinville and to the quiet routine 
of professional life in vill.age and country, bringing 
with him a valualile experience gathered during 
those sad years among tlie sick and dying defend- 
ers of our country, and a high record for services 
rendered while acting as a military surgeon and 
[ihysician. He has since conducted a successful and 
lucrative practice here. 

In 1853 the Doctor was united in marriage to 
Miss Margaret I. Blackburn. Mrs. He.ad is a na- 




/^)rw('Unde/n c//,4,^^(^U^ 



0~y\^ 



I'OUTRAIT AND BIOGKAPHJCAL RECORD. 



215 



live of Versailles, Ky . a daughter of tlic Rev. John 
:uicl Catherine (Edwanls) Blackljurn, lier father a 
I'resbyterian minister. Dr. and Mrs. Head arc the 
p.ircnts of two children, Eugejie S., a physician; and 
llutllev. Both our subject and iiis amiable wife 
are consistent and devoted members of the Kiiisco- 
pal Church. Fraternally, the Doctor is a mem- 
lier of Mt. Siiho Lodge, No. 76, A. F. & A. M. 



m^mii^^p- 



//^ KITTKNDEN H. C. ANDERSON. No name 
[|( Is more intimately associated willi the lise 

^^^' and develoimieiit of Alacoupin County and 
its financial prosperity than that of the late lamented 
(fillenden H. C. Anderson, who was for many 
years one of its most prominent liuslness men and 
valued citizens. It gives us pleasure to place in 
this volume his [jortrait. and the following review 
of his life and work whicn has been lovingly and 
carefully preitared by his nephew, W. K. P. Ander- 
son, at the request of the [juljlishers, and is an clo- 
(pieut and just tribute to the great worth and aliil- 
ity of the departed. 

Crittenden H. C. Anderson was born near Hop- 
kinsville. Christian County, Ky., January 26, 1819. 
lie was the eldest son and child in a family of eight 
children of Col. James C. and Ann R. Anderson, 
who were of Irish and Scotch descent. He came 
to Illinois with his i)arents when he was about six- 
teen years old, arriving at Carlinville (which was 
then a mere hamlet) October 27, 1834. camping 
out on the first night after his arrival with his fa- 
ther, mother, brothers and sisters, on the lot where 
the residence of Judge Tappen is now located on 
First South Street, one block southeast of the 
Court House, the site of which was then covered 
with timber and hazel brush. During their first 
winter here the family lived at Carlinville in a log 
house, standing upon the lot where the present 
post-office is now located on the east side of the 
public square. 

In the spiing of 1835 his father, having entered 
four hundred acres of land on section 11, Carlin- 
ville Township, the family removed to it, and our 
subject made himself generally useful in bringing 



the farm into cultivation, and in improving the 
home with such f.acilities as were afforded at that 
early day. The elder«Anderson, with the vigor, 
energy and push characteristic of the eai'ly pioneer, 
desiring to improve the opportunities affonlcd in a 
country indicating a rapid growth and rise in the 
value of the unbroken prairie soil, at once exten- 
sively entered into buying and selling land and 
stock, driving the stock to the nearest market. St. 
Louis. For a couple of years or so. the manage- 
ment of the farm and looking after the family gen- 
erally fell upon young Crittenden. At the early 
age of nineteen, however, as he developed an apt- 
ness for trading, and displayed good jiidgmcnt as 
to the qnalitv and value <.f land, he became the 
companion and business associate of his father in 
dealing in land and in stock generally. They trav- 
ersed the country in all directions, and for long dis- 
tances, for the |)urpose of buying hogs and cattle, 
frequentl}' going together on horsel)ack and driv- 
ing cattle as far north as Wisconsin and Micliigan 
to a market, and also driving stock of all kinds 
overlanil to the St. Louis market. At one time 
they were offered forty acres of land now in the 
heart of the city of Chicago for a cow, which was 
declined. 

On April 14. (840, our subject was united in 
marriage with Mary J. Glass, a sister of the late 
R(d)ert W. Glass. Taking his wife to the home of 
his jjarents, they continued to reside there until the 
spring of 1841, when they settled upon tiie farm 
given to him by his fattier; this is now known as 
the homestead of Malcolm M. Anderson, and is the 
south half of section 11, Ca'linville Township. 
Tiie happiness of their union was of brief duration, 
his wife dying May 4, 1841, leaving lo his care an 
infant son, James Henry Anderson, who died Octo- 
ber 28, 1854, aged thii'teen 3eais, five months and 
twenty-four days. Together with his little .'on 
Mr. Anderson again became a member of the home 
circle under the i)arental roof, where he continued 
to oversee his farm, and to deal in stock and land 
as previouslj', lesiding there until his marriage No- 
vember 14, 1850, to Miss iSIary E. Cole. He again 
took up his residence on his farm, where lu; con- 
ducted agricultural pursuits and trading generally. 

In the summer of 1851 the dreaded disease 



216 



PORTRAIT AMD BlOGRAl'HJCAL Ul-XORD. 



cholera slniek tliis lu'iolilioi'liood, from wliicli Mr. 
Anderson's father died August 14; the wife of liis 
brother Krasnous S. Andcrso*i, August 16, Krasmus 
himself August 26; and his mother, August 27. 
This was a period whieii Iried men's hearts; hut 
vvilh unswerving fidelity nud h)ve for his kindred 
which knew no fear, our subject nursed and eared 
for each one of these during their last sickness; 
taking his brotlier Erasmus and his little boy, W. 
K. 1'. Anderson, then onl^' fifteen months olil, to 
his own house and ministering to the wants of each. 
On account of the scarcity of hel|), lie was com- 
pelled to assist in the sad duty of digging the graves 
and depositing the remains of each of these loved 
ones in tlieir last resting place. 

In the month of November, 1852. our subject 
removed to the farm now owned by Henry C. An- 
derson, near tiie fair-grounds. Here he still con- 
tinued his old business until the inoiith of May, 
1853. when be formed a partnership with his 
brother-in-law, Dr. R. W. Glass. Under the firm 
name of Anderson <fe Gliiss, they opeiled tlie first 
exclusive drug store at Carlinville, in p l>ttle frame 
building, located on the northvvest corner of the 
public square, where now stands the Ihrec-stor^' 
brick building erected by Capt. W. B. Dugger in 
1 868. 

In 1855-56, Mr. Anderson, in connection with 
William H. Rider, erected the three-story brick 
building on the east side of the public square, re- 
cently known as the "Duplex Building," and which 
was the first throe-story building ever erected in 
the city or county. To the lower floor of this 
building, the stock of drugs was removed the spring 
of 1856, and in the fall of that year Mr. Anderson 
removed his family to it, occupying the second and 
third stories as a residence. Here .lannaiy 20, 
1857 his wife died, leaving to him the care of their 
only child, John C, who was then only two and a 
half years old, liaving been born August31. 185 1. 

On October 20, 1857, our subject was married to 
Mary J. Stratton, the only child of Marshall H. 
and Rebecca (Blackburn) Stratton. P>y this mar- 
riage three children were born: Mary .1., born Dc- 
lember 27, 1858, died August 19, I860; ^'irgiuia, 
bore August 21, 1861, died Feluniary 25. 1867; and 
Etfle M., born June 18, 1864, now the wife of Will- 



iam L. Mounts, to whom she was married June 18, 
1884. After marriage Mr. and Mis. Anderson 
boarded with llu,' family of Dr. Glass until the 
inonlh of April, 1858, when he purchased and re- 
moved to the property on East Main .Street, adjoin- 
ing the residence oi Joseph Bird. 

In the year 1860 Mr. Anderson retired from the 
drug business, having sold his interest to his part- 
ner, and again eng.aged in farming, feeding and 
grazing cattle, and general trading. Having de- 
voted mucli of his life to the buying and selling of 
real-estate, he became quite familiar ••villi the title 
to the same for many miles around the county -seat, 
and could with great accuracy repeat from memory 
the descripticnis and the varimis transfers of the 
land. In 1868 he opened an abstract and real- 
estate office in a room in the Chestnut and Dubois 
building, adjoining the law office of tlie Hon. C A. 
Walker. He continued in that business until Feb- 
ruary, 1870, when he opened a banking house un- 
der the name of the Henileison Loan and Real- 
estate Association. This was a private corporation, 
be being the sole stockholder and he continued the 
same in its corporate cajiacity until April 30, 1878, 
when he surrendered the charter of the corpora- 
tion and organized the business as a private bank, 
under the name of the Banking House of C. H. C. 
Anderson. 

He was exeeedingl\' fortunate in his selection of 
a cashier and ccnilidenti.al business manager, and 
that, together with bis own business conservatism 
and caution, served to increase the business from a 
capital of ii;5,000. the amount required by the char- 
ter of the cor[ioration when he establisheil the 
bank, to a paid u\> capital of §100,000. with a sur- 
plus of ^5,000. exclusive of losses incident to any 
banking business, which had |)rior thereto been 
charged to the expense account, July 10, 1889, 
when lie associated with himself his two children, 
John C. Anderson and Effie Anderson Mounts. 
The banking business is still carried oi; by them, 
under the suiiervision of the same faithful cashier 
and business manager selected by their father. Mr. 
Anderson was eminently successful as a financier, 
and left to ids heirs an estate valued at nearly a 
quarter of a uiillinn dollars. In the accumulation 
of this vast property lie displayed business talents 



POIURAIT AND BIOGRAPUICAL RECORD. 



217 



of a rare order, that were inlierent in himself, and 
were not the results of edueation. He was not an 
educated man in the ordinary acceptation of the 
word, as his early advantages for schooling were 
limited, being confined to acquiring a common 
knowledge of reading, spelling, writing and cipher- 
ing to the -'Rule of Three." 

Wiiile our subject was more than ordinarily suc- 
cessful as a business man in gathering together this 
world's goods, yet his financial career met with 
many obstacles and reverses in its pathway, and 
frequently caused him to do his share of "floor 
walking."' His plans, like those of many other 
often miscarried, anil many for whose prompt pay- 
ment he pledged himself failed to meet their obliga- 
tions, and threw the burden upon him. He wit- 
nessed four of the financial panics which swept our 
country, and felt effectively the force of three of 
them, viz: those of 18.i7, 1873 and 1878. In 1857. 
the safe of l:is drug store, svhich was the depository 
(there being no bank in that town then) of most of 
tlie citizens and business men of Carlinville, was 
taken into the street, bloA^n open and robbed of 
several thousand dollars, entailing a heavy loss 
upon himself as well as ui)on others at a very criti- 
cal time. 

In 1873, although his bank was in its infancy, it 
had to withstand the ordeal of a several days' run. 
On the morning of January 15, 1878. immediately 
after opening his bank for the day's business, lie 
received notice that the oldest bank of the city had 
assigned. Conscious of the fact that the excite- 
ment and fear of panic to follow would result in 
temporarily closing his doors, nevertheless, know- 
ing his solvency and trusting to a confiding public, 
he promptl}' met the withflrawal of his de|)ositors 
during the day. At closing time, when waited upon 
by three of his principal mercantile depositors to 
ascertain his ability to stand a precipitated '"run," 
he frankly informed them that his depositors could 
close his doors, but that they could not "break 
him;" upon invitation from him to go behind the 
counter and make a thorough examination of his 
assets and liabilities, the investigation resulted in 
twelve of the depositors of tlie bank, whose finan- 
cial standing gave satisfaction, executing to Samuel 
T, Mayo a power of attorney, authorising him to 



sign their individual names as guarantors for the 
payment of any claim against iiis bank. So great, 
however, was the confidence and faith of his deposi- 
tors in his integrity and in the solidity of his bank, 
that onl}' a few availed themselves of this security. 

During his active Ijusiness life Mr. Anderson oc- 
cupied man}' positions of trust in the settlement of 
estates in ihe capacity of executor, administrator 
and guardian, withoat his honesty or integrity ever 
lieing called into question, with one exception 
which terminated in the Presiding Judge dismissing 
the hill and paying him a high tribute from the 
I'.ench for a seventeen years' faithful, successful 
and honest service to his wards. In dealing with 
his fellow men in all the ups and downs of a busi- 
ness life, it was not a question with him as to his 
individual action what is legally right or wrong, 
but what is right between man and man, and he was 
governed accordingly, frequently refusing to avail 
himself of legal defenses in order to escape liability. 
He acted upon the principle that a man's word 
ought to lie his bond on all occasions. He insisted 
on what was his due. but adhen-d strongly to the 
[irinciple of "live and let live," and so long as a 
debtor manifested a disposition of honesty and fair 
dealing, be was never pushed to the wall, unless as 
a last resort, in order to protect himself against 
other creditors. 

While no man felt a keener pleasure and enjoy- 
ment in the respect, trust and confidence tendered 
him by his friends and fellow-men. yet our subject 
was averse to pushing himself forward in any man- 
ner for the purpose of gaining applause or notoriety. 
In his charities, though not demonstrative, yet he 
appreciated the fact that out of the abundance with 
which he was blessed, he owed a share to the 
unfortunate, and he a.' ways responded in some 
measure to the solicitations made u|)on him for be- 
nevolent purposes. In his [lersonal habits and ex- 
penditures, while not penurious in any sense, he 
practiced rigid simplicity-, and indignantly repelled 
any act which had the appearani'c of ostentation or 
display; so regardful was he for the feelings of his 
friends and patrons with whom he came in daily 
contact, that it was his constant aim to refrain from 
any act which indicated (iistinction. He felt that 
he was only one of a great mass of humanity, that 



2 IS 



rORTUAlT AND BlOGRAl'lllCAL IIKCORD. 



it was not wealth or position alone wiiieli made the 
man, and the "reatesL satisfaction that prosperity 
aCfordefi him was the fact that it enabled iiim to be 
of lliat much more service and benefit to tiie com- 
munity ireneiaily. As a frienii, he was hiyal and 
unHinchinj; with his heirt and purse, often running 
tlic risk of linanciai embarrassment to himself in 
order to oldiire or lielp a friend or |)atron in need. 
Socially, it afforded him enjoyment and pleasure to 
have Ills friends and acquaintances partake of his 
hospitality, and he was especially fond of having 
young people around him. He had his faults and 
eccentricities, but they w^ert in a large measure 
overshadowed by the promptings of a noble and 
.sympathetic heart, and he li^ft to his children the 
enduring inheritance of a name and memory re- 
si)ected, honored and revered by all who knew him 
and a life record worthy of the emulation of his 
posterit}'. 

In 18;)5, during the Pitner revival, Mr. Ander- 
son connected himself with the Carlinville Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church; and while not an active 
participant in the inside work of the church, he 
served many years upon the Board of Trustees, was 
a large contributor to its support and to the erec- 
tion of its present house of worship in this city. 
Ilis social i-elalions were with the Masonic fraler- 
nity, and for twenly-eight years he was a devoted 
member of the Mt. Nebo Lodge, No. 78, serving 
for many years as its Treasurer; always insisting 
that if the principles of the order were liveii u|) to 
by its members, man would attain as n<'ar |)erfec- 
tion as possible on this earth. 

In politics, Mr. Anderson was originally a Whig, 
casting his first vote in 1840 for William Henry 
Il.arrison, anc) upon the disruption of that i)art3' he 
identified himself with the Democratic party, with 
which he aliiliated the remainder of his life. He 
was .sti'ong in his |)art3' convictions, though not in 
any sense a politician, and always accorded the 
greatest respect to the oi)inioris of his opponents. 
He was a member of the first City Council of Car- 
linville upon its organization as a munici|)ality. 

hi the spring of 1871 our subject purchased and 
removed to his late home in the north part of the 
city near the Fair grounds. Although living some 
distance from his business, uidess confined by sick- 



ness, he was always the first one to arrive at the 
bank in the morning, and the last to leave at night. 
It was in this attractive home, surrounded by lov- 
ing friends, that he calmly awaited life's great end, 
and from it his S[)irit at length took lliglit when re 
leased from the weary body. .Inly 2, 1881), after 
suffering for several montirs from a gradual break- 
ing down of his system, he was stricken with a slight 
attack of paralysis. In a. few days, however, he 
had materially recovered from its effects; but real- 
izing that his lime on earth was near at an end, he 
faced the situation bravely, and e.icpressed himself 
freely as thinking that he had out-lived his useful- 
ness, that he could no longer be of assistance to him- 
self or his fellow- men, and saying that he was not 
only willing but anxious for the final summons. 
Though confined to the house for several months, 
he was free from suffering, and retained his mental 
faculties until a few days prior to Ids decease. Re- 
ceiving all the care and attention in ministering to 
his needs that a loving and devoted family could 
render, January 10, 1890, at raid-(hay, he peacefully 
dropped into the sleep that knows no .'.wakening, 
surroun(1dd by his family. Surviving him ar-e his 
widow, Mary J. Anderson; his son, John C. An- 
derson; his daughter, Effle A. Mounts; his nephew, 
William E. P. Andei'son; his brothers, Malcolm 
M. and Henry C. Anderson; and his sister, Mary 
Ann Anderson, the wife of William C. Anderson, 
of Shaw's Point Township. A sister, Maria C. 
Adams, wife of Austin Adams, died a few days 
[irior to his demise. 

.Such is the private history of one who was an 
active participant for fifty-six years in the growth 
and development of Macoupin County; he coming 
here when it was a vast wilderness, but thinly set- 
tled. In this tribute to his memory, there has been 
no attempt on the part of the writer to misrepre- 
sent or over-draw the facts embodied in this bio- 
graphical sketch, and as far as possible he has en- 
.deavored to avoid inaccuracies or the appeai-ance 
of giving any statement a "varnished character." 
The facts are such as he has been able to gather 
from the recollections of others, and his individual 
knowledge of many of the occirrrances mentioned, 
derived by an intimate association wi'h the subject 
of thirty year's' duration ; all of which are prompted 



PORTRAIT AND IJJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



219 



liy a heart overflowing witli gralilude, and in order i 
to give to tlie descendants of tlie siiljject an oppor- | 
tnnily to avail tliemselves of siieli trails in Ills 
cliaiactei' as are vvortliy of adoption. 



^-4- 



-^^ 




4 ARTIN N. GULICK, wlio owns and 
operates a fine farm of one iiiindred 
and sixty aeres on section 10, Uilyaril 
Township, is numbered among the pioneers 
of the county of 1841, his residence here covering 
a |)eriod of half a century. He was born in Clai-k 
County, Ind., August 16, 1815. and comes of an 
old family of New .lersey. His grandfatlier, Nicho- 
las Gulick, was born in that iSlatc, and was of Hol- 
land extraction, the family having been founded 
in tills countrj' by Holland emigrants, who crossed 
the water in the early part of the seventeenth cen- 
tuiy. N'cholas Gulick grew to manhood as a 
farmer, and married Elizabeth Gano, daughter of 
William Gano, one of the colony of French Hu- 
guenots, who emigrated from Europe prior to the 
Revolutionary War. He lived and died in Hun- 
terdon County, N. .1.. where tiie colony first set- 
tled. It was after the birth of a [lart of their 
children that Nicholas Gulick and his vvife, in the 
latter part of the eighteenth century, removed to 
New York, settling on the banks of Seneca Lake, 
in Seneca County, where he developed a good farm, 
making it his home until his death, at tiie age of 
eighth-eight years. His wife hart attained the ad- 
vanced age of ninety-two years at her death. They 
were connected with the German Reformed Church, 
and were prominent jieople in the community 
where they made their home. They lived at 
the time of the Revolution, and it is thought 
Nicholas Gulick served his country in that 
struggle. 

Wilbam Gulick, fatiier of our subject, was also 
a native of New Jersey, and the thirtJ in a large 
family. He grew to manhood upon the banks of 
Seneca Lake, and remained with his parents until 
he began life on his own account, wlien he went 
into the pine regions of Pennsylvania. As he lost 
money in that section, he removed to Cincinnati, 



Ohio, wbcie he engaged in teaching and surveying 
until he joined William McFarland, then Sheriff of 
Haniillon County, and went to Scott County, Ind., 
where he laid out and founded the town of Lexing- 
ton in the early part of the present century. It 
became the seat of justice and its growth was 
rapid. Some years later Mr. Gulick went to Clark 
County, Ind.. where he engaged in .surveying and 
teaching, and sulisequcutly embarked in the milling 
business on Fourteen Mile Creek, his being one 
of the lirst mills of that part of the State. He 
married Miss Sarah Adams, a native of Kentucky, 
and a daughter of Martin and .lane (Matthews) 
Adams, who were natives of Maryland and of 
Scotch-Irish descent. Some 3'ears afier their mar- 
riage- they removed from Maryland to Kentucky, 
and in later years went to Clark County, Ind., 
where Mr. Adams died at the age of sixty-six 
j'eais, his wife's death occurring at the age of 
ninety-five. They both died on the old homestead. 
They were well known peo|)le of Clark County, 
and were members of the Seceder Presbyterian 
Church. In 1820 Mr. Gulick failed in his milling 
enteri)iise and about the same time he lost his wife, 
who at her death left three children, one of whom 
has since passed away, Elizabeth, wife of James M. 
Carson. Our subject and Mrs. Mary Bain, of 
Albia, Monroe County, Iowa, are still living. 

William G. Gulick was a secon<l time married in 
Clark County, Ind., the lady of his choice being 
Martha Richie, wlio was born in Pennsylvania, but 
reared in Ohio, and went to Indiana after she was 
grown, her parents having died in the Ruckeye 
State. FoUovving his seconil marriage, Mr. Gulick 
removed witli his family in 1824 to Cincinnati, 
Oliio, where his death occurred in July, 1832, dur- 
ing the cholera epidemic. His wife survived him 
many years and at lenghtli passed away in Dela- 
ware County, Ohio. In politics he always voted 
the Whig ticket, and during the War of 1812 he 
served as a soldier under Gen. Harrison. He filled 
the office of T'eiritorial Magistrate for four years, 
and again served in the same capacity after the 
State was admitted to the Union. He was a prom- 
inent and well-known man in Si)uthern Indiana, and 
his loss was the occasion of deep regret to many 
friends. 



220 



PORTRAIT AND P.IOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Our suliject is the second in order of birtli of 
three eliildren. Elis educational advantages were 
extremely limited in his youth, but by extensive 
and varied reading he has gained a jiractical know- 
ledge and become a well-informed man. He was 
first married in Clark County, Ind.,to Miss Eleanor 
Welch, who was born in that county, and was a 
daughter of Patrick and Eleanfir (Kelly) Welch, 
who were natives of Kentucky, hut spent the 
greater part of their life in Indiana. Mrs. Gulick 
died at her home in this count\' in the spring of 
1848, at the age of twenty-eight years, leaving 
three children: Mary, wife of Lewis R. Phelps, 
Lincoln, Neb.; James H.. who wedded Laura 
Palmer, and is a farmer of Orange County, Cal.: 
and Eleanor, wife of C. J. Davidson, who is also 
engaged in farming in Orange County. Mr. Gu- 
lick's second marriage was celebrated in CarroUton, 
Greene County, Miss Jane Yanarsdall becoming 
his wife. She was born in Kentucky, ruid with her 
parents removed to Greene County, 111., where she 
remained until her marriage. Her father, Peter 
Yanarsdall, subsequently removed to Brighton, 
where i>nth he and his wife died. They were Pres- 
byterians. IMr. Gulick was again married in Jer- 
se^'ville, leading to the marriage altar Miss Anna 
C. Phelps, who was born in Westford, Otsego 
County, N. Y., September 11, 1827, and is a 
daughter of Joshua and Annis (Curtis) Phelps, 
natives of Connecticut and tiie Empire State re 
speetively. Her father was first married in Con- 
necticut to Betsy Peck, who died in New York, 
leaving nine children. His second wife survived 
her marriage seven years, and at her death left 
onl}- one daughter, Mrs. Gulick. A third time 
Mr. Phelps was married, when he wedded Sarah 
Btieklej', of New York, wl;0 accompanied him to 
the West. Thej- located in Jersey County, 111. 
Mr. Phelps, who was born in the year 1775, died in 
1853, in Brown County, III. His wife died in 
Jersey ville, in 1889, at the age of eighty- nine 
3'ears. 

Mrs. Gulick is a lady of intelligence and cidlure. 
and for some years before her marriage she success- 
fully engaged in teaching. Their union has been 
blessed with four children — Alice, the wife of John 
B. Gooch, a farmer of Plain view; Sarah, wife of 



Arthur H. Huniston,of Aurora, 111.; Olive N., who 
is engaged in teaching; and Hattie R., the young- 
est who is still at home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gulick are leading members and M\ 
active workers in the Presb3'terian Church, and are 
prominent people of the community-. In politics 
he was an old line Whig, and cast his first vote for 
William Henry Harrison, and his second vote was for 
the same man. On the organization of the Repub- 
lican party he joined its ranks, and cast his last 
ballot for the grandson of the Tip|iecanoe hero, 
President Benjamin Harrison. iMr. Gulick, since 
coming to this county, has been numbered among 
the representative and progressive citizens of Hil- 
yard Township, and has a host of warm friends 
among the pioneers of the county and those of 
later arrivals. Our subject's grandfather, Adams, 
on his mother's side, went fr(nn Kentucky, in com- 
pany with others, in 1811, to where Terre Haute, 
Ind., now stands, and put in a crop of corn, then 
went back to Kentucky, expecting to return in the 
fall, but the Indian trt)ubles prevented their doing 
so. 

■ff/OSEPH M. CASTEEL, a prominent and 
highly respected farmer residing on section 
5, Bird 'lownship, l)elongs to an old Ten- 
nessee family. His father, James M. Casteel, 
and his mother Susan (l^nderwood) Casteel, came 
from Tennessee to this C(nint3' in 1854, and made 
their home in Bird Township. The father died 
not many years after coming to the new home, but 
the mother SLirvives and now at an advanced age 
makes her home with her (.hildren. These worthy 
parents had a family of eleven children, si.x of 
whom grew to maturity, and took their places in 
life, being an honor to their parents, and of use in 
the community where they live. 

Our subject was one of the older members of the 
family. He was born in Blount County, Tenn., 
March 10, 18.35. When his parents migrated to 
Macoupin County, this State, he came with them 
and made his home with them until his marriage. 
This interesting anfl momentous event occurred 
April 8. 1859, and the ceremony took place in .Mis- 



► 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



221 



souri. The yoiinu; man rented land in Macoupin 
County uniil 1864. when be bought a snmll farm 
near Chilo Chiircli in Bird Township. Tlierc they 
lived for two years, wlien he sold this land and 
somewhat later bought the farm wlicre he now re- 
sides on section .5. of tlie .same county. He owns 
one hundred and twenty-one acres of excellent soil 
and upon it was [jlaced ail necessary improve- 
ments. 

Mrs. Casteel l)ore the maiden name of Minerva 
A. Laster. Her |)arents were Enocii and ("harity 
(Hill) Laster. who came (otliis county from Greene 
County at quite an early day anil made tlieir home 
in Bird Townshi)), until called hence by death. 
They were the parents of ten ciiildren, five sons and 
five dnugliters. Their daughter, Minerva, wlio be- 
came Mrs. Castce!, was tlie fourtli in order of liirlii. 
She was boin in Nashville, Tenn., M.ay 13, 1844. 
To tier iiave been given nine children, who were 
named as follows: Dougl.as A., who married Miss 
Phoebe Caldwin ; Eudorn A., who became the wife 
of Thomas E. Joiner; Robert E., wlio married 
Irene Dundon; Jennie E., who is Mrs. Isaa;' 
Vaughn; Minnie A., Joseph E., Lula M., who died 
wlien an infant; Mollie A. and Samuel J. Mr. ami 
Mrs. Casteel are both eainest and efHcieut members 
of the Baptist Church, in which the}" find a broad 
field for labor and influence, and all the family 
find comfort in tiie same church, in tiie faith of 
which they are bringing up tlieir household. His 
political views are emtmdied in the declarations of 
of the Democratic party in the support of which 
ho is earnest and aggressive. 



^=^T= 



J5=a.. 



1/ ENRV L. FAHHENKROG. who is engager! 
y, in farming and dairying on section 3G, Hil- 
3'ard Township, is of German iiirth. He 
was born in H(,'lstein. June 30, 1831, and 
is a son of Henry and Christina FalirenUrog, who 
were also born and reared in the same province 
where they began their domestic life and resided 
until the death of the hnslwnd and father, which 
occurred in 1833. His widow was a second time 
married, becoming the wife of Henry Kardell, an 
ex-Prussian soldier, with whom she afterward 



came to the United States in 1855. Tliey first 
settled in Cleveland, Ohio, but after two years took 
up their residence in Madison County, III., where 
Mr. Kardell died at the age of sixty years. His 
wife survived him some years and passed away 
at tlie age of seventy-thiee. Slie was the mother 
of five children, two sons and three daughters, all 
born of her first marriage. 

Our subject was reared and educated in his 
native province and when about twenty-two years 
of age started for America, determined to seek his 
fortune in the New World. He has never had oc- 
casion to regret so doing for he has prospered and 
Ecquired a good property. He sailed from Ham- 
burg and after a long and tedious voyage of eleven 
weeks landed in New York City from whence ho 
made his way to Cleveland, Oliio. in August, 1855. 
The following spring witnessed his arrival in Mac- 
oupin County, and shortly afterward in the city 
of Bunker Hill he led to the marriage altar Miss 
FredericUa Herbst, who was born in Holsteiii, Ger- 
many, Januaiy 28, 1841. Her parents lived and 
died there, her mother departing this life when 
Mrs. Fahrcnkrog was quite j'oung. Her father was 
married a second lime and died at an advanced age. 

The wife of our subject was only sixteen years 
of age when she and an older sister started alone 
for America. They came to JMacoupin Connty, 
settling in Bunker Hill, where two jears later she 
gave her hand in marriage to Mr. F'ahrenkiog. 
The}- have resided upon their present farm since 
1868, covering a period of twenty-three consec- 
utive years. Before that time Mr. F'ahrenkrog 
worked as a farm hand and lived upon rented land 
until by his induslty and economy he had acquired 
a sufficient capital to purchase his present home- 
stead. His lan<led jiossessions aggregate one hun- 
dred and sixty acres, all of whicli is under a high 
state of cultivation. He raises such cereals as are 
adapted to this climate and in addition does quite 
an extensive business ,as a dairy fanner, keeping 
about twenty-five milch cows for this purpose. 
He also raises other stock of good grades and is 
regarded as one of tlie enterprising and progressive 
farmers of the township. He has ever been true 
to his duties of citizenship and takes a commend- 
able interest in everything pertaining to the wel- 



222 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



« 



fare of the community. In politics lie is n Repub- 
lican and he and his wife are members of tlie 
Lutheran Churcli. 

I'nto Mr. and Mrs. Fahrenicrog have been born 
the foilowino; children: William J. 11., wlio aids 
his father in operating the home farm aiid has 
served as Township Assessor and Collector for two 
years, being a leailing citizen of the community; 
Augusta L. M., wife of Andrew Huber, whose 
sketch appears els-ewheie in this work: Dora J. F.. 
at home; Henry L. F., who is emphiyed ,as silesmaii 
in the mercantile establishment of Andrew Huber; 
Joseph F. W. and Amelia \V. F., who are still un- 
der the parental roof. They have lost two child- 
ren, Bertha and Charlie, both of whom died in 
childhood. 

1^^- 



PERDINAND STRATM ANN is a representa- 
live and successful farmer of Honey Point 
,_ Township, his farm consisting of two 

hundred and forty acres of well-improved land. 
He is a native of Prussia, the date of his 
birth being November 11, I,S28. His father.grand 
father and great-grandfather were all natives of 
the German Fatherland. The latter. William .Strat- 
manii, was a farmer, and was a member of the mil- 
Uia. He was a life-long resident of Pru.ssia. His 
son John, gran.lfather of our subject, also followed 
farming, anri likewise belonged to the miluia. His 
life was wholly passed in the land of his nativity. 
Joseph Siratmann, father of Ferdinand, was 
reared, mnrried and always lived in Prussia. For a 
time he served in the regular army. He bought a 
tract of land near the village of Burarn, and There 
engaged in agricultural pursuits until death closed 
his mortal career. He was the father of five 
children. 

Ferdinand Strntmann was the only one of the 
family who came to America. He attended school 
from the age of seven until he was fourteen years old 
and then gave his father his assistance on the farm. 
In 1S411 he enlisted in the Prussian army, and 
after serving faithfully three years was honorably 
discharged with a good record as a soldier. He 
was offered a commission if he would continue in 
the service, but he refused. His thoughts had al- 



ready turned toward the United States of America, 
the Mecca of so many of his countrymen, and Feb- 
ruary 26, 1853, he set sail for this country on the 
ship "Rebecca," and landed at New Orleans the 7th 
of the following May. His entire wealth at that 
time consisted of $50, but he had health, muscle 
and good habits to rely upon, and was therefore 
well prepared to ecounter whatever might befall 
nim in the struggle to better his condithm. From 
the Crescent City he went to St. Louis, the trip 
consuming one week's time, and from there he 
went to Alton, where he hired out as a veamsler at 
a pottery for three years. At the expiration of 
that time he rented his emi^loyer's farm for a term 
of nine years. In 18(55 he bought a farm of one 
hundred acres in Montgomery County, but after 
living on it two years he sold it, and purchased a 
farm of eighty acres on section 3(5, Honey Point 
Town^hip. He was very successful in his farming 
opei-ations and m.-i<le money enough to buy another 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres on the same 
secliun. Later ho traded the first farm for tiie one 
he now occupies on section 25, of the same town- 
ship, which compares favorably in point of culti 
vation and improvement with any in its vicinity. 
September 21, 1856. Mr. Stratmann was married 
to Miss Dina Bartman. who was also a native of 
Prussia. Five sons were born of their happy union, 
ai f,,lb,-,vs, — loseph, Charles. John, William and 
Tuny. Novemlier 27. 1872. death crossed the 
threshold of the home of our subject and look 
from it the beloved wife and mother. Though her 
life WHS closed ere it h.ad passed its meridirn she 
left behind her a goo.llv record in all the relations 
that she sustained towards others, .and her memory 
is cherished in the hearts of those who knew am} 
loved her. Mr. Stratmann h.as always been a gveat 
reader, and as he jiossesses a clear brain is well 
posted on general subjects. He is both a good 
German and English scholar, and appreciating the 
value of a good education has given his children 
every advantage in his power to secure one, be- 
sides assisting them financially to start in the bat- 
tle of life. He bears a fine character among his 
neighbors and .associates for the undoubted" pro- 
bity of his character and in him tiie St. Aloysius 
Catholic Church at Litchfiekl finds one of its most 
valued members. 



PORTRAIT AND HJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



225 




OL. .1. R. MILES, wlio is living at Miles 
Station, is one of the most prominent citi- 
zens in the county', the active i)ait which 
lie has taken iu the upbuilding and development of 
its best interests and his service in the late war, 
having made him widely and favorably known. 
This work would be incomplete without this sketch, 
and with pleasure we iiresent it and his portrait to 
the readers of the Rkcohd. A native of Kentucky 
he was born in 1820, and in his youth came to Illi- 
nois with his parents, who in 18.32, settled in Ma- 
coupin County, becoming pioneers of Brighton 
Township, where they lived until called to their 
final rest. 

His father, Alex Miles, was born in North Caro- 
lina, whence he went to Kentucky. He became a 
successful farmer of this State and died at an ad- 
vanced age. In Tennessee he was joined in weilk)ck 
with Miss Mary Irvin, a native of (Jcorgia, who 
went to Tennessee with her parents, where they 
spent their remaining days. Her father was a hero 
of the Revolution, having served for seven years 
in that struggle for independence. Mrs. Mary 
Allies died in this county when well advanced in 
years, and like her husband was descended from 
good English ancestry. IJoth were menil)ers of the 
Methodist Church, and Alex Miles was also a faith- 
ful soldier of his country. Although young he 
served for six months in the Colonial Ai-mj' when 
the Colonies were trying to throw off the yoke of 
British oppression, and throughout the War of 
1812, followed the cstars and stripes. 

We now take up the personal history of the Col- 
onel, who for sixty years has resided in Macoupin 
County. He can remember when there were no 
roads here, there being an unbroken prairie over 
wliicii one could ride for miles without fence or 
house intercepting his jirogress. Jersey ville, Alton 
and Carlinville were then all mere hamlets, and it 
often required a week to make a trip to mill. Wild 
game of all kinds, including deer was seen in aliuiid- 
ance and supplied the table with meat. With the 
history of this part of the (lounty. Col. Miles has 
been prorainentlj- identified, aiding in its growth 
and progress in many ways. He built the first mill 
in this part of the county, and in October, 1867, 
founded the village whi'^h in his honor bears his 



name. It was largely through his inHuence that 
the Chicago & Alton Railroad was built through 
the town, and in fact few enter|)rises have been es- 
tablished in this part of the county without receiv- 
ing his aid and sup|)ort. Much land he has devel- 
oped and he still owns large tracts of valuable 
prairie surrounding Miles Station, which he cleared, 
developed and imjiroved, placing it under a high 
state of cultivation. Enterprising and industrious 
he li.ad not long engaged in business before he was 
reai>ing a good income as the reward of his labors, 
and a successful business career has made him a 
wealthy man. 

For his brilliant career as a soldier. Col. Miles 
deserves great honor. lie formed a company in 
the beginning of the late \var, which on the !)th 
of August, 18G1, was organized as Company F, of 
the Twenty-Seventh Illinois Infantry. After 
drilling for a time at Camp Butler, the troops went 
to Cairo, 111., and later met the enemy in battle at 
Belmont. Mo., where the regiment showed that its 
men were of true mettle. On their return to Cairo 
they were assigned to the Fleet Brigade, and orders 
came to move on to Island Xo. 10. The Ccjlonel's 
regiment was the first to reach the Island on the 
morning of the engagement. Aft(;r the battle they 
went with Commodore Foote down the river to 
Ft. Billow and later to Corinth, where they re- 
mained until after the evacuation of that place. 

In 18G2, Mr. Miles was promoted to the rank of 
Colonel. In the campaign of that year he partici- 
pated in the battles of Chickamauga, Mission Ridge 
and Chattanooga, and then went to relieve Gen. 
Sherman, having participated in some of the hard- 
est fought battles of the war. His men conducted 
themselves with credit, rellccting honor upon their 
commander and his tactics. He continued in com- 
mand of the regiment until his term of service 
expired and was then discharged. He escaped 
without wounds or injury, and although his service 
was often arduous he never succumbed to sickness, 
but each day reiiorted for duty and when the bugle 
rang out its call for battle was found in the saddle 
at the head of his men. At the battle of Chatta- 
nooga he had many narrow escapes, and at Chicka- 
mauga his field glass and sword handle were shot 
off, and his horse was shot from under liini. His 



226 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



clothes wore several times pierced willi bullets but 
lie seemed to wear a ebarme<l life and at tbe bead 
of bis troop often led the regiment to victory. The 
brigade to wliicb be belonged was never driven off 
tbe field of battle after baving once taken its stand, 
and tbe Twenty-Seventh Illinois Infantry was es- 
pecially commended for meritorious conduct. 

In this county, Col. Miles was united in marriage 
with Miss Eliza A. Stratton, a native of Kentucky, 
who when a child came with her mother to Illinois. 
Her father, Robinson Stratton, died in Kentucky. 
Her mother survived him for some time and at 
length passed away in this State. In 1889, the 
Colonel was called upon to mourn the loss of bis 
wife, who died at the age of fifty seven years. She 
was a most estimable lady, a member of the Meth- 
odist Cl'-urch, and together they bad traveled life's 
journey for many years, sharing its joys and sor- 
rows, its adversit}' and its i)leasure. She left three 
children: Samuel who married Miss Olive Copley, 
antl is a merchant of Alias, Wilson County, Kan.; 
J. R. Frank, who married Miss Carra Bailey, and 
is a real estate dealer of St. Louis, and Charlotte 
M., widow of James Moffet, who lives with her 
father. 

In politics, the Colonel is a stanch supporter of 
Republican princi[tles, and takes deep interest in 
tbe success of his party, but has never sought polit- 
ical preferment for himself. Few men have so long 
been identified with the county's history, for most 
of those who came about tbe time that be located 
here, have removed hence or else have been called 
to the laud whence no traveler returns. His life 
is well worthy of perpetuation in this volume, for 
to the pioneers is due a debt of gratitude which 
can never he repaid in coming generations. His 
army record is one of which be and liis may well 
be proud, for tbe part which be bore in the strug- 
gle to preserve the union was no sinecure. 



-^^ 



-f- 



ylLLIAM M. SMITH. Many families of 
Jlaeoupin County are of Southern stock 
and birth, baving eoine to this State from 
Kentucky in the early days, as they sought in Illi- 
nois a new home upon the untrodden prairies of a 




free State. .lames Smith, the father of our sui)jeet, 
was born in Lincoln County, Ky., and the mother, 
Penninah Smith, was also a native of the same lo- 
calit}'. Their first Northern home was in Orange 
County, Ind., and from there they came to Greene 
County, this State in 1831, and here the father died. 
The mother still survives and has now reached a 
very advanced age. 

The subject of this sketch was the eldest in a 
farailj' of five children, bis natal day being January 
20, 1828. He was born in Orange County, Ind., 
but grew to manhood in Greene Count}-, III., and 
lived with his parents until bis marriage which took 
place in Greene County, March 30, 1853. His vvife 
bore the maiden name of Sarah j\l. Smith, daughter 
of Daniel and Lucy Ann (Pace) Smith, natives of 
Virginia and Kentucky respectively, who came 
from Kentuck}- to Greene Count}-, III., in 1831. 
Here tbe father died but the mother still survives. 
Mrs. Sarah Smith was tbe second in a large fam- 
ily of eleven children, and was born in Greene 

j County, III., August 8, 1836. After her marriage 
with our subject they made their home in Greene 
County and resided there until March, 1865, when 

j they settled on section 7, Barr Township, where 
the_v have since been residents. Substantial im- 
provements and good buildings have been placed 

! upon the farm by Mr. Smith who now owns one 
hundred and thirty-one acres ail of which is in a 
fine condition for agriculture. 

The domestic life of this ha|)py couple w.is 
crowned by the birth of three children, all of whom 
grew to maturity and established homes of tlieir 
own. Martha E. is the wife of J. C. Howell, and 
they have four living children, namely: Maud M., 

, Ilallie R., ISertie 1!. and Eva G. These grauvl- 
children are the darlings of their grandparents who ilr 
delight to re lew their youth in tbe lives of these 
little o.ies. Frederick grew to manhood and mar- 
ried Miss P. B. Reynolds, but died at the age of 
twenty-three years. Charles H. is married to Miss 
Emma IVIelvin. 

Mr. Smith has been School Director and in this 
capacity has exercised a strong intluence in favor 
of progress and a liberal education. His political 
views ally him with the Democratic party. During 
the war he was drafted, but as he felt that bis 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



227 



young family llien neerled a father's care lie fur- 
nished a subs'-ilutc. In the Initei] Baptist Church 
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are active and useful members, 
the latter beini; especially useful in Sunda3'-school 
and in all religious work. She is a lad}' of unu- 
sually strong and lovely character and of great 
capabilities and is most highly esteemed bj' all who 
have the honor to l)e her friends. The pleasant 
home of the Smiths is the scene of true hospitalitj' 
and genial true fellowship and all who visit it once 
wish to come .again within the pleasant sphere of 
its influence. 



^^ IIARLE.S BLACK. The 
l( ^ owner of the farm locate 
■^^y Shipman Township, is tin 



IIARfJ^.S BLACK. The resident on and 
located on section 17, of 
he genllerar.n whose 
name is at the head of this sketch. His father was 
Robert Black who was probably born in Pennsyl- 
vania. His mother was Isabella (Skclton) Black. 
They came from Pennsylvania to Ohio and settled 
in the Hocking ^'alle3' where both died after a life 
of usefulness, the mother rearing a family of six 
children, imbuing their young minds with an early 
sense of honor and uprightness that has served 
them well in their relations both business and social 
throughout their career. 

Our subject was born in Hocking County, Ohio, 
April 3, 1838. He w.as reared on a farm and con- 
tinued to live in his native State and county until 
he grew to manhood. He left Ohio in 1859, and 
went to Pettis Countj-, Mo., remaining there about 
thirteen months, during which time he was engaged 
in farming. He then came to Greene County, III., 
and worked out by the month until 1863. 

Soon after coming here he was attracted by the 
sweet face and pleasant manners of Miss Martha .1. 
Baldwin, and in the words of Burns ''To see lior 
was to love her," and August IG, 1863, the young 
couple were married. The lady was a daughter of 
Benjamin and Martha (V^erner) Baldwin, the for- 
mer a native of \'irginia and the latter of Ohio. 
They became residents of Greene County in 1850, 
where they lived until the time of their death. A 
large family of thirteen children canic to bless and 



brighten the evening of their life and to encircle the 
hearthstone. Of these Mrs. Black was one of the 
younger members. She was born in Warren County 
Ohio, April 3, 1839. Soon after the marriage of 
our subject and his lady they came to Macoupin 
County, in September, 1863, and settled in Shipman 
Township on section 17, where they have since 
resided. 

Mr. and Mrs. Black are the parents of two chil- 
dren, Charles W. and Kva A. She is the wife of 
C. A. Andrews. The original of this sketch h.is 
alw.ays been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He 
is the owner of one hundred and sixty-one acres 
of land, that has rewarded his efiforts. by producing 
large crops, in proportion to the number of acres 
cultivated. He has erected a fine house surrounded 
with pleasant piazz.as from which a charming view 
may be had of the surrounding country, that in 
itself is a picture which only a Corot would be 
worthy of attempting to reproduce on canvas. The 
other buildings upon the place are all well-appointed 
and in good condition. He has added every im- 
provement within his means to make the place 
homelike and comfortable. Politically he is a 
liemocrat, affiliating with that party on every tenet 
of its platform. 




ICHARD Dl'CKELS came to this county 
while it was still in its infancy, and casting 
\s% in his lot with its pioneer farmers, has 
^^ been no unimportant factor in develop- 
ing its agricultural resources. He has acquired 
wealth by unremitting and well-directed toil and 
a few years ago he retired from active business 
to his present home in Western Mound Township, 
though he still retains possession of his extensive 
and wcll-ordere<l farm. 

Mr. Duckels was born in the village of Goole, 
Yorkshire, Knglan<l, Jul3' 4, 1811. Thomas Duck- 
els w.is the name of his father, and he w.as a native 
of the same village, born in 1770. He in turn was 
a son of Richard Duckels, who was born in York- 
shire in 1734, and there spent his entire life, car- 



228 



PORTRAl'I^AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



rying on his trade as a blacksmith. The father of 
our subject w.os reared to agricultural pursuits, and 
w.as a life-long resident of his native shire, dying 
at the ripe age of seventy-eight years. The maiden 
name of his wife, a n.itive of Armein, Yorkshire, 
W.1S Ann Golton. She died at the age of seventy- 
two years. She and her husband were both devout 
Christians and members of the Methodist Episco- 
pal CluH-ch. They had a family of eight children, 
three of whom came to America— Nancy , who 
married .Jolin Le.ach; William, who is de.ad; and 
our subject. 

The latter of whom we write passed his boyhood 
and early manhood on his native soil. Deemino- 
that he could better his condition by emigration to 
America, in 1835 he set sail for these shores from 
Hull in the month of May, and landed at New 
York City after a voyage of seven weeks. He 
came directly to Illinois by the w.ay of the Hudson 
River to Albany, thence by Erie Canal to Buffalo, 
from there by the lakes to Chicago, whence he con- 
tinued on his journey by team to La Salle, where he 
embarked on the Illinois River for Naples, and 
from that point he proceeded by team to .Tackson- 
ville, that long and tiresome route being the most 
expeditious in those days. He was a single man 
at that time and not ready to make a permanent 
settlement. He therefore remained some three 
months at Jacksonville, and then after visiting this 
county he took up his residence at Alton, whc'ie he 
obtained employment in the store of Godfrey & 
Gilman, general merch.-ints. In 1841 he returned 
to England and revisited the scenes of his youth a 
few months. 

Coming back to this country in 18l2,Mr. Duckels 
bought a farm one mile south of Chesterfield, and 
dwelt upon it three years. He next bought a farm 
three miles west of the village, upon which he 
lived until 1889. I„ that year he took possession 
of his present cozy and well-appointed home, 
where he and his estimable wife live retired from 
active labor, as they liave accumulated a goodly 
amount of property and are well fortified .against 
want, so that they can p.ass the sunset of life se- 
renely, untrammelled by the cares and anxieties 
that beset their earlier years. Our subject lias 
bought land from time to time until he now owns 



seven hundred acres of as fine farming land as can 
be found in this section, and by his industry he has 
placed himself among the most substantial citizens 
of the county. Mr. Duckels was married Febru- 
aiy 23, 1843, to Miss Elizabeth Morris, and their 
wedded life has been blessed by the following chil- 
dren: Mahilda, their eldest born, who married 
Jefferson Lee, and died at the age of forty-seven 
years; Edwin, who died at the age of nine years; 
Richard, who died at ilieage of five years; George'; 
, John; Henry C. ; Oscar; Ann Lovelace; Laura;' 
Rollie: Clara and Grant. 

Mrs. Duckels was born near Tliorne, Yorkshire, 
EngKand, January 18, 1827. Her father, .John 
Morris, who was one of the early pioneers of this 
county, was also a native of Yorkshire, and was 
there reared and married, Ann Sextz, likewise of 
that shire, becoming his wife. He resided near 
Thorne in that old English shire until 1832, when 
he and his wife and nine children set sail from Liv- 
erpool in an Americaii-bound vessel, and after a 
voyage of seven weeks landed at New York. They 
came directly to Illinois, and locating in what is 
now Western Mound Township, Mr. Morris bought 
a squatter's claim to a tract of Government hand, 
which he entered at the land office at Edwardsville. 
There was a small cabin on the place at the time of 
purchase, which the family occupied the succeed- 
ing nine years, when the father lephaced it by a 
substanti.al frame house in which he resided a 
number of years. He then removed to Chester- 
field and lived retired the remainder of his life, 
both he and his good wife dying in their home 
there at a ripe old age. 



^-t^^< 




f/OHN M. AHRENS is now living a retired 

life in Staunton. Of the citizens whom 

Germany has furnished to this county none 

are more worthy of a representation in this 

volume than ihe gentleman whose name heads this 

sketch. He was born in the Province of Holstein, 

Germany, November 30. 1828, and in that country 

his parents, John and Antje (Lucks) Ahrens, spent 

their entire lives. They were hard-working yet 






PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



229 



respected German people and both lived to about 
tlie age of four-score j'ears. Throughout their 
lives they were members of the Lutheran Church 
an<l to gain a lixelihood Mr. Ahrens followed farm- 
ing. The family numbered seven children, four 
sons and three daughters, and five of that number 
came to the United States. Matilda, now Mrs. 
Runge, was the first to cross the water and is now 
living in Nokomis, 111., where her husband, Fred 
Runge, now deceased, followed blacksmitiiing for 
some years. Peter is now married and resides in 
Gillespie, where he is engaged in merchandising. 
John M. was the third to cross the water. Lena 
was married in Germany to Fritz Barnholdt, who 
died after they came to America and she is now 
the wife of John Sievers, of Grand Island, Neb. 
Cathcrina was married in Holstein to John MuUer, 
who there died, after which she came to Araeriua. 
Ilcr home is now in Cleveland, Ohio. 

Our subject is a self-made man and whatever 
success he has met with in life is due to his own 
efforts. Since the early age of sixteen he had been 
dependent upon his own resources. He then began 
to learn tlie cal)inct-maker's trade and when he had 
mastered the business he sailed from Hamburg in 
June, 1855, on the vessel "Christian VIII," which 
after a vo3age of fort^'-two days dropped anchor 
in the harbor of New York. He entered upon 
his business career in this country as a cabinet- 
maker, following that trade until 1862, when he 
embarked in other pursuits. 

In 1858 Mr. Ahrens formed a matrimonial alli- 
ance with Miss Elizabeth Rutlier, who was born in 
Hanover, Germany, December 14, 1841. and when 
a child of six summers was brought to America 
by her [larents, Frederick and Dora ((irini) Kutlier, 
who took passage from Bremen, sailed to New York, 
and thence came to Illinois, settling on a farm near 
Alton. In 1851 tlie family^ came to Macoupin 
County, locating in Staunton Townshii), wliere Mr. 
Ivuther is still living at the age of eighty-two years. 
His wife died in Fostersburg in 1848, at a com- 
paratively early age. She was a member of the 
Lutheran Church, with whicli her husband has al- 
ways been identified. Mrs. Ahrens remained with 
her parents until her marriage. She has proved a 
true lielpmate to him and has made for him a 



pleasant home. Their union has been blessed with 
twelve children, two of who.'n are now deceased. 
Dora, who became the wife of Edgar Golightly. 
died at the birth of her first ciiild, a son, when 
twenty-six years of age. Louis died in April, 
1872. Tlie surviving members of the family are 
John C, who married Cora Grivy, of St. Louis, 
and is now a lumber merchant of Kiverdale, HI. 
Peter, who wedded Gertrude Jacobs, and is now 
operating the lumber-yard at this place with his 
brother. Henry A. operates a lumber-3'ard in 
Efflngliam, 111.; Albert E., a partner of Peter; 
Mary E., Emma M., Ada L., Sophia C, AValter L_ 
and Carrie B. Mr. and Mrs. Ahrens have also 
given a home to their grandson, Lester E. Golightly 
who has resided with his grandparents from 
infancy. 

No family in Staunton has been more promi- 
nently connected with the business interests of the 
place than the Ahrens. Our subject, in 1862, 
opened a furniture store and about the same time 
established a lumber-yard, the first in the place and 
these two lines of business he successfully carried 
on until April 24, 1874, when he sold out the fur- 
niture store to Jacob Moehrman, the present pro- 
prietor. He continued the lumber business and 
afterward associated witli him his son, P. F., while 
in connection with another son he established a 
lumber-yard inWorden, 111. .Soon John C. became 
sole proprietor and sold out in 1888, removing to 
EfHngham, where he again established business in 
the same line. The lumber-yard in Staunton be- 
came under the control of P. F. and A. E., in 1887, 
I and they are now doing a good business. In July, 
1888, II. A. Ahrens and W. I. Gates purchased a 
stock of general merchandise continuing business 
until March, 1889, when Mr. Gates sold out to our 
subject, who continued a member of the firm until 
September, 1890, when he turned over the business 
to his son. Mr. Ahrens came to Staunton when it 
was a small town and with its development and 
growth lie has been prominently identified. His 
business interests have been extensive and he has 
thereby acquired a handsome property, yet he has 
also found time to devote to public interests and 
has frequently served his fellow-townsmen in offi- 
cial positions. He filled the ollice of Councilman, 



230 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL REBORD. 



was one terra President of tlie Boarfl, for four 
terms was Township Clerii antl for tiic long period 
of fifteen years Las served on tlie Scliool Board. 
In politics he is a stanch Republican and tlie duties 
of the offices he ever faithfully discharged. Both 
he and his wife are leading members and active 
workers in the Methodist Church in which he has 
served as Class Leader, Sunday school Superin- 
tendent and is now Trustee. His upright life has 
been such as to win the confidence and regard of 
all and the prosperity which has crowned his efforts 
is but the just reward of a well-spent life. 

- gp— < ■ 

I )>;ILLIAM T. BEEBY. It is pleasing to see 
\m/ ^ '""" ^'^*'' ''=*ving atUiined years tiiat en- 
W^ title him to the rest and enjoyment of a 
retrospective view of life, can retire from the 
active pursuits and enjoy the afternoon of his ex- 
istence in the peace and serenity consequent upon 
a knowledge that he has made his struggle well 
and bravely, and that the results are tlic Iward of 
his present peaceful condition. The gentleman 
whose name is at the head of this sketch, after a 
long life spent in .agricultural pursuits, is now en- 
joying the fruits of his labor in his pleasant home 
at Piasa. 

Mr. Beeby, who is a retired farmer, is of English 
birth and parentage, his advent into this world 
being in Lincolnshire, England, March 27, 183;j. 
His father belonged to the class of mechanics, 
being a plumber and glazier, and having but little 
else with which to endow his son he early taught 
him his own trade, and by working with his fatirer, 
our subject soon became an expert. 

William Beeby disposed of a small farm which 
he had owned in tlie Mother Country and with the 
proceeds emigrated to America in December, 1851. 
After landing he i)roceeded at once to Piasa where' 
he arrived two weeks before Christmas. He first 
made his living by working out by the month at 
farm labor which course he pursued for eight 
years. By that time his attachment to a bright 
young lady whose name was Mary Ann Ballettr a 
fellow-countrywoman of his own, caused him' to 



look forward anxiously for a home of his own. 
The young couple were married March 27, 1859, 
and they immediately settled on section 31,' where 
he had purchased a farm of one hundred and forty 
acres. Jlrs. Beeby as before said was born in Eng- 
land, her birthplace being Dorsetshire, and her 
birthday being July 11, 1838. She was about 
eleven years old, when with her parents she came 
to America in the spring of 1851. They belonged 
to the farming class and made their living in this 
way. 

Our subject carried on his farm for over twenty 
years, making it pay handsomely for the care that 
he bestowed upon it. At the end of tiiis time he 
sold his place and free from business cares he paid 
a visit to his native land, being gone about six 
months. He could not, however, make up his 
mind to remain there, so strong was the hold that 
his adopted country had upon him. He settled in 
Piasa in the spring of 1884 where he has since 
lived a retired life. The issues of the day as to 
local and national government are of great inter- 
est to Mr. Beeby and his preference in politics is 
with the Republican party. Mrs. Beebv is a mem- 
l)er of tlic Methodist Church. The parents of our 
subject lived and died in Lincolnshire, England. 
The father was Ca-sar Jones Beeby. His nrothcr 
was Elizabeth (Kew) Beeby. Mrs. Beeby's parents 
emigrated to this country in the spring of 1851 
and passed away in Shipmau Township. Her 
father was William Ballett and her mother was 
Elizabeth (Cobb) Ballett. 



^OHN .lASPER COX, a prominent citizen 
and business man of Virden Township, was 
born in Illinois, about a mile and a half from 
_ Ciilham's Mound in Jersey County, January 
20, 1835. His father, Henry Cox, was a Kentuck- 
lan, born near Lexington, and a son of one of the 
pioneers of that State, who was murdered by the 
Indians. Being left an orphan at an early age, 
Henry Cox was reared by strangers, and learned 
the trade of a brickmaker, which he followed at 
various places in Kentucky and Ohio until 1834, 



PORTRAIT AND B10GRj\FH1CAL RECORD. 



231 



when lie removed to Illinois. He was accompanied 
in liis journey by his wife and six children, and 
they came hy team, camping out on the way. 

Henry Cox purchased a tract of land near Gil- 
liam's Mound, and there built the house in which 
our subject was born. He developed his farm and 
at the same time worked at his trade. In 1837 he 
went to Calhoun County, and settled four miles 
south of Harden, buying one hundred and sixty 
acres of land. Here he built a log house ana made 
it his home until his death in 1846. The maiden 
name of the mother of our Subject was Louisa 
rtt. She was born in Scioto County, Ohio, and 
her father, Jacob Uit,wasa native of Pennsylvania 
and of German ancestry. She died in Calhoun 
County, about the year 1849 having reared and 
given faithful training to eight children. 

Being left an orphan, John Cox went to reside 
with his uncle, Jacob I'tt, of Jersey' County, and 
attended the first public school which was estab- 
lished iu the log schoolhouse. The seats were made 
of split logs, one side being hewn smooth, and with 
wooden i)ins for legs. There were no desks in 
front and no support for the backs of these primi- 
tive seats. He assisted his uncle on the farm and 
at the age of nineteen began to learn the trade of 
a blacksmith at Waverly, Morgan County, and 
Virden, this county. Aflev some live niuntlis he 
came to this county, in 18.53, and settled in N'irden 
where he worked for Aaron Maulsbury for two 
years, and then engaged in farming which he car- 
ried on successfully until I86"2. 

During the second .year of the war this young 
man was deeply stirred b}" the repeated calls of 
President Lincoln for more troops to carry on the 
War of the Rebellion, and helinally decided to en- 
list Februar>- 13, 1862, in Compan3' F, First Illi- 
nois Light Artillery in which he served until the 
close of the war. For two weeks this company was 
guarding prisoners at Camp Butler, and in March 
was sent to St. Louis, and then on to Shiloli, arriv- 
ing there on April 7, the day after the battle. F'rom 
there these lirave boys were sent forward to Cor- 
inth to guard the supply trains, and spent the sum- 
mer iu the vicinity of Memphis. In November, 
1862, they started on the \'icksburg Campaign and 
wintered at Grand Junction, Tenn. Continuing 



their march in tiie spring toward Vicksburg, they 
l)articipated in that campaign. At the time of the 
fall of Vicksburg they were guarding the Bl-ick 
River at Oak Ridge. They took part in the battle 
of Jackson, Miss., and then returned to Oak Ridge 
and camped there before returning to V^icksburg 
and Memphis, whence they marched to Chattanooga 
and took part in the Sight at Missionary Ridge. 
They were sent forward to Knoxville to relieve 
Burnside, and finding the rebels had retreated, re- 
turned to Scottsborough, Ala., and spent the winter 
there guarding radroads. 

The Atlanta campaign next engaged the services 
of this valiant body of artillery, as in 1864 they 
joined Sherman's forces and took part in the battles 
of Resaca, Buzzard's Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, 
Rome, and other encounters. They were engaged 
in the conflicts around Atlanta and the battle of 
Jonesboro. They returned to Nashville in time to 
be present at Hood's defeat, after which they did 
garrison duty at that city until March, 1865, when 
they were discharged and returned home. 

The brave soldier was read}' to settle down to 
more peaceful [jursuits, and now resumed his old 
trade of blacksmithing, and soon formed a partner - 
shi|) with Mr. Lafayette Iliggins to do general 
blacksmithing and farm work. This connection 
lasted until 1872 when our subject formed a part- 
nership withMessrs. A. C. Hutchinson and Richard 
Ball with the firm name of Cox, Hutchinson <fe 
Ball. Mr. Hutchinson's death in 1880 removed him 
from the lirm which is now known as Cox A Ball. 

The lia[)py marital union of John J. Cox and 
Ma"y A. Emerson was solemnized at the home of 
the bride's parents iu 1867. This lady is English 
by birth, her natal day being July 16, 1847, and 
her parents being William and Elizabeth Emerson. 
She was three years old when she came with them 
to the United States, and was a child of seven years 
when she reached this county. For a mo"e ex- 
tended history of this family the reader will con- 
sult the sketch of Mr. William Emerson in this 
volume. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Cox are earnest Christian 
workers, the former in connectiou with the Baptist 
Church, where he labors in Sunda^'-school, and for 
three years was the Su[)erintendent, and his wife in 



232 



^PORTRAIT AND BIOGBAPHJCAL RECORD. 




connection with the Metliodis!, Episcopal Cliurch. 
He clieiisiics tlie memories and associations of war 
times, and is a cliartcr member of the John Baird 
Post, No. 285, G. A. R., in wbich he is Past Com- 
mander. He is well-known in this vicinity as tlie 
autiior of a series of sivetches entitled "Tlie Sol- 
diers' Experience." These were written from mem- 
ory and were pnblished in the Virden Reporter, 
where they were read with great interest, not onl\- 
by his neighbors but by all who had participated 
in the trying scenes of the Civil War. 

ILLIAM MASON, who is extensively en- 
gaged in farming and stock-raising in 
"^ Brighton Township, his home being on sec- 
tion 15, chiims New York as the State of liTs nativ- 
ity. He w.as born in Potsdam m\ the loth of Ang- 
ust, 1830, and comes from one of the prominent 
New England families. His father. Lawrence S. 
Mason, a native of Connecticut, had learned the 
trade of a cabinet-maker and wheelwright when a 
young man, and following those occui)ations met 
with excellent success. He w.is a first time mar- 
ried in the State of his nativity but after the birth 
of two children, that wife died, and in the Green 
Mountain State, he was joined in wedlock with j 
Miss Sarah French, who was born in New Haven, ' 
Vt. Her father, Nathaniel French, was a promi- 
nent farmer and honored early settler of Addison 
County, where in the midst of the forest he devel- 
oped a farm, upon which he resided more than 
sixty years, bis death occurring when past the ao-e 
of eighty years. His wife, wi^ose maiden name j 
was Beulah Champion, passed away some time be- ! 
fore at the age of eighty-two years. After Law- 
rence Mason w.as a second time married he lemoved 
with his wife to Potsdam, N. Y., where three sons 
and two daughters were born unto them. Of that 
family all are yet living and :.re married. They 
recently held a re-union in New Haven, Vt., where 
for the first time in more than forty years the five 
children had been together. They are all now 
well-to-do and prosperous peojjle and have become 
respected members of society. Mr. Mason, the 



father, spent his last years in Potsdam, N. Y^, 
where for so long he had made his home' and foU 
lowed his trade. He passed away at the age of 
seventy-two years, after which his widow returned 
to her father's old liomestead in New Haven, Yt.. 
where she remained until called to her final rest in 
1877, or about at the age of eighty-four years. She 
was a life-long member of the Baptist Church and 
a noble Christian lady who won the love of all 
with whom she came in contact. The old home- 
stead in New Haven, ujion which she was born and 
died, is now owned- by hei' son. C. W. Mason. 

In the Sl.ite of his nativity, the subject of this 
sketch was carefully reared and received a good 
practical education. Believing that the West fur- 
, nished better opiiortunities for young men, he 
started for Hlinois, when twenty-two years of age 
and in October, 1852, became a resident of 
Brighton Township, Macoupin County. Two years 
later he purchased two hundred acres of land, a 
part of his present farm and built thereon a dwell- 
ing. His arrangements for a home were further 
completed by his marriage with Miss Nancy M. 
Hoyt, an old acquaintance whom he had known in 
the E.ast, but who was then living in Kendall 
County, HI. She was born in New Haven, Vt., 
-luly 2, 1833, and is a daughter of Harvey and 
Hanna L. (Wynn) Hoyt. She, too, belongs to an 
early family, her grandfather being Dr. Jacob 
Hoyt, who lived and died in New Haven, Conn. 
Her parents were natives of the Green Moun- 
tain State, and her mother died at the age of 
thirty-two years, when Mrs. Mason was a young 
girl of only nine summers. The father died at the 
home of his daughter at the age of seventy-one 
years. He was four times married and was a mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church. 

Mrs. Mason came to Illinois with her family in 
1850, the family first locating in Kendall Countv. 
By her marriage there have been born six children 
—Clara E., wife of John Jones, a resident farmer 
of Brighton Township; Flora M., wife of John A. * 
Bennett, a farmer living m Princeton, Franklin 
County, Kan.; Charles A., a prominent stock dealer 
living near Denver, Col., on the Union Pacific 
Railroad; William II.. Albert L., and Franklin 
E., at home. They also lost one child, Lucius H., 





O-t-^i^^r-^ a/p<u.jA^ 




OLA^^rz^cyy ^Ou^<^^2yi-~. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



235 



who (lied at the age, of eighteen months. Mr. and 
Mis. Mason are niimberoil among the pi-oininent 
people in this part of tiie county, ranking hij>li in 
tiie social world and Ijolding an enviable |)osition 
in the esteem of liieir many friends. In the Metli- 
odist Cluirch they are at^tive workers and Mr. Ma- 
son has for many ^ears been Steward and Class 
leader, serving in the former ca|)acity at the pres- 
ent time. In politics he is a wanu advocate of 
Republican principles but prefers to devote his at- 
tention to his business rather than engage in strife 
for public office. He has been eminently success- 
ful in his business career, being now numbered 
among the substantial farmers of the community. 
He owns three hundred and twenty acres of valua- 
ble land in Brigiitou Township, and in connection 
with its cultivation is extensively engaged in stock 
raising, making a specialty- of the breeding of 
Merino sheep, which he has shi|)|)ed in laige num- 
bers throughout the West. Am|ile shelter is pro- 
vided for his stock antl grain in large barns and 
other outbuildings, and in 1883, his lirst home was 
reidaced by one of the finest farm residences in the 
county, built in the most modern style, tastefully 
furnished and sui)plied witli all the conveniences 
and comfort which goto make life worth the liv- 
ing. The Mason family arc people of intelligence 
and worth, well deserving of a reiiresentalion in 
this volume. 



-^^ 



ON. BALFOUR COWEN, of Virden, is 
li hehl in distinction for the loyaltj' of his 
citizenship, and for his worth as a man of 
P) of unblemished character. As a member 
of the bar his legal attainments have placed him 
among the most successful of his profession now 
practicing before the courts of this and adjoining 
counties. It is therefore with pleasure that we 
invite the attention of the reader to his portrait on 
the opposite page, and the following brief account 
of his life and lineage. 

Our subject comes of sterling New England 
stock, and is a native of that part of the country, 
born at Bath, N. II., June 30, 1832. His father, 



Zachariah Cowen, was a native of the same State, 
and was a son of another Zachariah Cowen, who is 
thought to have been born in New J^ngland and 
to have been of Welsh descent. Grandfather 
Cowen was a carpenter and millwright, and fol- 
lowed those trades some years in his early man- 
hood. He had a decided talent for music, and 
finally turned his attention to teaching that art, 
being an instructor in both vocal and instrumental 
music. His last years were passed in New Hamp- 
shire. 

The father of our subject learned the trade of 
a bricklayer in his youth, and was engaged at 
that trade in his native Slate until 1835. In that 
year he left his old home among the Granite hills 
of New llainpshiie to seek a new one on the fer- 
tile prairies of this State, being accompanied 
hither by his wife and three sons. The momen- 
tous journey was made entirely by land with a [)air 
of horses and a wagon, in which were carried a 
portion of the household goods. After three 
months the little family arrived at its destination 
in that part of Greene County now included in 
Jersey County. The father entered a quarter of a 
section of land from the Government, four and 
one-half miles northeast of Jerseyvillc, and also 
bought eighty acres of land on Hawkins Prairie, 
eight miles northeast of Jerseyvillc. In the double 
log cabin that stooii on the latter place the fam- 
ily took up its aboile, occupying one-half of it, 
while Mr. Cowen's brother William took posses- 
sion of the other part. At that time the surround- 
ing country was in its primitive condition, with 
the exception of the few improvements made by 
the handful of settlers that had located here and 
there; deer, wild turkeys, wolves and other wild 
animals still lingered in abundance on the prairies 
and in the timber. Tliere were no railways, no 
canals, and no good roads, travelers passing from 
settlement to settlement over trackless prairies or 
following some Indian trail. 

Mr. Cowen busied himself in preparing land and 
in putting in a crop in the spring of 1886, and 
then worked at his trade. In July of the same 
year he was stricken by typhus fever, and on the 
29th of that month death cut short his career 
while he was yet in life's prime, thus depriving 



236 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGKArilK'AI. KKX'OUn. 



Iiis family of a kind Imsbfiiul and wise falhor, and 
the coniuiunity of a valuable pioneer, wliose pincc 
it was hard to lill. His brotiier, 'Williani, had died 
three days previous of the same dread disease, and 
both were buried in the oM eemetcry at Jersey- 
ville. 

Tiie mother of our subject, who bore the maiden 
name of Mary Titus, was reared in Coicbrooiv, 
N. II., and was a dauijliler of Eloazer and Martha 
(Cleveland) Titus. KIcnzer Titus was born at 
Attleboro, Mass., whence his parents removed to 
LandatT, N. II.. in 17G4, with their two children, 
lie being borne in the arms of his mother, who 
rode on horseliacU, with the other child behind 
her. The great-grandfather of our subject had 
visited that part of the counUy before, and had 
marked the w.iy by blazing trees. He im()roveiI 
a farm at Landaff, and there died in the fiilliiess 
of years. The grandfather of our subject passed 
his early life there, but at the time of his niarri.age 
settled on a tract of forest land in C'olebrook. 
He developeil a line farm from llie wilderness, 
which is now owned and occupied by his daugh- 
ter, Mrs. C. 1>. Libby, and her family. He and 
his wife are reposing side bj' side in the liltlo fam- 
ily cenu'tory on the home farm where llioy spent 
their wedded life and toiled hand in hand lo build 
up a home. 

Hy the death of the father the mother of our 
sulijeit was left a widow with three small children 
to care for. January 8, 1839, she married Kzekiel 
Gillham, a native of South Carolina and a pioneer 
of Jerscj' Count}'. At that time he was living 
nmo miles north of Alton, on the Grafton road, 
and there the mother made her home until Mr. 
Gillham's death in l^i48. She had two children 
by that marriiige — Henry CI.13' and Maria. The 
former died at the age of twenty years. Maria 
married Maj. John M'. Lawrence at Carbondale, 
111., and both are now deceased. The mother of 
our subject was married a third time, October 23, 
1855, becoming the wife of the Kev. WilUam Jer- 
ome, a native of New York and a minister of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. They removed to 
Carbondale, Jackson County, where he died June 
15, 1865. 

Mrs. Jerome then came tu \irden. and resided 



with her son Lewcllyn until her death, September 
25, 1877. She had three children by her lirst mar- 
riage — Llewellyn, Norrcdden and IJallour. Llew- 
ellyn Cowen was for a time a teacher, and then 
engaged in meicanlile business. He enlisted March 
8, 1862, in Company 1), Ninth Illinois Cavalry, 
and was promoted to the First Lieutenancy, and m 
then to be Captain of his company. He served * 
with honor with his regiment until the i Idsi' of 
the war, and after that resumed liis business as a 
merch.ant at Virden, carrying it on until 1878. In 
that year he disposed of his mercantile interests 
.ind opened a Home for commercial travelers at 
Virden, which he managed until his death, April 
29, 1881. 

Norrenden Cowen was reared and educated in 
Jersey County. After selling his interest in his 
father's estate to his brothers, iie entered Govern- 
ment Land near Walshville, Montgomery County, 
He improved a farm, and was a resident there at 
tiie time of his enlistment, in .Vugust, 1861, in 
Company L. I'liird Illinois Cavalry. He was 
soon comuiissioned First Ueulenant of his com- 
pany, and was subse(piently pronioti'd to the rank 
of Captain. In the winter of 1861-62 he was 
Judge Advocate t>t a court niarM.il of the Depart- 
ment of Missoiiri. He was wounded in a sUir- 
misli, and tm that account was obliged to resign 
his connnission in May, 1861. As soon as he re- 
covered from his injuries he engaged in milling at 
Litchfielil with Messrs. Hest and S|)arks. Subsc- 
qiiently he went lo Carlyle, Cliiiloii Couiily, io 
engage in the same l)usiness with the same linn. 
of which he liecame a nuinber, and resided there 
until his death, October 12, 1872. His wife, Mel- 
vina J., died in Carlyle Febiiary 12, 1890. 

lialfour Cowen wa> but three years old when 
his parents brought him from his New Kngland 
birthplace to the frontier wilds of Illinois. The 
lirst Jicliool llial healteiuled was a free school estab- 
lished by old Dr. Hamilton at Olterville, and en- 
dowed by him. That was before the era of iiublic 
schools ill this State, as then the schools were con- 
ducted on the subscription plan. After the death 
of his stepfather, (iillliam, his inoth'^T removed 
with her children to the land which his father had 
entered from the Government, and she built 



POETRAIT AND BlOGRAFiilCAL RECOKD. 



237 



llifrcon. 'I'hc brothers fMrmod the place together 
until 18.02, when our subject bought out the inter- 
ests of his brotlicrs and continued to till the soil 
until 1857. In that year he sold the old honrie- 
htcad and in Feltruary, 18.08, came to Virden to 
devote himself to mercantile pursuits with his 
brothers. 

Mr. Cowen continued actively engaged in busi- 
ness here until 18C2, when he left his partner, 
(Gordon Kvans, in charge, in oider that he might 
offer his services to his country to aid in subdu- 
ing the great rebellion that was threatening the 
very life of the Union. lie enlisted August ly, 
1802, in Company (j. One Hundred and Twenty- 
second Illinois Infantry, and was honored by 
being elected Captain of his company. He was 
captured December 20, 18G2, at Trenton, Tenn., 
by P'orcst's command in a raid on tlie (Jhio it 
Mobile Railroad. He was marched under guard 
one week and was tlicn i)aroled and sent North, 
where he was exchanged in the spring of 1803. 
Our gallant Captain then joined his company at 
Salisbury, Tenn., and was with his regiment in all 
its subsequent cami)aigns and battles unlil [K'aco 
was declared. He did good service at the battle 
of Tuijclo, inspired his company to do brave deeds 
at Nashilk^ and again gave proof of his excel- 
lent soldierly qualities and worth as a leader before 
Ft. ISlakcly, Ala. He was iKjnorably discharged 
with his regiment at Moljile, Ala., .July 10, 1800, 
but mustered out at Springfield, 111., August 0, 
the same year. 

At the close of his military life Capt. Cowen re- 
turned to X'irden and at once commenced the study 
of law. April 0, 1867, lie was examined before 
the Supreme I'.ench and was admitted to the bar. 
after passing the crucial test successfully. Judges 
1*. 11. Walker, Sidney Rreeze and C. I>. Lawrence 
signing his certilicate. He immediately o()ened an 
ollice at Virden, and has been in active practice 
here since. He has an extensive clientage to whose 
interest he pays the closest attention, and ii;is thus 
secured the undounded confidence of all who ap- 
peal to him for legal advice, or who have entrusted 
to him the management of Important affairs. His 
standing as one of our best lawyers is too well- 
known to need comment here. 



Mr. Cowen and Miss Amanda Bartlett were 
united in marriage March 29, 1800, and they have 
been eminently happy in their domestic relations. 
Mrs. Cowen is a native of Wellsville, Me., born 
December 28, 18.33, and a daughter of .Joseph \V. 
and Mary ( Twombley) IJartlelt. For her parental 
history see sketch of Dr. IJartlett. Mr. and Mrs. 
Cowen have five children — Nora, Amanda, Blanche 
I).. Elmer A., Henry II. and Mary A. Nora is the 
wife of tlie Rev. Eben C. .Sage, Ph. D., a gradu- 
ate of Yale College, and pastor of the Grand Ave- 
nue Baptist Church, New Haven, Conn. They have 
three children — Nora A., Eben Balfour and Tru- 
man Bartlett. Elmer married Miss Nettie Reed, 
and they have one child. They are residents of 
•St. Joseph, Mo. 

Although chiclly aborbcd in his profession, our 
subject has given some of his time and talent to 
public service, and has filled positions of trust with 
dignity and aliilily. He was the first Police Mag- 
istrate of N'irden, and has served several terms as 
Cit}- Attorney. His fellow-citi^.ens honored him 
him and themselves by electing iiim to represent 
this district in the Thirty-second Legislative As- 
sembly of the State of Illinois. He cast his first 
vote for J. C. Fremont, and has ever since been a 
stanch suiiporler of the Republican parly. Socially 
he is a valued member of John Baird Post, No. 
285,0. A. R., and of Virden Lodge, No. 101, 
A. F. &, A. M. 

.- ^=1^ 






,^^, LIVER C. FORWOOD. The name at the 
(|| J head of tiiis sketch is tliat of a worthy mem- 
^^f' ber of a family tiiat has held an honorable 
[losition for centuries |)ast, its members counting 
among them the distinguished professional men as 
well as agriculturists who have done much to im- 
l)rove the general condition of the community in 
which tiiey respectively live. The scion of this 
family whose history it is our pleasure to here 
chronicle, resides on section 21, of Sliipman Town- 
ship, where he has a fine farm in an envialile state 
of productiveness. 

Our subject's father was Dr. Parker Forwood 



238 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



wlio was a native of Maryland. He was a practic- 
ing physician in his iiativc Stale for many 3-car6, 
and there owned a Lirge farm. Our subject's pater- 
nal grandfather was John Forwood, who, like his 
grandson, devoted himself to cultivating the gifts 
that God allows to spring up from mother earth. 
He died in Harford County, Md. Our subject's 
mother was Mollie Smithson in her maiden years. 
She was born in Harford County, Md., where she 
was married and where her husband died in Janu- 
ary, 1S6G, the mother still surviving. 

Mr. Forwood is one of thirteen children, he being 
the ninth in order of birth. Like his parents he 
was born and reared iu Harford County, ]\Id., his 
natal day being February 6, 1847. He continued 
to live in Maryland until February, 1865, when ho 
came to Shipman Township. On his arrival in this 
State he made his daily bread until 1870 by work- 
ing b}' the month for the farmers in the vicinity. 
He found his wife iu Shipman Township, and was 
married October 12, 1870. His wife's maiden name 
was Miss Emma Jolly, a daughter of Henry Jolly. 
Her birth i)lace was Shi()mau Township, Macou|)in 
County, 111., and her birth occurred on October 1, 
1857. Mrs. F'orwood's mother was Marian Hay- 
craft. Previous to hei marriage she was the widow 
of Joel Parker, who died in Shipman Township, 
November 28, 1843. Mr. Parker and his' young 
wife were married in Kentuck}', and came from 
there to Macoupin County in 1835, settling in 
Shipman Township. The wife became the mother 
of seven children b}' that marriage. Thej' are 
Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah, Frances H., Elmira, Benja- 
min E., and Luvinia N. The eldest daughter is 
now the widow of John L. Rhoads; Mary is the 
wife of F. B. Simpson ; Sarah is the widow of Jack- 
son Calvard; Frances H., is the widow of William 
M. Simpson; Almira is the widow of James L. 
Sherman; Luvinia is the wife of Thomas B. For- 
wood. 

Mrs. Marian Parker was married to Henry Jolly 
in Shipman Township, October 10, 1850. But one 
child came to grace this marriage, that is the wife 
of the gentleman of whom we are writing. She 
was born in Shipman Township, October 1, 1851. 
Soon after the marriage of our subject he settled 
iu Brushy Mound Township, where he lived from 



the years 1871 to 1876 inclusive, after which time, 
he removed to Shipman Township, and settleil on 
section 21, where he has since been a resident. The 
chief occupation of his life has been farming, and 
he h:is brought to bear a native energy and stick- 
to-ativeness that have insured him a success. He 
owns eight}' acres and lias good buildings on his 
farm. Mr. Forwood has held the ofHce of Town- 
ship Assessor. His teni|)crance principles are evi- 
dent in the fact that he is a voter with the Prohib- 
itionists, and adds to that party his intluence. Mr. 
and Mrs. Forwood are active members of the lja|>- 
tist Church, taking a conspicuous [lart in every • 
good word and work that is 'here done. 




REDERICK STEIDLEV, one of the best 
" known of the old settlers of IJarr Townshi|), 
/Ij, "^ is a sun of Solomon Sleidloy, who was a 
Marylander, and Rachel Barr who was born in New 
Jersey. They c.ime from Frederick County, A'a., 
to this county in 1834, and settled in the township 
which is known as Barr Township, and there lived 
until their death. He passed away in 1848 and his 
good wife followed him eight years later. 

Our subject is the third in a large family of nine 
children, being born in \'irginia, July 8, 1817. He 
came to tiiis county with his father in 1834, and 
has lived in Barr Township and in (irceue County, 
111., from that time to this. His first marriage 
united him with Catherine Healer, by whom he had 
two children, who with their nioiher have passed 
to the other world. She died while they were liv- 
ing in Gieene County. His second marriage gave 
him as a wife Mary C. Martin, who bore him eleven 
children, namel}' : Joseph, Martin, .lames, Anna 
(deceased,) Mary, George, Rebecca, Rachel and 
John (deceased.) Charlie and Minnie (deceased). 
Mrs.Mar}- C. Steidley died in Barr Township, Jan- 
uary 20, 1885. 

Mr. Steidlc}' learned the carpenter's trade, which 
he has followed in connection with farming, al- 
though agriculture has been his principal pursuit 
in life. He owns two hundred and forty acres of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



239 



rich anrl arable soil which be has placed in excel- 
Icnl, coiulition and has rendered doubly productive, 
lie is hwked up to as one of the oldest settlers in 
liie township, and his knowledf^e of the early days 
makes him an attractive companion, as he can en- 
tertain the younger generation with many narra- 
tions of the pioneer days. 

• 

Tf/ACOB MOEHRMAN, who is engaged in 
the furniture and undertaking business on 
Main Street in Staunton, where he opened 
his doors for public custom A|>ril 24, 1874, 
w.is born in Wurtemburg, Germany, on the 23d of 
March, 1H39, and for many generations, as far 
back as history tells us, his ancestors were resi- 
dents of that land. His father, Jacob Moehnnan, 
Sr., was also a native of the same province, where 
he lived and died, passing away at the age of six- 
ty- five years. He was a shoemaker by trade and 
had followed that occupation throughout his busi- 
ness career. He niariicd a Wurtemburg lad^', Jliss 
Margaret Herb, who grew to womanhood in the 
same localitj' .as her husband. After his death she 
came to America and is now living with a daugh- 
ter, Mrs. Rosin Jocliira, in Columbus, Ohio, at 
the advanced age of eighty-three years. She is a 
member of the Lutheran Church, to which Mr. 
Moeiirman also belonged. In their family were 
seven cliildren, five of whom came to this country, 
while one is yet living in the Fatherland. 

.The subject of this sketch is the eldest. He re- 
mained at home until fifteen years of age and then 
started out in life for himself, since which time he 
has been dependent upon his own resources. He 
began to learn the trade of a cabinet-maker at 
which he served a full apprenticeship. Also during 
his residence in his native land he was a member 
of the regular army, serving as a soldier in 1860, 
1861 and 1862. Subsequently, in 1866, he served 
in the rebellion which was then in progress in his 
countrj-, being on active duty for fourteen weeks, 
during which time he participated in the battle of 
Tauberbischofscheira. 

Mr. Moebrman was united in marriage with 



Catherine Grossmann, who was born and reared 
near the childhood home of our subject. They 
began their domestic life in the Fatherland, where 
one child came to bless their union and then they 
started for America, taking passage at Antwerp 
upon a steamer which sailed May 21, 1869. They 
landed in New York and thence made their way to 
Alton, where the}' si)ent two and a half j-ears, 
Ml'. Moehrman working at his trade of a cabinet- 
maker. He also worked in the same line and for a 
similar length of time in Mattoon, whence he came 
to Staunton and here piirehased the furniture es- 
tablishment of .lohn M. Ahrens. Seventeen years 
have since i)assed during which time he has 
met with signal success. His stock is full and 
complete and in addition to the store located on 
Main Street he has a large wareroom well filled. 
He also carries on the undertaking business and by 
enterprise and ability has succeeded in building 
up a good trade. Altliough he had no capital 
when he came to this country he has succeeded in 
acquiring a handsome competence and is num- 
bered among the substantial citizens of the commu- 
nity. 

Mr. and Mrs. Moehrman are members of the 
Lutheran Church. They now have a family of 
three children, the eldest of whom, Charles F., was 
educated both in the English and German lan- 
guages and is now associated with his father in 
the furniture store, being a promising young man 
possessed of excellent business qualifications. Em- 
ma and Eliz.ibeth, the daughters, are still at home. 
Mr. Jloohrman and his son are Rtt|)ublicans in 
politics. 



^£ 



"^/ OHN L. SOLOMON, who resides on section 
17, North Palmyra Township, is a son of 
Judge Lewis Solomon, deceased, and a 
nephew of I). N. Solomon, of Palmyra. 
The father was one of the oldest settlers of 3Iacou- 
pin County and was intimately identified with the 
history of this part of the State. He w.as born 
April 1, 1812, in Muhlenberg County, Ky., and 
came of Welsh and English origin. His grand- 



210 



rOUrUAlT AND lUOGRAPlllCAL RRCORD. 



fiiUior, who bou- tltc imnie of Ia'wIs Sidomon, took 
part in tlio Rovoliitioiiary W;ir, l>iMng one of lliat 
darinji; baiul who, iiinlor Iho sjiilhuit Mnrioii, did 
such jjchkI siMvii'o in the i-nnipaijjtis in SoiUh Cnro- 
lina. .ludgo Solonio'i's iirandniolhi-r was :\ woman 
of feniaikabio biavory and dotorniination and on 
one oirasion drove the British ont of her house 
with a pi>ker. 

The grandfather of our snbjei-t removed from 
Kenlnekj to Illinois in 182;'). The mother and 
three yonnjicst cliildren ro<le in the eart willi the 
household i;oods and the remainder of the family 
trndijed on foot. The family fortunes had been 
sadly impaired by the breaking of the (."onimon- 
wealth Hank of Keiitueky and they had no money 
with whieh to purchase land. Their first settle- 
ment was in Morgan County, but in the spring of 
1S27 the family removed to Macoupin County an<l 
Ux-ated two miles north of Palmyra. The grand- 
parents died here in 1840 and 18511. 

Judge Solomon was in his fifteenth year when he 
ejime to tliis county. He had attended a subscrip- 
tion school in Kentucky for a few mouths only and 
here in the summer of 182ii he attended a school 
kept by his brolher-in.law, .lames Howard, He 
was a boy of bright faculties and learned rapidly, 
excelling in mathematics. In the year 18;)2. when 
twenty years old, Lewis Solomon volunteered in 
the lilack Hawk AVar. and during this two months' 
campaign experienced considerable hardship. He 
was in the engagement twenty miles from Dixon 
and at one time the men in his regiment were five 
d,\vs without bread. On starting ont he weighed 
one hundred ,<ind fifty ixmnds and lost twenty-five 
during service. Subsequent to this .active experi- 
ence he w.as made Major of the Sixty-second regi- 
ment of State Militia and was considered one of 
the best militia offlcers in Hiinois. 

The mother of our subject w.is N.incy Ann Fink. 
a native of Kentucky and a daughter of John Fink, 
one of the early settlei-s of Harr Township. Her 
marri.age to Lewis Solomon was solemnized June 
23, 1S5G. Uy hurd work and untiring enterprise 
the 3"oung man accumulated a few hundred dollars 
and at the lime of his father's death purchased the 
interest of the other heirs to the estate and moved 
onto the homestead farm, but twii years previiuis 



to his marriage he hail purch.ased tinee hundred 
and sixty acres of land in North Taimyra Town- 
ship, where he has since made his liome. He is 
the owner of the largest body of land in the pos- 
session of one man in this township. His first wife 
died .September 18. 18(i;i. She was the mother of 
twelve children, of whom nine grew to maturity. 
His second marriage was with Mrs. Mary .Vnn (,15a- 
ker) liutcher. 

During the War of tiie Rebellion the father of 
our subject was a pnuninent war Democrat, and as- 
sisted in sending to the South forty-three men from 
Palm^vr.i precinct, two of whom he placed in the 
field with his own means. He lias ever adhered to 
the party which was made illustrious by the names 
of Jettcrson and Jackson. He received numerous 
tokens of the confidence and esteem of the people 
and at different times served as Constable. .Assessor, 
.histii'e of liie Peace, member of the Legislature 
and County Judge. In 18t")l he was made a mem- 
ber of the Constitutional Convention, the nomina- 
tion to which was entirely unsought. In 1870 he 
was elecleil to the .'^tate Senate and while in the 
Legislature he was an active and etlicient member, 
devoting his attention to such legislation as would 
secure the best interests of the people. In the 
Senate he served on three or four important com 
mittecs and his views commanded the respect of 
even his political opponents. He w.as the author 
of a bill giving l.tndowners a right to redeem lands 
sold at tax sales at twenty-five per cent, addition 
the first six months, fifty per cent, the first twelve 
months, one hundred per cent, for two years ami 
after that no redemption; the previous law required 
an addition of one hundreil per cent, penalty any 
time after the sale. Scarcely a man in the cimnty 
held so many jiositions nor receivetl so many marks 
of public favor. Ipon his chamcter for honesty 
and integrity a suspicion was never brcathe<L His 
life was open to the view of the citizens of the 
county and not a stain can be found on his record 
as a public ottieer or .as a private citizen. 

(hir subject w.as one of the youngest members of 
his father's family, being born in North Palmyra 
Township, JLirch ("•, 1S52. Here he w.as reared to 
manhood and here he established his home. He 
was educated first in the eommon schools and later 



PORTRAIT AND lilOGEAPHICAL RECORD. 



241 



in llie college ;-.l Kuroka. lie was married in Norlh 
()lU;r Towiisliip August C, 1^(74, and took for his 
liriilc Kliodn, a daugliter of Andrew A. and Lizzie 
(lirown) Alkins. This worthy couple died in 
(ircenc County, Hi., which was the native county 
of their daughter Hhoda, her natal day being Sep- 
tember 28, 18.5.3. .John L. Solomon h.is always 
been engaged in agricultural pursuits and h.ns made 
a specialty of fine horses and bronze turkeys. 

A serious disaster befell the houseiiold of our sul)- 
ject in the fall of IHl'J, in the destruction b}- fire 
of their pleasant home. He has rebuilt his house 
in better style than before and now owns one hun- 
dred and seventy-- five acres, most of which is in 
Nortli Palmyra Township. Three cliildren have 
blessed this home — Bertha, .Jesse and Eizena. Jesse 
died when he was about a year old. Mr. Solomon 
has taken an active i)art in iJOlilioal affairs, being a 
Democrat both by training and conviction. He 
has held tlie oflice of .Justice of tlie Peace for 
four years and is an active member of tlie Farmer's 
Alliance, being ever wlde-t.wake to the interests, so- 
cial and ])ecuniary, of the farming community. 
The excellent lady who presides with so much 
grace and dignity over his honie is an earnest and 
consistent member of the Christian Church, in 
which she is active for good. 



u 



l^iti^l^.^ 



OSEPH H. I'.AKliKR, who owns one of the 
finest stock farms in the county, located on 
sections 3, 1, 1) and 10, Brighton Township, 
11/ was born in the Keystone Stale, his birth 
liaving occuried in Columbia County, .June 23, 
182.5. The family wus originally of Scotch ori- 
gin, but in early Colonial days was established in 
America. Tlujmas ISarher, father of our subject. 
was also born in Columbia County, and when he 
had atltiined to mature j'ears wedded Miss Mary 
iIen<lerson, a native of the same county, where 
they spent their entire lives, both passing away 
when past the age of three score years. They 
weie representative farming i)eoi)le of that com- 
munity, highly respected by all, and were members 
of the Presbyterian Church. 



In play and work, in the usual ^manner of 
farmer lads, our subject spent the days of his 
childhood .ind youth. He was early inured to 
hard labor and the lessons of industry and self- 
reliance which he then learned have remained 
with him throughout the succeeding years and 
proved important factors in his success. After 
attaining to mature years he left the parental roof 
and started out in life for himself. He deter- 
mined to make ths West the scene of his future 
labor, and on coming to Hlinois, located in Chi- 
cago, where he spent three years and then came to 
Macoupin County. In the meantime he was mar- 
ried in Mendota to Miss Elizabeth Sproule, who 
was born Columbia County', Pa., and on the father's 
side is of Irish descent, while her mother's people 
had long been residents of the Ivcystone State. Her 
|)arents both died in Penns3lvania, while she was a 
child, and she came to Illinois to join her brothers 
who had emigrated to tliis State some time before 
and settled in Lee County. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Barber, together with their children, attend the 
Methodist Church and in politics he is an old 
.J.ackson Democrat. The}' are well-knovvn citizens 
of the community, having been closelj- connected 
with the best interests of the township for many 
years, and by those who know them are held in 
high regard. 

Throughout his business career Mr. Barber has 
engaged in general farming an:l stock-raising. He 
now owns an excellent farm of three hundred and 
thir'y-flve acres, much of which is under a high 
state of cultivation and 3ields him a golden li'ib- 
ule for the care and labor he bestows upon it. He 
raises a good grade of cattle, sheep and hogs, not 
an inferior animal being seen upon the place, bu<, 
the greater part of his attention has been devoted 
to the breeding and training of thorough-bred 
horses. He is a lover of the noble steed and an 
excellent judge of fine horses. He owns some fine 
specimens of the Wilkes blood and has several 
young colts who possess all the best points of the 
thorough- bred. Upon his farm there is a good half- 
mile course used by Mr. Barber in training and 
developing the speed of young horses, and he has 
a reputation as a trainer which extends through- 
out the surrounding country. At the local fairs 



242 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



he has also taken many premiums uiioii bis other 
stock. 

By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Barber have been 
born five children and the family circle j'et re- 
mains unbroken. James C, tlie eldest, aids his 
father in the operation of the old homestead; John 
E married Miss Wildia Turk and is now engaged 
as a prominent dealer and breeder of liorses in 
Windsor, Mo. ; Robert Lincoln is also engaged in 
the operation of the home farm ; Liiral L. and 
Margaret, both accomplished young ladies, are yet 
at home. 



\f?ACOB M. HANSIIAW. Among the old 
settlers who deserve and receive the esteem 
and veneration of the entire neighborhood 
j there is none probably more beloved and 
respected than the gentleman whoso name appears 
at the head of this sketch. Ilis long residence in 
North Palmyra Townshij) and the character whieh 
he has maintained for integrity and true-hearted 
neighljorliness has made him the friend of every 
man. His father, Benjamin Hanshaw, was born in 
Pennsylvania, and his mother, Susannah Simpson, 
a native of Frederick County, Va., grew to wom- 
anhood in that State. There she was married to 
Benjamin Hanshaw and after some years of resi- 
dence in her native county, they removed to 
Darke County, Ohio, where she died Julj' 15, 
LS52. Her husband came to Macoupin County, 
this State, that same 3'ear and made his home 
with our subject until his death which occurred 
Feburary 5, 1878. 

The subject of this sketch was the sixth in a 
family of eleven children, and was born in Bote- 
tourt County, Va., August 20, 1823. There he 
passed the early years of his life up to the age of 
seventeen, when he came with his fatlior to Darke 
County, Ohio, where he continued to live until the 
fall of 1852. He then came to this county and 
made his home in North Palmyra Township, where 
he has since been a resident. 

Jacob Hanshaw was married in Wayne County. 
Ind., October 4, 1853, to Miss Melinda M. Kiltin- 
ger, a daughter of David and Pegg}' (Helms) Kit- 



tingcr. Mr. Kittinger was a native of Pennsylva- 
nia and his wife of Virginia. Their death occurred 
in AVayne County, Ind. Mrs. Hanshaw was the 
sixth in a family of eleven children. Her birth 
occurred in Botetourt County, Va., March 10, 
1828. 

Ten children have blessed the home of Mr. and 
Mrs. Hanshaw; their eldest, Rebecca G., died when 
eighteen months old, and the second, Mary E., 
also passed away in infancj'. Benjamin D. mar- 
ried Miss Lillie Tonget, and they reside in North 
Palmyra Township and have one child, Olive M. 
Parthena E. is the wife of Alonzo Gant, and they 
have four children living: Clarence, Elhel, .Jacob 
and Mary. Hattie A. is the wife of William Bar- 
ton and the mother of three children: Addle, Enla 
and Jennie. The next two children, Virginia and 
Martin L. died in infanc3^ and Sarah A., Amie M. 
and Flora E. complete the circle. Agricultural 
pursuits have engaged the time and energy of Mr. 
Hanshaw and lie has ni.ade good improvements on 
his farm of one hundred and forty acres. From 
girlhood Mrs. Hanshaw has been on active mem- 
ber of the Methodist Church, in which she is a 
power for good. 

- . : sg^J#i^^t : ., 

\f/ OHN A. FULLINGTON, who is one of the 
honored resi<lents of Carlinville Town- 
ship, was born in East Tennessee, Decem- 
ber 17, 1858. When he was twelve years 
old Itis father, the late Elijah Fullington, with his 
wife and children emigrated some three or four 
hundred miles farther west to the State of Arkan- 
sas. Here the}' established their home. In the 
hard toil of the farm, .Tohn A. Fullington spent 
the years of his childhood and youth. A'ery early 
in life he developed a taste for agriculture and felt 
a strong desire to become an able farmer. Upon 
his arrival in Macoupin County, III., in August, 
1877, he obtained a situation as a farm lab- 
orer with a view of becoming, at no distant daj', 
manager of a farm in his own behalf. He remained 
in this occupation for two years. He was a most 
cxemi)lary young man, punctual in ever}- dnt^'. 



s^. 



^^. 





PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAriUCAL KPX'ORD. 



245 



never allowing his services to be culled for with- 
out a re:)(ly ro.s[)onso. (ienial and sj'inpathctie in 
his nature, lie has drawn around liiui troops of 
friends. Mr. Kullinnton's father was a Democrat 
and he adheres to the same faith. 

On December 2j, 1.S7',), lie married Miss Melissa 
Anderson, of Carlinville, 111., a lady altogether 
worthy of him, cultured and refined. She is the 
daujjhter of M. M. and Melvina Anderson, a sketch 
of whose lives is presented on another page of this 
volume. She was born in Carlinville, January 19, 
lSi>~, and is the mother of six children: Carrie 1$., 
Malcolm K., Ora M., AV.altcr G. and Lorin K. 
Death carried away one child in infancy. At the 
time of his marriago our subject took upon him- 
self the responsibility and management of a farm, 
renting one hundred and sixty acres in Carlinville 
Township on Section 18, where he has since been 
a resident. Much of Ids time is given to stock- 
raising, which he makes a special feature in his list 
of profitable produc^tions. He is laborious in the 
care and attention which he bestows upon the acres 
entrusted to him, the performance of his arduous 
tiuties bringing him a very satisfactory return. In 
the prosecution of his work he expends his energy 
judiciously allowing himself ample time to culti- 
vate m'nd and lieart as well as those domestic ties 
of the dearest nature. Mr. and Mrs. KuUingtou 
are members of the Baptist Church of Carlinville. 




OBKR'I' WIUTKLEY. There is no estimat- 
ing the force of a quiet life of patient con- 
tinuance in well doing, of unswerving 
^fidelity to the duties of the hour. As with 
beautiful llowcrs hidden behind stone walls, the 
very .'ur scatters far and near the fragrance of an 
upright life. If the character is good it refreshes 
as the dew and makes the memory blessed for years 
after mother earth claims all that is mortal, 
Kvery beautiful virtue shines out in the life 
and decks with royal purple the robe of humility. 
The inllueni-e of a pure cliaracter is as potent in 
the ollice, the shop or factory as it is in the (juiet 
of home or amid the worship of the sanctuary'. 



The friends of Mr. Whiteley recognize the nobility 
of his nature and hold him in high esteem. 

One of our English-born fathers who had brought 
to this country the sterling (jualities of the Kn- 
glish yeomanry, Mr. Whiteley h.as made a success 
of agriculture in the I'rairic State. He resides on 
section '.), Bird Township, and rei)resents that 
township on the County Board of Supervisors. He 
was born near York, Yorkshire, England, in Au- 
gust, 1819, and in his native place gnnv to iimn's 
estate. In 1841 he came to America, making the 
voyagi! in a sailing vessel and Landing in New Or- 
leans on March 17, of that year. He proceeded 
directly to South Talmyra Township, this comity, 
and here establisheii his home. But that dire 
affliction of the Mississi|)|)i ^■alley, fever ami ague, 
soon attacked him and to beiielit his health he spent 
in New Orleans the first seven years of his resi- 
dence in America. In New Orleans he followed 
d raying. 

Mr. Whiteley returned to Macoupin County 
each spring with but one exception, when, in the 
year 1819, he passed the suminer season at the old 
home in England. In 18,')1 he purchased a portion 
of tiie farm where he now lives, and in the follow- 
ing spring made it his permanent home. He was 
reared on a farm in England, and agriculture h.as 
been his chief occupation through lil'e. He now 
owns over seven hundred acres, which he has 
gained by adding little by little to the two hun- 
dred and ten which he purchased in 1851. He has 
erected upon his farm a (H)uiplele set of farm build- 
ings, which are worthy the adiniraticui of a passer- 

Having by arduous exertions gained a compe- 
tency IV)r his declining years Mr. AVIiiteley now 
rents his farm and lives a retired life. lie was 
married in Western Mound Township, to Miss 
Adeline Moiris, a native of that township, who 
died in December, 1809. She was the mother of 
ten children, tliree of whom are now living, namely: 
Mary A.; Sarah ()., Mrs. James McAliney; and 
Robert. The children whom they lost died when 
quite young. 

Ml'. W hileley has been Highway Commissioner 
for nine years, has served as School Director for 
sometime, and was elected Supervisor of Bird 



246 



ivrtkjVit and biographical record. 



rowiiship ill lUo s|>nns; of KS'.U). Ilo has ovor 
takon !>n aotivo inton>st in {Hilitii-al atYaii-s, aiul is a 
bi-oail-inimiod and inU-llisiont man. His oarlior allil- 
iations xvoi-o with tlio AYIiig \>aity, but later ho l>o- 
oanio a RopuMioan. His osriv rolisrious li-aininj: 
at homo was in the Chuivh of Knjjlanii. ami ho is 
hoiv idontitktJ with tho Kpiscopal Cluiroh. This 
puhlio-spiritod and i-oprosontativo citi/.on is a man 
of sronial dispvv-ition, ami his nois^hlHM-s rojoioo in 
his prosiH>rity. 

Tho atlontiiMi of our roadors is iiiviioil to tlio 
lithos;i-aphio jH>rtrait of Mr. WhitoUn wl>ioh ap 
poai-s in ot^nncotion with this hriof jx^rsonal notice. 



=1^ 







'^'^ F.N.IAMIN F. lU>\VK.RSO\. Tno jvontlo- 
man whivso n;>mo heads this sketch is o|h>i- 
atins: the farm, which Ik^KmisIS to his mother, 
KH'atod on svvtion 0. Nilwood Township. 
His father was .lacv'ib Rowersox a native of I'liion 
Com.ty, Ra.. and Ids mother was Mary ^Souddor) 
Rowersox, They came to Macoupin County, about 
1 8l>."i ami settlo^l in NilwHHHl Township, In \S7t> 
tho father Kade a lonir farewell to his sorrowing 
family and |V)sso<l to tho bettor land. The luothor 
still survives tenderly au<l lovingly caivd for by 
her affix'tionato childivn. 

The original of this sketch is one of nine chihlren, 
ho Wing tho seventh, llis birlhplsico was .Miami 
County. Ohio, ftvm which plai-o his paivnt;? omi- 
gnited to Macoupin County, llis natal day was 
July SS. 1845, lie was n-areil under his mother's 
cart? until he arrived at manhood, ivtnaining 
under his father's «\K>f until the family came 
to this wnutty iu 1S63. Ho was marricil in 
Montgomery County, 111,. September I. lSt)S to 
Miss Sarah Studobakor. a daughter of John anil 
Mary tNoffo) Sludebaker who originally came fixnn 
Kikhart County. Ind.. and settK>»l in this iMunty in 
18lU>; heiv tliey ivmainod about ixvoyoai-sand then 
removed to Mont4^>mery County, 111., where the 
father died Novenil>cr 3. 1887. Mrs. Rowersox 
was l>orn in Elkhart County. April 16. 1848. Tho 
family remained iu Mactiupin County, until the 
spring of 1871 when they ivmoveil to Morrison. 



Montgomery County. Here our subject ciig;»g\Hl 
in carpenter work until tho fall of 187.'> when ho 
ivturncd to Mai\>upin County. 

Mr, Roworsox's iKcupation has been for the 
greater pari of life that of farming, in which he 
carries on a general agricultural business, lie re- 
sales on a part of the old hoinestoad, Mr, and 
Mrs. Rowersox aix» the p;»rents of throe children. 
They aiv: .lat.\ib II,, Mary M. and Darwin D, thir 
subjtvt has been the Collector for his township for 
several years: both he and Mi-s. Rowersox aiv 
momlHM's of tho l>ermai\ Raptist Church. 

lie of whom wo writ*? is a man of sterling integ- 
rity !>nd strong principles, unpretentious and simple 
in his inannoi-s and st\ le of living, and is a true 
friend and ctithusiastic suppi>rter of any means that 
pivmise to Ih^ to the advantage of his fellow-towns 
men, llis wife has bivn his helpmate for many 
years and like Cornelia she could s.'jy to her neigh- 
bors to whom life is but a festive oc(.arion for dis- 
play, in tvforonco to her childivn. "those are my 
jewels." Her care for her homo and family mark 
her a nuxiel housewife. 



5 NDI.M(.)N F.\XS1.ER is a pros|HM-ons farmer 
of lijtrr Township, wlnvso farn; is on section 
I. llis father. David Fansler, was born in 
Stokes County. N. C ami his mother, Rol'.y Ship- 
ley, was a native of .*^ullivan County, Tcnn.. where 
the father hnally tlied and where our subject was 
Inirn. t>ctobor 12. 1827. tho oMost in a family of 
eight children. Hoiv he was ivarvnl to manh^xxi 
and remained until the fall of 1847, when he cn- 
pstcil in Companv .^, Fifth 'Tonnofsoe Regiment, 
and serve*! in tho Mexican War for about tive 
months, Pe.ace lieing deolarcil, he roturneil to 
Tennessee and ivsumod tho o<.vujv»;ions of (vaco. 

'The marriage of our subjoi-t to Miss .Vraanda 
King, who was born in Sullivan County. Tenn.,oc- 
currtnl soi'>u after his return from the war. They 
settled in their n.ative county and there remained 
until the spring of ISoS, when tliey came to Ma- 
coupin County and settled in Rarr Township. 



POFriRAir AND mOORAPFIICAL RECORD. 



247 



wliicli liriH MJiicc liccii 11 f:uiiily lioiuc. |j;(lit cliil- 
ilicii ^^riiW'il llii;ir Ikhhi', iiiiiiicly: Willijiiii, who !)(;- 
ciiiiK! !i lonelier in ll'c piiljlic hcIiooIs ami <li(;(l in 
I'lilrnyrn; TlioinaH, who in ii icsidcMil. of (Miiwif^fi; 
Henry, who is rjirrniii}^ in IJarr 'rownHhi|); Mary- 
who Ih mow Mrrt. .lames .Searey ; her lirsl iuiHhanil 
wttH AlliMi l)iiniaii aii<l after l)i» (loalh she iriarrieil 
Mr. Searcy; Klla, the wife of R. M. MeColloni; 
•laiiK'S, who is iivirifj in this lownsliip; .loMe|)h,who 
ih fi fanner; .'tml llalh'y. 'I'hc niollier of these 
ehildren passed away from larlli in I'.arr Townsiiip 
nearly twetily years ago. 

The sceotiil marri.'i;;!: of Mr. I'ansle! iniilid him 
with Mrs. Mary K. (Dalliy) I'.ell, the widow of 
Stephen iW'll and daiigliler of Israel and lCli/,a(()i(- 
den) Dalhy. 'I'hey liav(! tlirei! ehildren: .li^nnie, 
{{(•lie and Carioll. 'I'lie second cidlil ilicd in child 
hood. 

Mr. P'ansler has alwiiys heen engaged in .affricnl- 
tur:d pnrsiiilH and li:is made ^ood improvements 
upon his lini^ farm of two hmidred and forl,y-(lv(^ 
.acres. His political views led him to alliliate with 
tli(( Denioeralie party and he has heen Ilighw.ay 
(Commissioner of the township. Holh lie and his 
excellent wife are earnest and aclivi? menihers of 
the Methodist Kpiseopal Clnirch, in which they Ihid 
a hroad Held of inlliUMK^e ami cIToit. Mr. Kansler 
tills th(! ollices of Steward and 'rnistee and is hif^hly 
trusted in these ollici.al cnpaeities. 

(^/SlII'd'M, <;. I)A\ ID. Amoiiji the promi- 
(Q/Llll nent an<l wcll-Unown cili/.eiis of Carlin- 
^\ villc, we are pleased to mention the n.;nu^ 
which appears at tJie head of this sketch, 
the name of the iicntleniMii who h.'is heen foi' yeais 
ident ilicd with the pciiKicrid n{ that city, and who, 
since IHHl, has heen sole proprietor of that enter- 
prising sheet which ln' had helpcil to lirinii; to its 
present prosperous condition, lli' was horn near 
Unionlown, l''ayctle Connly, I'.a., March '2f>, I.s;i2. 
His father, .lessc David, horn in the same connty, 
was a son of David (!. W. D.avid, who, as his nanu' 
indicates, was horn in Wales, hut came to America 
when a lad in conil)any with a hrot-liei'. He re- 




eeiveij a good edneation and for many years wa.s a 
l(!aelier. He heeame a pionefr in Fayette County, 
Inlying liimher land near Ft. Necessity. He was 
one of the pioneer teaeliers of that region and for 
a niiniher of years taught fluring the winters, and 
devoted the rest of the year to his land. He thus 
spent the remainder of his life. 

The father of our subject was reared on hi.s fa- 
ther's farm m his native county, and resided there 
until 18.'i;>, when heeame to Illinois and settled in 
.Jersey Connty. He came hy team to IJrownsville, 
and then liy way of the Monongaliela, Ohio and 
Mississippi Rivers to Alton. There he took team 
agJiin and traveled to .Jersey (,'ounty, where he en- 
tered a tract of tiinher land in what is now Pinsa 
'I'ownship. There he liuilt a shanty witliout anj- 
door, in which his family lived for five months 
while he was building a comfortable frame house. 
He (bleared quite a tract of the land, and made his 
home there until 18.00 when he sold out and re- 
moved to Macoupin County, buying land two miles 
cast of Bunker Hill, where he died in April, 1852. 

The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Barbara I'cmtzer. This lady was of German 
ancestry but a native of I'ennsylvania, being born 
in l.illle Cove, in Bedford County, which is located 
near (Jettysburg. Her father, Oeorge I'entzer, was 
a native of Prussia, and his father, \'alentine, came 
from Prussia to America with his family soon after 
the Revolutionary era. He and his faithful wife 
did not live long after their emigration to this 
country, and left two sons and three danglitcrs to 
mourn their loss. Oeorge I'entzer was about ten 
years (jld when his parents brought him to America 
and soon after his father's death he was hired out 
by the county authorities, to a distiller, who taught 
him his business. He married in Pennsylvania, a 
lady of Irish birth, and when the Washingtonian 
movenient opened his eyes to the iniquity of the 
maiHifaclure of liquor, lie gave up the business of 
distilling, and in 1824 removed to Fayette County 
an<l engaged in farming. Nine years later he re- 
moved to- Jersey County, III., and hii^'inga tract of 
land in I'iasa Township, made it his home for some 
years, after which he resided with his children and 
dieil at the home of his daughter Barbara, Mrs. 
David, passing away in 18,")2, and this daughter 



218 



I'OUTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



ilyiiii; ill Aunusl. 1M71> ;il I.iiu'ulii, 111. Slu'ii'iiri'd 
six cliililreii: our siihjoc-t, .Iru'db 1'., (icoi-go ()., 
.laiu", Lewis D. and Saimii'l \V. 

The gentleman of whom we wiile is tiic eldest of 
his father's family and after receiving a fair oduea- 
tion, taught seliool for some time and then clerked 
in a store in (Jillespie, until \S^u. lie then entered 
the grain and grocery business for himself in 
(iilh'spie and afterward in Hunker Hill. During 
the days of the war, he spent several months at 
Camp Uuller, LSpringfleld. as Post Sutler for the 
Ninety-scveiilh Keginient, Illinois Infantry, and 
later he went down the Mississippi River as sutler 
on a boat. In July, 18()3, he located at Brighton, 
and forme(i a partnership with L. V. and K. 15. 
Stratton, in the grain business. In l8Gf>, he aban- 
doned this on account of his wife's failing healtli, 
and returned to Bunker Hill, and there remained 
until after the dcaih of his wife which occurred 
.Inly ;5, ISOO. After this he was engaged variously 
in the milling, idininission and mercantile business 
in Bunker Hill, St. Louis, Leavenworth, Kan., Lin- 
coln, 111., and Hamilton, Mo. After working for 
•some lime on the Caldwell County Sentinel, he 
came in November, 1870,10 Carlinville and en- 
gaged with the Democrat in the capacity oi travel- 
ing agent and correspondent. ^Vhile traveling 
through this county as corresi)ondenl, Mr. David 
made his reputation as a pleasant, ready, descrip- 
tive writer. His articles were widely read and 
copied by other local jt)urnals. In August 1871, 
he entered the ollice as locU editor and book- 
kee|)er. He has a pleasant, even style of writing 
and the local columns t)f the ])entocr<tt, were given 
a new vigor and raciness by his w'ork. In August, 
lS7y, he bought one half of the stock of the paper, 
and in 1881, he bought out his partner's interest 
;md since that time has been sole proprietor. 

In politits, Mr. David is a Bepublicau and he 
cast his lirst Presidential vote for ,lolui C. Fremont. 
As a man he is regarded as an upright and exem- 
|)larv citizen and as such, he enjoys the esteem and 
respect of the community. His marriage, in October, 
1855, united him with Miss Elizabeth Carter, a na- 
tive of Lexington, Ky. They had one child, a son, 
who has grown to manhood, and has been ciui- 
nectod with one of the St. Louis daily papers. Mrs. 



Klizabc!h David died .luly .'!, IStiti. On April IC, 
1871, our subject was again married, being united 
with Mrs. Kliza A. Stagg, of M.ason City, III., and 
a native of New York. Ilis two sons are named 
Kredcrick K. and Herbert A. 

Mr. David has been a Director of the C'arlin- 
ville Loan and Building Association since its or- 
ganization and is an .ictive member of the Presbj'- 
terian Church in which he has been an Klder for 
about lifieen years. He is also prominently con- 
nected with some of the social orders and belongs 
to ISIount Nebo Lodge No. 7G, A. F. it A. M., and 
to Silver Lodge No. 2t;), K. of 11. 



E^^ 




ANIKL BLODGKT, deceased. Only by 
II written record can we perpetuate the lives 



of those who have passed away and surely 
no one moie deserves mention in this 
volume than Daniel Blodgct, who for a half century 
was connected with the liislory of the county and 
did more to upbuild Brighton than any other man. 
He was born in New Hampshire on the lath of 
.launary.LSlO, :ind came of goml old Kevolnlionary 
stock, bis grandfather having served as a soldier 
in the war for iiulei>endence. His i)eople be- 
longed to a highly respected New Kngland family. 
His |)arents, D:irius and Ellen (Flanders) Blodgct, 
were also natives of New Enghuul, and died in the 
Granite State ni)t many miles from the ^\■hite 
Mountains. Our subject lost his mother when he 
quite young, after which his father was again mar- 
ried. He remained at home until he had attained 
his majority and when a young man of twenty-five 
years he emigrated Westward, locating in this 
communit}^ in 1885. From that lime he was 
prominently identilied with the history of the com- 
munity and the growth and upbuilding of Brigh- 
ton. He embarked in business as a general mer- 
chant, soon built n|) a flourishing trade and be- 
came one of the leading business men of the pl.ace. 
In the early ilays when others would hold their 
property high he would sell lots very cheap so as 
to induce settlers to here locate. Often times if a 
poor man wished to engage in some business, if he 



PORTRAIT AND BIOdRAI'lllCAL RKCORD. 



249 



had money enough to hiiilrt a shop or store, Mr. 
15lo(l;i;el would <;ivc liiin the land on wliich to 
build. He carried on liis own business with most 
excellent success, becoming quite prosperous until 
at length he was forced to retire on account of the 
loss of liLs hearing some years before he dieil. 

Our subject was tho first Postmaster of Brigh- 
ton, the office being cslaljli.slied in 1835. lie came 
to IJrighUjn a singU' man and here married Kllen 
.Jones, a native of England, "Aiho came to thi.s 
country with her parcMits when a child, the family 
settling in IJrigliton Township, Macoupin County, 
where she grew to womanhood. She w.as a faithful 
member of the RIelhotlist Church and at her death 
which occurred a few years after her marriage, her 
loss was niourneil by many friends. Mi'. Hlodget 
was again nianied in Itrighlon, to a daughter of 
Rev. Simon and i^lizalicth 11. (Hughes) I'etcr, na- 
tives of Tennessee, whoae people came from Mary- 
land. After their marriage Mr. I'oter and his 
wife settletl in Tennessee where he became a protii- 
inent Methodist minisler. He was bitterly o|)- 
posed to slavery and when the church was divided 
upon that question he took a decided stand with 
the Northern <'hurch. With his family he came to 
Illinois in 1829, locating in Madison County, two 
miles from Monticello, whiuc as a pioneer [jreacher 
he labored for many years, his first district ex- 
tending from Springfield to Kdwardsvillc. He rode 
from place to place on horseback and his labors in 
the cause of Christianity were jiroduetive of much 
good. He and Ids wife finall}- retired from active 
life, taking up their residence in Brighton, where 
Mr. Peter died April 12, 1877, at the age of 
eighty-five years. The death of his wife occurred 
March 4, 1875, when seventy-one years of age. 
They were widely known for their good works and 
after long and useful lives passed to their reward. 
In their family were twelve children, nine of whom 
arc still living. Mrs. Blodget was yet a young 
maiden when her parents came to Hlinois; by her 
marriage she has two children — Daniel Newton, 
who wedded Jennie Flanigan who is living in 
Brighton ; and Samuel Peter, who makes his home 
with his brother, the two being engaged in farm- 
ing and dairying. 

Mr. Blodget lived an upright life, his public and 



private career being alike above reproach. He won 
many friends but made no enemies. In early life 
he was a Whig in i)olilical sentiment but joined 
I lie l!('[iublicaii jiarty on its organization and be- 
came one of the strongest advocates of the Union 
cause (biring the rebellion. He predicted atitsout- 
brc.'ili that the war would not close until slavery 
liad been overlhrown. Tiie cause of tenqx'ianee 
ever found in him a warm friend and he labored 
uiitiiingi}' in its inlcrcst, doing much to suppress 
tlie liquor traffic. H<! gave liberally of his means 
to the Band of Hope; in Brighton and several years 
before his death voted the Prohibition ticket. He 
lived as a Christian and when life's work on eartli 
was ended lie passed to liis reward Novemljcr 27, 
1889. Like her husband, Mrs. Blodget delights in 
doing good and the poor and needy have found in 
licr a warm friend. At the age of twelve years she 
united willi the Metliodlst Cliurch and has since 
been one of its active^ and consistent members. 
He/ home is still in Brighton where she has con- 
tinued to reside since her husband's death. 



?f~)i-^n^ 



ii?. 



<^ I»1LL1A.M (i. COLINIAN, oi;e of the self- 

\/jJ// "'''•'''' 1'*^" •''"'' leading farmers of Bunker 
^^/¥j Hill Township, residing on section 25, is of 
German birth and the Fatherland has furnished to 
America no Ijctter citizen. He was born in the 
kingdom of Hanover, on the 15th of May, 1824, 
and his [larents, Oeorge and Frances Colman, spent 
their entire lives there. Both are now deceas<'(l, 
the father having i)assed away at the age of sev- 
enty-two years, while his wife attained to the ad- 
vanced age of eighty-three. They were members 
of the Lutheran Church and lived tlie life of farm- 
ing peojile throughout their days. They had a 
large family but only three of the numl)er ever 
crossed the ocean to America. Our subject was the 

! first to seek a home in the United States and after 
his emigration two sisters ciossed the water — Mrs. 
Aggie Cooper, a widow, now living in Madison 
County, and Mrs. Annie Immenga. whose home is 
in tliis county. 

1 We now take up the personal history of William 



250 



POiiTltAIT AND BJOGRAPIllCAL RKCORD. 



Colnian, in wlioin tlie people of Macoupin County 
are especiallj' intoR'Sled. The advaiiiagos of his 
j'outh were limited and during liis lioyiiood he 
learned the trade of a carpenter whii'h he ftdlowed 
during bis residence in his native land. On attain- 
ing to years of maturity he was united in mairinge 
with Miss Hannah Schlacter, who was also born and 
reared in the kingdt)ni of Hanover, and is a daugh- 
ter of John and Emma Schlacter who came to this 
county and made Illinois their home. The father 
died in Madison County and the death of tlie 
motlier occurred in Macoupin County. In religious 
belief both were l.utiierans and by those who knew 
them they were held in high regard. 

Mr. and Mrs. C'olman began their domestic life 
in their native land, where two children were born 
unto thcni, after which they determined to try 
their fortunes in the New World and in September, 
1859, having bade good by to home and friends 
they boar<led the sailing vessel "Albert"' at I5re- 
nien. which after a long and tedious voyage reached 
the port of New Orleans. Landing, they secured 
passage on a boat which bore them up tiie Missis- 
sippi River to St. Louis, wiience they went to Al- 
ton. Mr. Colinan was then a pool' man, having no 
capital with which to begin life in the New World 
and as he could not imrchaje a farm rented land. 
He had determined, however, to better liis linaii- 
cial condition and with charncteiistic energy hi' 
began his work, exercising industry and economy 
until thereby he secured a sullicient sum to buy a 
small piece of land. His first purchase consisted 
of si.vly acres, where he now lives, and to this he 
added from time to time until at present one hun- 
dred and thirty acres yielil to him a golden tiih- 
ule in return for his care and cultivation. It was 
at first covered with limber but he cleared and 
plowed the hincL i)lanted cro|)s and in course of 
lime was reaping abundant harvests as a reward for 
his labor. Every improvement upi)n the place was 
put there by Mr. Colman and the well-lilled fields, 
together with the neat appearance of the farm indi- 
cates gooil management and industry on the part 
of the owner. 

The death of Mrs. Colman occurred at lior home 
in Bunker Hill Township, September 19, 1890, at 
the age of Ufty-nine 3-ears and four mouths. She 



was a faithful and loving wife and mother, a kind 
neighbor and a life-long member of the Lutheran _ 
Church. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Colman num- fl. 
bered seven children, one of whom is now deceased, 
Anna, who died on her twenty-fifth birthday; 
Frances is now the wife of Christopher Tunker, 
who owns and operates a brick yard in Huidver Hill 
Township; Emma, married John Smith and is liv- 
ing in Kans.as City; Mi.ggie is the wife of Frank 
Davis, a machinist of Nevada. Mo.; Hannah is the 
wife of William Diet/,, a resident farmer of Hun- 
ker Hill Township; Mary who remains at home and 
attends to the household work for her father; and 
George, who assists in operating the farm. 

In political sentiment Mr. Colman is a Demo- 
crat and keeps himself well informed concerning 
the issues of the day but has never sought or de- 
sired public oflice, having served onlj- as llighwa}' 
Commissioner of his townshii). In religious belief 
he is a Lutheran. For about thirty years he has 
resided in this community and his life during all 
that period has been only such as to win the confi- 
dence and good will of all. 

_^ AKON F. CARTER, now deceased, was one 
' @A-I| i of tlie prominent and liouoreil eilizcns of 
I Is Hunker Hill and the surrounding country. 
1,^' He came to this county in 1840 and for 

thirty years or until his deatli was prominently 
conneclc'l with its upbuilding. He was born in 
Morris County. N. .1., and was des(;ended from New 
England ancestry. In the usual manner of farmer 
lads he was reared to manhood and when he had at- 
tained to mature years, in the county of his nativ- 
ity he was joined in wedlock with Miss .Sarah H. 
Saialley, who was born in Somerset County, N. J., 
December 27, ISIO, and is a daughter of Daviii 1). 
and Mary (Blackford) Smalley. who were also na- 
tives of Somerset County and came of P]nglish and 
French origin. After their marriage they lived 
upon a large farm in Somerset County until their 
deaths. Mr. Smalley died at the age of forty years 
and Ills wife died in the thirty-fourth year of her 
age. They were members of the Seventh Day Bap- 



POBTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



•251 



tistC'liiircb and took a prominent part in all tlie af- 
fairs of the community. TLe paternal grandfatiier 
of Mis. Carter, whose name was David Smalley, 
was a leading and influential citizen of New Jersey 
ami served as Secretary to Gen. Washington dur- 
ing the Revolutionary War. At the same time all 
of his brothers were engaged in the struggle for in- 
dependence and aided in achieving American lib- 
ert}'. lie married Hannah Ralph, a native of New 
Jersey, of Dutch ancestry and they spent their en- 
tire lives ui)on a farm in Somerset County, among 
a people by whom they are highly honored and es- 
teemed. Mr. Smalley served his district as Cir- 
cuit Judge for some years and was a prominent 
politician in his day. Both be and his wife were 
memljers of the Seventh Day Baptist Church. 

Mrs. Carter was left an orphan at an early age 
ami in her maidenhood she learned the tailor's 
trpde, which she followeil in New Jersey and to 
some extent since she came to Illinois. In the 
spring of 1840 Mr. and Mrs. Carter located in Jer- 
sey ville and in a few months later took up their 
residence in Macoupin County, where he entered 
land from the Government. After making some 
improvements thereon he sold and entered laud in 
llilyard Township. This he did until he had 
cleared, cultivated and improved seven different 
farms and Anally he located upon a valuable tract 
of land just east of the citj- of Bunker Hill, where 
he made his home until his death. He also pur- 
chased an entire block which is now situated near the 
center of Bunker Hill and has become a valuable 
piece of propertj'. In October, 1870, at the age of 
sixty-two years he passed away. In his death the 
community lost one of its best citizens, his neigh- 
bors a kind friend and his wife a true and loving 
husband. For years he had been a prominent mem- 
ber of the Methodist Church and had served as 
Sunday-school Superintendent and exhorter and 
Class-Leader. In politics he was a Democrat but 
never sought or desired public office. He led a 
busy and useful life, was a man of charitable and 
benevolent impulses and ranked high in the esteem 
of his fellow-townsmen for his sterling worth. 

Since her husband's death Mrs. Carter has lived 
in Bunker Hill, her home being situated on the 
block before Bjentioped, She still retains posses- 



sion of the home farm and besides has other valua- 
ble property which yields her a good income. Her 
eighty ^ears rest lightly upon her and her hair is 
but slightly tinged with grey, while she still retains 
much of the vitality p.nd energy which character- 
ized her in earlier years. She is a faithful member 
of the Methodist Church and has taken a promi- 
nent part in its work. The poor and needy find in 
her a warm friend and her generous and kind acts 
have endeared her to the hearts of many. She has 
never had any children of her own but has giv2n 
homes to three: Mrs. Delia (Wilson) Mcintosh, 
now of Omaha, Neb.; Leroy Wilson, who is living 
in New York; and Hattie L. Wilson. Three per- 
sons now comprise the Carter household : Mrs. Car- 
ter, her niece. Miss May .Smalley, and her sister's 
granddaughter, Miss Hattie Wilson. Both are ac- 
complished young ladies and the latter is now a 
teacher of recognized abilit}' in the schools of this 
communit3\ 



AMES W. DUNCAN was for several ^-ears 
a resident of this count3-, and during the 
latter part of his life was Ofie of the leading 
farmers of South Palmyra Township, owning 
one of the best farms in that locality, and his death 
was a severe blow to its most important industry. 
He was born in Washington County, Tenn., July 
4, 1832, and was a son of James Duncan, who is 
also supposed to have been a native of Tennessee. 
He in turn was a son of Joseph Duncan, who was 
a pioneer farmer of that State and spent his last 
j'ears in Washington County, where he cleared a 
farm from the wilderness. He was a soldier of the 
Revolution, and was a pensioner during the latter 
part of his life. 

The father of our subject grew to maturity in 
his native county-, and began his career as a far- 
mer on the old homestead that was his birthplace, 
a part of which he inherited, and he bought the re- 
mainder of the other heirs to the estate. He re- 
sided thereon many years, actively engaged in 
agriculture, but in 18.56 he came to Illinois to 
spend his liist days with liis children, and his life 



252 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



was brought to a close in the home of our subject 
near Girard. His wife, who bore the maiden name 
of Sarali Hunt, died at the home of their daugiiter 
near Sulphur Springs, Macoupin County. 

He of whom these lines are a brief biographical 
record passed his early life amid the scenes of his 
birth, and remained with his parents until he was 
twentj'-one. He was of a thoughtful, studious 
turn of mind, and ambitious to gain an education, 
he made the best of his advantages at Fall Branch 
College. AVhen he attained his majority ho came 
to Illinois, and utilized his knowledge of books by 
teaching in South Palmyra Township two years. 
He then bought some wild prairie land near Girard, 
at the rale of #10 an acre, and buying a house 
moved it to his land for a dwelling. He broke 
and fenced his land, and lived on it eight years 
after his marriage. At the expiration of that time 
he sold and removed to Girard, where he engaged 
in the grain business the ensuing two years. Af- 
ter that he bought the farm on section 8, South 
Palmyra Township now occujjicd by his family. 
It comprises three hundred and eight .acres of land 
of surpassing fertility, and with its fine improve- 
ments ranks among the best in the township. 

Marcli 25, 1861, was the date of the marriage 
of Mr. Duncan with Abigail ProfHtt, a native of 
Tennessee, and to her active and .able co-opera- 
lion he owed much of his prosperity. Three 
of tiie children born of their marriage are living: 
John W., who married Miss Fannie Thacker; Jos- 
eph B. and James T. Their first-born child, Allen 
C, married Mary Fansler, and after marriage set- 
tled in Franklin County, Kan., where lie died in 
1882. 

Mrs. Duncan's father, Daniel B. Proffitt, was a 
native of the same Tennessee county in which his 
daughter was born. He was a son of John ProfHtt, 
who is also thought to have lieen born in that 
county. He carried on his business as a farmer 
there, improved a farm, and continued to live in 
that county until his demise. The maiden name 
of his wife was Mollie Barnes, and she w.as a life- 
long resident of Tennessee. 

Daniel B. Proffitt was reared and married in the 
county of bis nativity. He inherited a part of his 
father's old homestead, and bought the interest of 



the other heirs in it. He made it his home until 
1854, and then came to Illinois, journeying on a 
flat boat, down tiie Tennessee River to Paducah. Ky., 
and thence by steamer on the Ohio and Mississippi 
rivers to Alton, and from there by rail to this 
county. He boiiglit a home in South Palmyra 
Township, in which he dwelt until he closed his 
eyes in the dreamless slee]) of death. His widow 
spent lier last 3'ears with her daughter, Mrs. Dun- 
can. Her maiden name was Sarah Range, and she 
was born in Washington Count}', Tenn., a daughter 
of John and Abigail Range. 

Our subject passed away November 24, 1889. He 
left a record worthy of emulation of one who by 
right living had won the full trust and regard of 
all with whom came in contact. He conscientiously 
and unfalteringly strove to do his duty at all 
times and in all places, and the Baptist Church, 
which he joined in his youth, found in him one of 
its most ardent and active members and one of its 
most useful Deacons, an office which he held for 
man}' years, and his place in the church and in his 
community can never he filled. His wife also be- 
longed to that church. 



ft^T'ERDINAND BERNARD, dealer in lumber 
lU— (S* and fanning iinpl 



iplemonts, of Brighton, es- 
tablished business in that place in May, 
1884, as the successor of G. H. Aylwortli. He car- 
ries all kinds of plain and dressed lumber and other 
building materials and also has a complete line of 
agricultural im[ilemeiUs. He was born in Nassau, 
Germany, where his father, William Bernard, was 
also born and reared and spent his entire life as a 
teacher. He died in his native land when little 
past the prime of life. His wife, whose maiden 
name was Elizabeth Schmidt, was born and reared 
in Nassau, Germany, and in the city of her nativity 
at length passed aw.iy, after having survived her 
husband over twenty years. In their family were 
six children, four sons and two daughters. 

The subject of this sketch is the only one who 
ever crossed the water. He received liberal edu- 
cational advantages and under tlie direction of his 




y^^- d^^co^^^ 



PORTKAl'I AND lUOORAf'HlCAL KBCORD. 



255 



fnl\n;r and oilier noted mii«ic:il professors, he ac- 
ijiiired an excellent Icnowledfje of that art. He de- 
termined Uj make America the scene of his career 
at^d em harked upon the st<;amer ••Herman," which 
sailed from liremeri 1o the harbor of New Y'ork. 
,Mr. IJernard (lid not liritfcr lon^ in the Kast luit 
came !il oticc Uj the Wcet. Here, however, he 
sUipped ai, many of the principal cities and finally 
made a location in St. Louib, where he was enga^^ed 
;is a teacher of instrumental music. His next place 
of residence was in Springfield. III., where for seven 
years he was engaged as a German professor and 
a\e() in leaching music. 

A marriage ceremony, [lerformed in St. Louis, 
iihiteij the destinies of Mr Hernard and Miss Mar- 
garet I'allzer, wlio was horn in Prussia, Germany, 
and while 3et a young maiden, crossed the Atlantic 
with her |)arent>i. Kor some lime the family made 
Iheii lioine in .New Vork City, removing thence to 
SI. Louis, where lii(; fallier, .lacoh I'allzer, died of 
cholera, in !8'J.O. At the time of his death he w:i» 
engaged in business at that place. • His wife sur- 
vived him many years, passing away in I8M9. at 
the age of seventy- live years. Mrs. Bernard re- 
ceived a liberal education and is a lady of intelli- 
gence and culture. The unif^n of Mr. I5ertiard and 
Ills wife has been blessed willi six children, all of 
them seem to have inherited musical taste and 
ability. In his business life Mr. Bernard is meeting 
with excellent success. 






1\ i;. .lOlIN A. DKLA.NO. For years this 
I ]jj gentlitman, whose name appears on the 
1^3^ opposite page and who is now deceased, 
was one of the prominent citizens ami 
leading business men of Bunker ilili. lie had an 
ac(|uaintance which extended lliroiigliout the entire 
county, and the many friemls whom he won will 
lie pleased to see his sketch and portrait in the 
history of the county where he so long made his 
home. He was born in New Brainlree, -Mass., April 
.0, IHIG, and was a son of Gideon and Betsy 



(Brirnhall) Delano, both of wliora were natives of 
Massachusetts and were descendefl from prominent 
'(Id families of the 1533- .State. The^- began their 
domestic life upon a farm near New Brainlree, 
wli<;re they resided until their children were grown 
wlien, wishing to furnish then? with Ix-'ttc-r educa- 
tional advantages, they removed to Amherst. After 
the emigration of the Doct^jr to Macoupin County 
they aluo came here and silent their last days, each 
dying at an advance*! age. 

Our subject was graduaterl from Amherst Col- 
lege in the Class of '-'iC. and among his schoolmates 
was numbered Ilev. Henry Ward Beecher. After 
he had completed hi-i literary education, to Gt him- 
self for the [jrofcssion which he had chosen as his 
life work, he entercl the Medical College of Phila- 
delphia, Pa., from which he was graduated. Soon 
afterward he came West, believing that there was 
a better opening for an ambitious young man than 
in the older States of the Kast where every walk of 
life seemed crowded. He located in Bunker Hill 
in 1841, hung out his shingle and in a very short 
time h.'id all the practice to wliich he could attend. 
LMs services were constantly in demand and his 
excellent practice yielded him a good income, but 
at length, owing somewhat to the long drives he 
was forced to take, he determined to abandon his 
profession and embarked in the drug business. In 
a very short lime he was enjoying a fine trade and 
to secure more commodious quarters he built a 
splendid briek store store which continued to be 
his place of business until his death and is still 
known as '■The Delano." It is now occupied by 
Harry K. Budd, who also carries on a drug store. 
For many years this was the only drug-store in the 
place. 

In Bunker Hill the Doctor was united in mar- 
riage with Mrs. Anna W. (Williams) Ring, who was 
born in Dutchess County, N. Y.,and is a daughter 
of William P. and Asenath (Skiff) Williams. Her 
parents were natives of Massachusetts where they 
resided until after their marriage, when thej' re- 
moved to Dutchess Countj', N. Y. There they 
resided for many years, Mr. Williams dying within 
the borders of that county at the age of sixty. He 
h.ad spent most of his active life as a teacher and 
was one of the poinilar and well-known educators 



256 



PORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of the Kmpiic ISlate. After lier husband's deaUi 
Mrs. Williams Ciiino to I'.iinkor Hill and died al the 
home of her daiioliter, IMi>. Kraiiees Cai lisle, at the 
age of sixty -nine years. She was a member of the 
Dutch Reformed Chuivli. Into Dr. Delano and 
his wife were born three children, but Julia and 
.lobn both died in infancy. The only surviving 
member of the family is Annie who was educated 
in the schools of Hunker Hill, and was gr.iduated 
from Monticello Seminary. She is a line musician, 
an accomplislied young lady and makes liei liome 
with her mother. 

Dr. l3elauo was of Huguenot descent and inher- 
ited all the virtues of the best type of the people 
that ligured so prominently in a most momentous 
epoch in the history of civilization. He took a 
leading part in all that pertained to the upbuilding 
of the community and was a prominent worker for 
the social, educational and moral interests of the 
city. In 18.')2 he was elected Secretary and Treas- 
urer of the Cemetery Association, which position he 
held until his death, and he gave his most zealous 
efforts to the work in hand. To the Doctor more 
than anyone else, Tresidenl J. II. Pettingill alone 
excepted, is due the .admirable condition of this 
magnificent property and certainly he is entitled to 
the greatest credit for the erection of the soldier's 
monument which was erected in 1866 and is the 
chief ornament of the cemetery. While he was 
en.leavoring to secure this tribute to the memory 
of the honored soldiers he was, all unconciously 
to himself, erecting a monument of love and grati- 
tude in the hearts of many. 

The c.auseof education ever found in him a warm 
friend and he was an active member of the Acad- 
emy Association, while to the building fund he was 
a liberal contributor. For m.-iny years he was clerk 
and trustee of the Congregational Church and 
contributed liberally of his means to its support 
but he held to no particular creed, endorsing the 
doctrines advocated by the Rev. Henry Ward 
Beecher. In politics he was a Republican and held 
several local offices, the duties of which he ever 
faithfully discharged. It was in the home circle 
that his true life shone out and L seemed that he 
could not do too much to enhance the happiness of 
his family and promote llieij- welfare. Near his 



place of business lie built a fine residence which is 
still occupied by his widow and daughter. His 
death occurred April 14, 1887, and was sincerely 
mourned by many warm friends. 



j^^gj^^ i ■ ._^ 



^EXJ.V.MIN F. CLARK, a member of the 
f^ the firm of Clark & Deck, proprietors of 
|)jj|; an extensive mercantile establishment at 
(4irard, devoted to the sale of drugs, books, 
stationery, groceries, hard and wooden ware, etc., 
has long been connected with the business interests 
of this county, and h.as contributed to its financial 
prosperity. He was born in Wayne Count\-. 111., 
April 29. 1829, his father, the Hon. Benjamin A. 
Clark, being a pioneer of tiial section of the State 
and one of its prominent citizens during his life- 
time. 

The father of our subject was born near Lexing- 
ton, Ky., and was a son of Janios Clark, a native 
of Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, who came to this 
country during the Revolution, and casting in his 
lot with the Colonists, fought bravely with them 
for freedom from British rule. After the war was 
ended he resided for a time in Virginia, and then 
followed the tide of emigration to Kentucky. He 
bought a tract of timber land near Lexington, and 
settling down to the life of a pioneer in the forest 
wilds, he lived there many years. He came from 
there to Illinois in territorial days, locating in the 
wilderness in Wayne County, ill 1817, beiui? one 
of the earliest pioneers in that section. He bought 
timber land, on which he erected a log house, and 
at once entered upon the hard task of clearini; a 
farm. He continued to reside in the southern 
part of that county some years, and then sold and 
moved to the northern i)art of it, where he made 
his home until he closed his eyes in death. The 
maiden name of his wife w.as Mary Jones. She 
w.as born either in Wales or in America of Welsh 
parenUage. She died en the home farm in Wayne 
County. Both were stanch Presbyterians in their 
religious belief. 

The father of our subject w.as a young man when 
he came to Illinois with his parents. He had been 



I 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



2.57 



reared to agricultural pursuits, anrl at tlie time of 
bis marriage lie located on a farm in the eastern 
part of Wayne County. A few years later he re- 
moved U> the northern part of the county and en- 
tered forty acres of Government land. He built a 
primitive log house, riving shingles by band to 
cover the roof, and making the chimney of sticks 
and clay. His wife cooked by the open fireplace 
for many years, and her deft hands carded, spun 
ami wove all tlie cloth of which siie made garments 
for her children. Mr. Clark was much prospered 
in his calling, invested in other land adjoining his 
original purchase and in time im|)roved a valuable 
farm, that remained his home until his death. He 
was a man of more than ordinary force of char- 
acter and intellect, ami was very inlluential among 
his fellow-citizens, who oftiMi called him to fill re- 
sponsible odices. He was at une time .Sheriff of 
Wayne County, and he also representeil his dis- 
trict as a member of the State Legislature. It was 
while attending a session of thatjionorable body at 
Vandalia, in !8:38, that his useful career was closed 
by his untimely ileath. He was a devoutly relig- 
ious man ; one of the leading members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and services were held 
at his house. He was a Class-Leader in the church. 

The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden 
name of Mary O. Witters, was a native of West 
Tennessee. Her father, Peter Witters, was a pio- 
neer of that section of the country, and later of 
Illinois, where he settled in Wliile County, and 
there spent his remaining 3'ears. The maiden 
name of his wife was Hannah (ireen. She was 
born in North Carolina and died in Whjte County, 
this Stale. The mother of our subject was a Pres- 
byterian in her religious faith. She died on the 
home farm in Wayne County in 1851, leaving four 
children — Joseph, Peter, Benjamin F., and Mel- 
vina. 

He of whom this biography is written was reared 
in his native county. There were no free schools 
in his youth, each family having to i)ay according 
to the number of children sent to school. The 
country roundabout his early borne was sparsely 
settled and not greatly iraijroved from its primi- 
tive condition. There were no railways for many 
years, and St. Louis, one hundred and ten milea 



away, was the principal market. Our subject 
continued to reside with his mother until her death, 
and be then S[)ent six months in Iowa. Returning 
U> W.ayne County, he taught the first free school 
in that section, receiving *27 a month for 
a session of three months. He then turned 
his attention to the study of medicine in the 
offices of Drs. Greene and Barrickman, near .Jef- 
fersonville, and subsequently began to practice 
in Wayne County. A short lime after that he re- 
linquished that calling, and July 4, 1857, carae to 
Macoupin County to establish a drug store in 
.Scotlville. which he managed until 1865. Maj* 5, 
of that year he came to Girard to engage in busi- 
ness, and has ever since been a valued resident of 
Ibis city. In March, 1884, L. C. Deck became as- 
sociated with him in the business under the firm 
name of Clark & Deck. Tliey have one of the best 
equipped and best slocked establishments in the 
city, and carry a full line of drugs, groceries, books, 
hardware, etc. 

Mr. Clark has been three limes married. His 
first marriage, which t<X)k place in January, 1854, 
w.is wiih Miss Mary Frances Ma&ton. a native of 
Marietta, Ohio. Their wedded life was very 
brief, as she died in the fall of the same year. Our 
subject was married a second lime May 10, 1859. 
Miss Mary A. Butcher becoming his wife. She 
was a native of Greene County, III., and a daugh- 
ter of Kli J. and Vienna Butcher. .She dejiarted 
this life February 2f>, 1878, leaving four children 
— Edwin Verner, Mabel, Frank Leslie, and Grace. 
Mr. Clark was married to Mrs. Kate (Garst) Sherfy 
March 21, 1883. Mis. Clark is a native of Ten- 
nessee, and a daughter of Jacob and Frances Garst. 
Her mariiage with our subject has been blessed 
wilh one child, whom the}- have named Ethel. 

For more than a quarter of a century, Mr. Clark 
lias been intimately associated willi the growth 
and welfare of Girard as one of its most intelligent 
business men and public-spirited citizens, and be 
has ever sought to elevate its moral, social and re- 
ligious status. He has taken part in its public life 
as a member of the City Council and of the City 
School Board. He was for many j-ears a Demo- 
crat in politics, but of late he has used his infiu- 
ence in favor of the Prohibition parly. He and 



258 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



his wife are members of the Christian Church, nnd 
are aetive in its every good worlc. He h:\s cm ex- 
tensive acquaintance in tiiis county, of which he 
has been a resident for so many years, and is well- 
known as a thoroughly honorable business man, 
whose integrity is beyond question, as is his repu- 
tation in all the relations of life. 



LKX McCrRDY, an enterprising farmer 
' iS/i-JI I and stock-raiser of Hilyard Township, re- 




li) siding on section 3(3, claims New -lersey 
.as the State of bis nativity. He first 
opened his C3'cs to the liglit of day in Atlantic 
County in ISlt. The family is of Irish origin. 
The grandfather of our subject, John McCurdy, 
Si-., was a naliveof County Antrim, Ireland, where 
<vliere he gvew to manhood and was married. 
Later lie came to America, leaving his wife and 
children in the old countr\- and during the Revo- 
lutionary War fought under (ien. Wasliington. 
For his services he received a land warrant and 
then returned to the Emerald Isle for his famil\- 
with the intention of cst.iblisliing a home in the 
United States, but died very suddenly in his na- 
tive land. Afterward the three older children, 
including .lohn, father of our subject, who served 
in the War of 1812-14, and was born in County 
Antrim and was then twelve years of age, came 
to America, leaving the widowed mother and 
3'ounger children in Ireland, where Mrs. RIcCurdy 
died at the advanced .age of one liundred and five 
years. The three sons who came to this country 
did not improve the land as it was their intention 
of doing when the}- left home. Vmt sold the war- 
rant and removed to different parts of the coun- 
try to engage in business best suited to their 
tiistes. The father of our subject attained to his 
majority in New Jersej-, and there engaged in 
working iron ore. He married Miss Elizabeth 
Wentling, who was born and reared in that State. 
They began their domestic life in New Jersey, 
where the husband died at the age of sixty-four 
years, after which his widow removed to Penn- 
sylvania, and died at the home of her sou Nich- 



olas on the Schuylkill River, about thirteen miles 
from Philadelphia. This was in 1855, and she 
was ai that time eighty- four 3'ears of age. In 
religious b-'liof she was a Methodist and Mr. Mc- 
Curdy w.as a member of the l'resl)yterian Church. 
Their famil}- numbered eleven chilihen, seven 
sons and four daughters, of whom only four sons 
are now living. 

Our subject was only a child when his parents 
removed from New Jersey to Pennsylvania. He 
may truly be called a self-made man, for before he 
was twelve j-ears of age he began life for himself, 
being the employed in the iron works, where he 
continued to labor for thirty-seven years. At 
first he worked as a molder. but his abilit}' won 
him promotion, and during the last ten vears of 
his residence in Pennsylvania he was employed as 
foreman of six furn.iccs owned by David Thomas, 
"the Iron King." He was thus able to command 
an excellent salarj', and wilh the money acquired 
he purch.ased laud in Illinois. He first came to 
this State in 18Gl,and bought one bundled and 
twenty acres of land in Jersey County, where he 
made his home until 181)8, when in the spring of 
that year he purchasetl his [iresenl farm, compris- 
ing the northern half of three hundred and twenty 
acres of land on section 3G, Hilyard Township. 
Everj' acre is under cultivation, the eye resting 
upon no spot of unimproved hxwi. 

In Atlantic Count}', N. J., at May's Landing, 
Mr. McCurdy led to the marriage altar Miss Chris- 
tina McCaulej-, who was born in County Antrim, 
Ireland, in 1818. and is a daughter of Henry and 
Sarah (MgCurdy) McCauley, who were also na- 
tives of County Antrim, where they were married 
and lived until after the birth of all their children. 
About 1828, with their family, they came to Amer- 
ica, settling in Atlantic County, N. J., when the 
city of Camden was a small hamlet. Some j-ears 
later they removed to Pennsylvania, locating at 
the head of the Juniata River, where the remain- 
der of their lives were passed. The father was a 
member of the Catholic Church and his wife a 
Presbyterian. 

Mrs. McCurdy is the only surviving member of 
their family of twelve children. .'>he was quite 
\oung when she crossed 'he Atlantic to America 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



259 



and in New Jersey slie grew to womanhood. Ten 
cliildicn liavc been born unto our sui)ject and liis 
wortliy wife, but six are now deceased. Catherine 
died at the ago of twenty-one years; John 
dieil in ciiildhood; Jolin, tiie second of that 
name, who died at the age of two years; Mary, 
who died at the age of fifteen montiis; one who 
die<l in infancy; and Klizabetli, wiio becanne the 
wife of Natiianiel Pinkard, wiio is now living in 
Williainstown, Ky. I'nto them two cliildren were 
born, one of wiioiii survives the motiicr — Josepli 
A., wiio since liis childhood has been reared by 
liis grandparents and was educated in Hunker Hill 
Academy. Thosi; wiio stiil survive are: Josepli 
M., who wedded Melissa Deck and is ('ngagcd in 
farming in ililyard Township; Sarah, widow of 
John Steniple, a popular railroad conductor of 
Pennsylvania, who was killeil in an accidcul; Me- 
lissa and Jane at home. 

In jiolitics Mr. McC'urdy w.as an old-line Whig 
until the rise of llir Republican party, which 
he has since sup|)<)rted. He belongs to the Pres- 
byterian Church and his wife is a member of the 
same ciiiircii. During tlie twenty-two years of their 
residence in Macouiiin County they have won 
many friends and have gained the respect and 
esteem of all wilii wliom tiiey liavc come in contact. 




ON. SAMUKl. S. GILHKRT. of Carlinville, 
)1' has occupied a p'-omineiit iiositiou among 



i^ tiie leading lawyers of tliis county for 
many years. He is a native of Massachu- 
setts, the old seaport town of Gloucester, on Cape 
Ann, in Essex County, Iieing tlie place of his birth, 
and January "iH, 1827, the dale thereof. lie is a 
descendant of old Colonial families that settled in 
tii(^ old Piay State in the early years of its scttle- 
iiienl. 

Jonullian (iiibert, the father of our subject, was 
born in (ilouccster, and was a son of Jonathan Gil- 
bert, who was also a native of tiie same town, and 
was in turn the son of another Jonathan Gilbert, 
who was also a native of that place, as was his 
father, who likewise bore tlie name of Jonathan, 



and was of Gloucester birth. The father of the 
latter, John Gilbert, was born in England or in 
Massachusetts of English parents. He removed 
from Wenhara to Gloucester in 1704, and spent 
tlie rest of his days there. Jonathan Gilbert, Sr.. 
and his son Jonathan were l)Otli farmers, and were 
life-long residents of Gloucester, their farm lying 
in the locality now known as Blagnolia, where now 
many wealthy people have beautiful sea-side homes. 
The grandfather of our subject also was a farmer 
and spent his whole life in his native Gloucester. 

The father of our subject commenced life as a 
sailor when quite young, and followed the sea for 
upwards of twcnt}- years, the most of the time in 
the merchant service, and became master of a ves- 
sel. In 1834 he retired from a seafaring life, and 
journeying far into the interior of the country-, 
came to Illinois and spent the winter in this State. 
He was favorably impressed with the country, and 
returning to Massachusetts for his family came 
back here to locate the same spring. He and his 
family started from Gloucester in a sail vessel 
bound for Philadelphia. While trj'ing to double 
Cape Cod a storm was encountered and the vessel 
was obliged to put back to Gloucester for repairs. 
After a few days the father with our subject and 
younger brother started again for Philadelphia in 
the same vessel, while the others took passage in 
anotiier ship for lioston, whence they went by rail 
to Providence, and 1 hence by water to Philadelphia, 
where the family was rc-unitcd. They then went 
by rail to Jolinstown, Pa., which was at that time 
the western terminus of the railway; from there by 
canal to Pittsburg, where they embarked on a 
steamer and voyaged on tiie waters of tiie Ohio 
and Mississippi to Alton, this State, which they 
found to be a small but very lively town, as it was 
tlie market and depot of .sup|)lies for the surround- 
ing country for many miles around. 

Soon after his arrival in Illinois IMr. Gilbert 
bought a tract of timber land four miles from Al- 
ton, and there being no liouse upon it he moved 
into a dwelling of his brother-in-law near by, and 
resided in it for some time. He next bought 
twenty acres of land on tlie Carroltou road, upon 
wliich he erected a liewed log liouse, in which he 
lived until 1837. Then disposing of that [ilace be 



260 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



went to Griggsville, in Pike County, and was a 
pioneer there. He bought village properly and 
was a resident of that place until 1830, when he [ 
rented a farm one and one-fourth miles west of 
Griggsville. In 1842 he bought a tract of land 
three miles northwest of Griggsville. He luiih a 
comfortable residence on tluit land, and dwelt there 
until 1845. Returning to the village lie stayed 
there one year, and then, in 1846, went back to his 
old home in Massacliusetts, taking all his family 
with him, except his two sons, George and Samuel. 

In 1853 Mr. Gilbert left Gloucester to again 
take up his residence in this State. He bought a 
lot on the west side of the square in Carlinville, and 
erected a commodious building a store and dwell- 
ing, his death occurring here in February', 18G9. 
An honored pioneer and respected citizen thus 
passed to eternal rest, leaving behind him a good 
name and an untarnished life record. His worthy 
wife did not long survive him, but died the fol- 
lowing April in the home of our subject. She was 
also a native of Gloucester, and bore the maiden 
name of Mary Sayward. She was the mother of 
four children, of whom our subject is the eldest, i 
The following is recorded of the others: George 
died at Carlinville, Ma^' 2, 1877; Fitz William died 
at Belfast, Me., Ai>ril 10, 1889; John resides at 
Murfreesboro, Tenn. 

The maternal gran<lfather of our subject, Capt. i 
John Sayward, was born in Gloucester, Mass., ; 
and was a son of Samuel and Susan:ia (Lord) Saj'- 
ward, and was a descendant of Henry Sayward a 
native of England, who came to America in 1637 
and settled near Northampton, N. H. John Say- 
ward w;:s captain of a vessel in the merchant ma- 
rine service, and spent his last years in Gloucester. 
He married Abigail Coos, who was a native of that 
town. Her grandfather, William Coos, great- 
great-grandfather of our subject, was a native of 
England, and he came to this counlr3' in early 
Colonial times. He died at Gloucester in 1773. 
The maiden name of his wife was Mary Gardner. 
The great-grandfather of our subject, Mr. Coos, 
was a seafaring man, and commanded a privateer 
in the Revolutionar3' War. His first cruise w.as 
very successful, but the second was fatal to him, 
as liis ship, "The Stark," was captured by the En- 



glish. He was taken in irons to Halifax, and after 
a short confinement in that city was placed on 
board a ship bound for Boston. The first night 
out a fearful storm raged and the vessel and its 
crew were never heard from afterw.ard. 

The first eight years of the life of our subject 
were [lassed in the seaport town of his birth, and 
since then he has lived in this State, and be reiains 
a vivid recollection of pioneer days in the westeriH 
wilds of Illinois. He w.as naturally of a thought- 
ful, studious disposition, and made the best of his 
opportunities to secure a liberal education. His 
first knowledge of books apart from what he had 
learned at home was gained in the i)ioneer schools 
of early times that were taught in log houses, and 
provided with rude home made furniture. He 
lived with his parents until he was fourteen years 
old, and then went to (Triggsville to attend school, 
and vvas also engaged tliere as clerk until the fall 
of 1843, when he went to Alton and entered 
Shuilleff College, where he pursued a fine course 
of study the ensuing four years, remaining there 
until 1847. In June of that j'ear he commenced 
teaching at Upper Alton, and taught until the 
spring of 1848. Like many another man he made 
that |)rofession a stepping stone to the bar, entering 
the office of the Hon. John A. Chestnut when he left 
oflf teaching to prepare himself for his new voca- 
tion. He was admitted to the bar in 1850, and 
formed a partnership with his preceptor, continu- 
ing with him until the retirement of the latter three 
years later. After that he was in paitnership with 
Thomas Jayne for a time, and subsequently was 
with Gen. Rinaker from 1858 until the General 
entered the army, since which time he has been 
alone. 

Mr. Gilbert and Miss Frances McClure were 
united in marriage August 12, 1851. Mrs. Gilbert 
was a daughter of James and Frances McClure, 
and was born in Nicholasville, Jessamine County, 
Ky. She departed this life November 9, 1888, 
after a liappj' wedded life of thirty-seven years, 
leaving behind her a pleasant memory of one who 
filled in a perfect measure the sacred oflices of wife, 
mother and friend. Our subject has three children, 
Edward A., Charles F. and William W. Edward 
is an attorney at York, Neb., and was a mera- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



261 



ber of the State Legislature in 1888. Ciiaiies is an 
attorney in Kansas City, Mo. William is a resident 
of St. Louis. 

Tlirough years of constant devotion to his 
professional duties Mr. Gilbert has attained an 
honorable position among the legal luminaries of 
this State, and is known for his thorough knowl- 
edge of the law as applied to all cases that come 
under his practice. He has been called to re- 
sponsible legal office?, and has filled them with 
dignity and ability. In 1852 be was elected 
Count}' Judge, and he subsequent!}' served two 
terms as Master in Cliancery. In 1874 lie was 
elected a member of the State Legislature. His 
social relations are with Mt. Nebo Lodge No. 76, 
A. F. it A. M. He cast his first Presidential 
vote for Gen. Cass in 1848, and remained 
with the Democrats until 1864, when he gave 
his support to Lincoln for the presidency. In 
1868 lie used his inlluence for Gen. Grant, and 
in 1872 was a warm advocate for Greeley. After 
that he returned to his early love, and lias ever 
since adhered to the Democratic party. 



-oto-®V"<^- 




y* ALCOLM M. ANDERSON, who is now 
living retired in the city of Carlinville, 
is one of the most extensive landholders 
in tiie county .and li.as laiici a leading part in 
its agricultural development. His birlh took place 
in Christian County, Ky., December 24, 1830, and 
he is a son of Col. James Anderson, a ^'irginian, 
who was a prominent pioneer of this section of the 
State in the early years of its settlement. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject emi- 
grated to this country in Colonial times and lesided 
for a while in Virginia before his removal to Ken- 
tucky, where he became a pioneer of Bourbon 
County. He entered a thousand acres of Govern- 
ment land there, but suffered reverses and lost all 
his property before his death, which occurred in 
that county. 

Col. Anderson was quite young when his father 
took him from his \'irginia birthplace to the [lio- 
neer home in Kentucky. At the age of thirteen 



he left the parental roof and after that time made 
his own way in the world, as he was perfectly alile 
to do, for he was well endowed with physical and 
mental vigor. He learned the trade of a hatter 
but did not follow it long as his tastes led him to 
farming, and he settled on a farm in Christian 
County, Ky. He met with fair success in his new 
venture, but unfortunately, by endorsing notes for 
friends, he lost all his property, and in 1834 came 
to Illinois to seek a new location. He visited 
Macoupin County in the month of June and 
entered a tract of Government land on section 1 1 , 
Carlinville Township, and then went back to Ken- 
tucky for his family. On the 12th of the follow- 
ing October, with his wife and their six children, 
he started for their new home, and journeyed 
hither with a pair of oxen, a wagon and two 
horses and a carriage, arriving at his destination in 
twelve days' time. 

The Colonel rented a log house in whicli the 
family lived during the winter and in the mean- 
time he built a log house on his own land, riving 
boards for the roof and splitting puncheon for the 
floor. In the spring of 1835 he and his family 
removed to their new home and he commenced to 
improve his land. He also became an extensive 
trader in live stock, driving cattle to St. Louis, 
and in 1846 and again in 1847 took a drove to 
Wisconsin, taking three hundred and fifty head 
each time. In 1851 an attack of cholera ended his 
useful career and this county lost one of its most 
useful citizens. His wife also died of cholera 
thirteen days after his death. Her maiden name 
was Ann Rice Harris and Virginia was her native 
State. She reared a family of seven children, 
named .as follows: Crittenden II. C, Maria C, 
Erasmus S., Augustus E., Malcolm M., Henry C. 
and Mary A. 

Malcolm M. Anilerson, of whom this biography 
is principally written, was in his fourth year wlien 
he came with his parents to this county, and he 
remembers well the incidents of pioneer life under 
which he was reared. His mother used to do her 
cooking by the Dreplace and the children were 
clothed in cloth the product of her spinning wheel 
and loom. Our subject took every advantage to 
secure an education anil early attended a pioneer 



262 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sclioul llml was laiiglil in a primitive log house 
with au oartli and sliclv cliimney, tlie fuiuiUue 
being rudely fashioned by hand, the seats made by 
splitting logs and inserting wooden pins for sup- 
port, and for a desk a plank was laid on wooden 
pins that were inserted in holes bored in the wall 
of the building. On one side of the house a log 
was sawed out and a row of glass put into the 
aperture and thus made to serve for windows. In 
those early days game was plentiful, and deer, 
wolves and other wild animals were often seen 
roaming over the prairies. 

^U■. Anderson made his home wiih his parents 
until their death, then settled on a farm on the 
northeast quarter of section 12. Carliuville Town- 
ship, and oommeneed housekeeping in a log house. 
Two years later lie sold that plaic and bought the 
south half of section 11, locating there in 1854, 
and made that his home until 1880, when he bought 
the residence he now occupies on North Broad 
Street, Carlinville. Here he and his estim.able wife 
live very pleasantly surioundod by all the comforts ' 
of life, and liavc the satisfaction of knowing that 
their prosperity is due to their united labors, 
directed by wise economy, foresight and sound 
judgment. Mr. Anderson has been more than 
ordinarily successful as a farmer and now has in 
his possession lifteen hundred acres of valuable 
laud, one hundred and sixty of which is located 
in South Otter Township and the remainder in 
Carlinville Townshiji. 

Tlie marriage of Mr. Anderson to Miss Malvina 
Ann Moore was celebrated February 11, 1851. 
Mis. Anderson was born April U>, 1833. in Carlin- 
ville Township, and is a daughter of one of its first 
settlers, Thomas G. Moore. It is thought that he 
was a native of Simpson County. Ky., and in 1831 
came to this county and entered Government land 
on section 24, Carlinville Township. He erected 
a log house to shelter his family and in that hum- 
ble dwelling Mrs. Anderson was liorn. lie con- 
tinued to live on his homestead until death called 
him hence in 1844. His wife, who bore the maiden 
name of Sylvia AV. Sublet, was a native (>f Vir- 
ginia. She died at Shaw's Point 'lownship a few- 
years after he did. 

Mr. and Mre. Anderson have been blessed with 



five children, .as follows: James T., who married 

Ann Goodpasture, resides in South Otter Town- 
ship; Laura A. is the v-'ife of J. S. Tliomason, of 
Montgomery County; Melissa is the wife of .lohn 
A. Fullington. of Carlinville Township, and John 
15., also a resident of Carlinville Township, who 
married Mary Turvey. and Malcom M., a resident 
of Carlinville, who married Laura Rue. 



^ ULH'S KKHMIC. Ju. The gentleman who ig 
the original of this sketch owns a good farm 
located on section 21. Nilwood Township 
He is of German parentage and birth and 
now is in the meridian of life, having been born 
April 2. 1840, in Brunswick, German}'. The early 
years of his life were sjient in his native place where 
he received the drill in technical as well as mental 
education that is an indispensable adjunct in Ger- 
man school life. When lifteen years of age he em- 
igrated v.ith his parents to America. His father 
W.1S Julius Behrae, and his mother Anna (Dorethe) 
Hehme. They were both natives of Germany and 
came thence to this country in 1855. 

The Behme family first settled in Ogle County, 
and from there went to St. Louis, and thence to this 
county, where they settled in Clyde and li\ed there 
for two years. There tlie mother was called away 
from a life of toil to a better land. The family 
afterward lived for one year in Polk Township, and 
then located in Brushy Mound Township, where 
they have since made their home. They had two 
children. William and Julius. 

Our subject. Julius Behme, lived at hoiiiC until 
his marriage when he instituted a home and hearth 
for himself in Brushy Mound Township. He re- 
mained there for two years and then came to Nil- 
woo<l Township, where he purch.ised one hundred 
acres of land. Here he h.is since resided having 
built himself a pleasant home. 

Mr. Behme was married in Carlinville, June 
23, 1868 to Miss Sophia Blothe. who was a daughter 
of Conrad H. and Sophia (Brummer) Blothe. both 
natives of Hanover, Germany. The mother's de- 
cease took place in her native land before her hus- 




J^^^ 









l^^^^-lj^^ty 



/ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



265 



band and family emigrated to America. Their 
settlement in this country was made in 1866, the 
father died in Nilwood Townsbi|), leaving two chil- 
dren, Sophia, now Mrs. Behme, and Henry. Mrs. 
Behme, like lier parents, is a native of Hanover, 
Germany, being there born December 13, 1840. 
She and her husband are the parents of seven chil- 
dren. They are: Lena W., who was married Feb- 
ruary 22, 18!>I,to George Klaus of Nilwood Town- 
ship, Emma B., Julia M., Anna S., Katie, George 
J. and Albert F. 

Our subject has made man)- improvements on 
his farm and he now owns one hundred and forty 
acres. His attention is exclusively engaged in Ihe 
care of his farm and stock-raising. Jlr. Behme is 
a Republican in his political preference, and lie and 
his wife and family are attendants of the German 
Lutheran Church. Like most of his countrymen 
who are engaged in the agricultural pursuits in 
this country, Mr. Behme has brought an energy 
and vim to bear upon his business that has insured 
him a success in the line that he had adopted. 




OBUS J. KEISER. The name which our 
subject bears is inseparably connected with 
y the history of tiie thriving town of Mt. 
Olive in which he makes his home. Indeed, no one 
has done so much fijr the place as ho, for every 
enterprise of an>' importance that has served 
to aid in the upbuilding of the community has 
found in him a supporter. We therefore with 
pleasure present this sketch to our I'eaders, as 
well as the lithographic portrait on the opposite 
page. 

Mr. Keiser was I)orn in Hanover, Germany, Sep- 
tember 1, 1811, and comes of a good family, the 
members of which are characterized by lemperato, 
iixlustrious and enterprising habits. His father, 
John J. Keiser, and Ins mother, whose maiden 
name was Geske Helen, were born, reared and mar- 
ried in Hanover, where their children were also 
born. In 1854, with their family they sailed for 
America from Bremen, and on landing in New Or- 
leans, proceeded up the Mississippi to Alton, spend- 



ing the succeeding winter in Madison Cpuntj-, 111. 
In the spring of 185.5, they settled on section 14, 
Mt. Olive Township, the one hundred and twent)' 
acre farm being then in its ptimitive condition. 
The father died soon afterward, ou the 6th of Sep- 
tember. He was a noble man, and died in the 
faith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. His 
widow, who long survived him, was a lady of 
manj' marked characteristics. She possessed excel- 
lent executive ability, and managed to keep her 
children together, provide them with good educa- 
tions, and lived to see them all prosperous in life. 
She died at the home of her daughter Anna in 1889, 
at the ripe old age of seventy-eight years. She, 
too, was a member of the Lutheran Church. 

The subject of this sketch, after acquiring a 
good education in the public schools and the State 
Universit)', entered upon his business career. We 
feel safe in saying that none other has done so much 
to make Mt. Olive one of the busiest commercial 
points in this part of the State. By so doing he 
has not onl}' secured a fortune, but has become one 
of the most prominent men of the count)'. Since 
1806 Mt. Olive Ii.ts grown to its present propor- 
tions. In that year, Mr. Keiser with his father-in- 
law, J. C. Nieman, establisiied a small mercantile 
house, and the next spring embarked in general 
merchandising. That was the beginning of tiie 
business which has grown and developed until it 
occui)ies several of the largest store rooms of the 
place, and rcjiresents every branch of merchandise 
known, except drugs and lumber. Their business 
houses are model struclures, and the stock of 
goods contained therein, whatever it be, is com- 
plete. 

When the AVabash Railroad was buili through 
Mt. Olive, in 1870, Mr. Keiser assumed control of 
all of the business at this point, and was thus con- 
nected with the road until 1877, when more im- 
portant and pressing business interests caused him 
to resign. He gave a decided impetus tu the growth 
of the town by opening up a coal mine and organ- 
izing tile Mt. Olive Coal Company. He became 
one of tiie most extensive stockholders, and was 
made Superintendent and active Business Man- 
ager, continuing as such for some years. A shaft 
was sunk four hundred feet to a rich vein of coal. 



266 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



seven feet thick and of superior quality. The out- 
jiut was about sixty eailoads per day, and a second 
shaft was completed in I.STO, l)ut after sonae years, 
owing to a delinquency and a lack of energy on a 
part of some of the stockholders, the business was 
transferred to the hands of the Consolidated Coal 
Company of St. Louis, which has realized a hand- 
some profit therefrom. However, the transfer was 
made imuh against the will of Mr. Keiser. 

Seeing the need of a flourmill, and anxious to aid 
in the upbuilding of industries, in 187G, Mr. Kei- 
ser and Henry Prange erected the large Anchor 
Mills, which have proved of such value to the city. 
After some years of successful operation, the firm 
title was changed in I881 to Keiser IJros., Andrew 
J. Keiser succeeding Mr. Prange. The mill under- 
wont a radical and important change in 1887, and 
is now supi)lied with all the modern and best mill- 
ing machinery. The capacity is about two hun- 
dred barrels [ler day, and is run to nearly its full 
extent. The shii)ments are liotli foreign and do- 
mestic, anil the leading brands of (lour which they 
manufacture are the '-Pateut Loaf" and "Triumph.'' 
To the mill is attached an elevator with a capaeily 
of twenty-five thousand bushels, and the Orra also 
docs considerable grain-buying at Warden and Gib- 
son City, 111. 

The increase of business connected with the mer- 
cantile firm of Keiser, Niemeyer & Co., awoke the 
owners to their need of a bank, and in 1882 C. J. 
Keiser established and located the bank in his large 
brick building, at the corner of Main and Poplar 
streets. It is a private bank and is supplied with 
all the appliances and appointments for doing a gen- 
eral banking business, including a fine vault an<l 
burglar-proof lock-safe for the accommodaiion and 
safely of their depositors. Mr. Keiser is President 
and General Manager, with Theo. Koch, Cashier, a 
model young man. Mr. Keiser has also been instru- 
mental in securing excellent railroad facilities to 
^It. Olive. He was the prime mover in building 
the branch of the Peoria ife St. Louis Railroad, from 
Ml. Olive to Alharabra, 111., where it connects with 
the Clover Leaf, running into St. Louis. In this 
undertaking ii was necessary to make large expen- 
ditures of money and time, and the successful com- 
pletion indicates the business ability and energy 



which has marked the career of Mr. Keiser through 
life. Again, when the Jackson & Southeastern lioad 
decided to run a branch through Mt. Olive, the com- 
pany found Mr. Keiser at the front with his money, 
.all eagerness to .assist. He gave valuable lots for 
depot purjjoses, and in other w!iys aided in the es- 
tablisraent of the road. 

In every good cause Mr. Keiser is equally liberal, 
and when the magnificent (ierman Lutheran Church 
was built — the finest edifice of the kind in the city, 
and one of the largest in the county — he gave the 
beautiful lots on which it is located, together with 
it'3,000 for the building. He also gave to the city 
the lot on wliich the Cit^- Hall and Public Library 
are located. 

After having marked out his business career, 
Mr. Keiser, on the IKli of November, 1866, led to 
the marriage altar Miss Marj' C. Nieman, the 
accomplished daughter of John C. Niem.an, whose 
sketch appears elsewhere in this work. She was 
bcirn January 21 , 1818, and until her marri.age lived 
with her father and stepmother, for she had lost her 
own mother when young. She has been a true 
helpmate to her husband, taking a lieep interest in 
all his luisincss, and aiding him by her words of 
encour.agemcnt and sympathy-. Into them were 
born several children, of whom the following sur- 
vive: Paulina, Amanda. Adolph, Edward and 
Bertha. Mrs. Keiser adheres closely to the Lu- 
theran faith, and is a true Christian woman. She 
neglects no op|)ortunity for doing good, and in so- 
cial circles is a leader. When doing so much for 
public interests, Mr. Keiser did not neglect his fam- 
ily. He has been ever watchful for their welfare 
and hap|)incss. and provided for them a palatial 
residence, which is built of brick in the latest style 
of architecture, and is comi)lete in all its appoint- 
ments. It possesses every feature for comfoit and 
cnjoj'ment, is heated by furnace and su|)plied with 
hot and cold water, is beautifully and tastefully fur- 
nished and adorned with many works of art, which 
indicates a cultured and refined taste. 

In local political circles, Mr. Keiser is also a 
a leader. He was for seventeen 3'ears Postmaster 
of Mt. Olive, has been President of the Town 
Board for six years in succession, from 1877 to 
1883. and elected again in 18'.)1. When the new 



PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



267 



townsliip was formed (nit of the north half of 
Staunton Township, he was elected its first Super- 
visor in 1883, ,in(l held that oflice until 1891, dur- 
ing which time he did much toward reducing the 
enormous courthouse debt I)}' scouring a large re- 
duction of interest that was being paid. As before 
intimated, he is a Lutheran in religious belief, and 
for a long while he has been Superintendent of the 
Sunday-school. He is also au oflicerof the church 
and one of its most active workers. His franl<, 
open countenance bespeaks a life above reproach, 
and liis friends are found not only in Illinois, but 
in adjoining States as well. Although his life has 
been a busy one, 'lis time is never so occupied that 
he cannot greet his acquaintances witli a gentle- 
manly courtesy, and the pool' as well as the rich, 
if their lives are deserving, receive his kindly 
recognition. His fortune has been acquired in the 
legitimate channels of business, and his posses- 
sions he has generously shared with those in need of 
aid. 




ILLIAM HALLIDAY. A whole-souled 
open-hearted native of the Kinerald Isle, 
'Y/'^l our subject emigrated at an early day to 
this Mecca of Irishmen, where can be found the 
liberty and freedom which they do not enjoy under 
liritish rule. Having no Hag of its own, the sub 
jects of Ireland become the most devoted and loyal 
adherents under our American banner. Mr. Halli- 
day who is loyalty itself to American principles is 
a resident on section 34, of Sliipman Township. 

Our subject's father was William Halliday, who 
died in Ireland. His mother was Martha (Clark) 
Halliday, who was born in Ireland, and emigrated 
with her son to this countrj', now making her home 
with him. William Halliday was born August 28, 
1842. He came to Ainerica in 18.59 and soon after 
proceeded to Shipman Township, arriving here the 
lOth of June, 18.59. 

For some time our subject was engaged as a farm 
laborer hiring himself by the month and gaining 
but small remuneration for his work, but thrifty 
and prudent, in 1863 he was enabled to rent a tract 
of land which he farmed for himself. He then 



purchased one hundred and twenty acres in Brigh- 
ton Township, which he afterward sold and now 
owns two hundred and forty acres in this township. 
Upon this tract he has placed goofl improvements 
and has a pleasant and comfortable home. 

Like most 3'oung men Mr. Halliday looked for- 
ward to having a home of his own, over which the 
choice of his heart should preside. His dream was 
realized, his marriage taking |)lace June 6, 1876 in 
Hilyard Township to Miss Ida Moore, who was a 
native of the place in which she was married, be- 
ing there born, .luly 17, 1852. The lady's father 
was Benjamin Moore. Her mother was Harriet 
Scofield INloore. The latter died in Hilyard Town- 
ship. 

The original of this sketch and his bright and 
attractive wife are the parents of seven children. 
They are: Annie, Dollie, Fannie, Alice, Amanda V., 
Grover C. and Ilattie M. In his political views 
like so many of his countrymen Mr. Hallida}- is a 
Democrat, the theories harmonizing with his ideals 
of personal freedom and the platform being that 
which in his estimation tends to the advancement 
of national aggrandizement. Since coming to this 
country he of whom we write has alw.a^'s been en- 
gaged in farming and stock-raising. In the latter 
branch of industry he has been very successful, 
having bred some animals of which he maj" well be 
proud. 



^1 



E^ 



R. EDWARD C. ELLET, who for thirty 
years engaged in the practice of medicine in 
Bunker Hill but is now living a retired life, 
was born on his father's farm near Bristol, Bucks 
County, Pa., September 25, 1819, and is one of 
fourteen children who were born unto Charles and 
Mary (Israel) Ellet. His father, a native of Salem, 
N. J., born March 4, 1777, was descended from an 
old English Quaker family, tracing his ancestry in 
a direct line back to Samuel Carpenter, who was 
the i)rivate secretary of William Penn. He was 
reared in the faith of the Society of Friends but 
by his mode of life severed himself from that 
body. When a j'oung man he went to Philadelphia, 



268 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



where he established a hardware store and married 
Miss Israel, who was descended from Hebrew an- 
cestry on the nateinal side and was of Irish lineage 
on the maternal side. After several years they left 
Philadelpliia and removed to Bucks County, Pa., 
where Mr. Elht imrc-hnsed a farm near tlio old 
homestead of William Penn. However, he did not 
dispose of his home in the city of Brotherly Love 
and after some years returned to Pliiladelphifi, 
whore he spent the remainder of his life, dying in 
1847. His wife long survived bim. She was born 
June 17, 1780, and died November 3, 1870, at the 
age of ninety years and six months. Botli were 
members of the Universalist Chuich and were 
highl}' respected citizens. Of the famil}' only 
three are now living. Two brothers of our sub- 
ject served in the late Rebellion; Charles Ellet, Jr. 
was a Colonel of Engineers and had coinmnnd of 
the ram fleet which collided with the Rebel boats 
off Vicksburg. The collision proved very destruc- 
tive and in the melee which followed Col. Ellet 
received a wound in his knee which caused his 
death. Alfred, his brother, also became a Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel and was second in command of that 
fleet. 

We now take up the personal history of the 
Doctor, who since 1839 has resided in Illinois. In 
that year he located about ten miles north of Bun- 
ker Hill, where he and his brother Alfred, although 
neither were then of age, established the village 
which was called Plainview. Tliey lived in true 
pioneer style in thai, wild and unbroken region, 
giving their time .and attention to .agriculluial pur- 
suits but Edward followed this business only as a 
means for |)reparing himself for the practice of 
medicine, which he determined to make his life- 
work. As soon as he h.ad accumulated sufficient 
funds he entered the Jefferson Medical College of 
Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 
1849. Immediately thereafter he opened an office 
in Bunker Hill, where he continued practice for 
the long period of thirty years. He associated 
with himself Dr. E. Howell and their connection 
continued for twenty 3'ears, proving mutuall}' 
profitable and pleasant to them. Dr. Howell is still 
living al the age of eighty-two years, now making 
his home in McLean County. After their partner- 



ship was dissolved Dr. Ellet continued business 
alone until his retirement from active life. His 
skill and abilitj' soon won him a liberal patronage 
and gained him a h'gh rank among his professional 
brethren such as he justly deserves. His practice 
extended over a wide range of territory and he 
never refused to respond to the call of the sick 
and suffering, but often at great personal incon- 
venience he would drive for miles across the cou'i- 
try to relieve some one in need of medical aid. 
The poor found in him a friend and his pleasant 
and genial presence was very welcome by the side 
of the sick bed, where his cheery sympathy often 
proved a great help to the medicines which he had 
ministered. 

In February, 1850, in Bunker Hill, Dr. Ellet 
was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Little, who 
was born in Freehold, Monmouth County, N. J., 
November 19, 1824. While yet a young maiden 
she came to Bunker Hill, III., on a visit to friends. 
Her father, William Little, was a native of New 
Jersey and there spent the greater part of his life 
and died at the age of forty-seven years. He 
wedded Mar3' Knott, who survived him sonic time 
but passed away in 1856, dying in the failh of the 
Methodist Church, in which she was a firm believer. 
Mrs. Ellet by her graces and many excellent char- 
acteristics soon won her way to a proud position 
in the social world and gained for herself many 
valued friends, riie marriage of the Doctor .and 
his wife was blessed with five children but tlirce 
died in youth — Charles, Alfred and Mary. Anna 
is now the vvife of A. R. Robinson, who is a com- 
mercial traveler for a Cincinnati clothing house 
but resides in St. Louis; and Lily E. is the wife of 
E. M. Dorsey, who formerly traveled for life in- 
surance companies in Texas, but now is eng.aged in ■ 
the coal business in Alton, III. 

In political sentiment Dr. Ellet is a stalwart 
Republican but has never sought public otlice, pre- 
ferring to devote Ids attention to his business inter- 
ests, which he has done with excellent success. 
About twelve 3'ears ago he retired from active 
practice, having by industry and close attention to 
his business secured a large and lucrative pr.actice 
which yielded him a suflicient income to keep bim 
comfortabl3' throughout his remaining years; in 



PORTRAIT AND liKJGRAl'HICAL RFXORD. 



269 



adilition to that he has fallen hcii- to tlifferent lega- 
cies through h's father, mother and an aunt on his 
mother's side, she heing the widow of Col. Daven- 
port of l^liiladclphia. His long residence in the 
coniinuiiity has made him widely known and no 
one is held in iiigher legard. Although now sev- 
enty-two years of age time has left few marks 
upon his countenance. His fine, j'ct prominent 
features are not marred i)y the ravages of age and 
his snow-white iiair seems to rest as a halo upon 
his l)rf)w. 



)AMKS L. FOSTER. The subject of this 
sketch is a member of a f:imily, the heads 
of which have been successively pioneers in 
in llirec States, and if there is anything in 
the early discipline of pioneer life to develop the 
the sturdy fiber of men that arc especially wanted 
in our country, certainly Mr. Foster should bo so 
qualified, and the nice attention paid to details on 
Ins farm, which is located on section 5, Nilwood 
Township, would seem to prove that thoroughness 
at least has been ingrained in his ciuiractcr, both 
by inheritance and experience. 

The father of him of whom we write was a native 
of Nicholas County, Ky., there born in 17!J1. The 
patcinal grandfather was -lames Foster, who was 
pcoljably a native of North Carolina. He removed 
to Kentucky in an early day witii iiis family. Ilis 
advent into the State where fiateinity and e(jualiiy 
are supposed to be the password was at the time 
of Daniel Boone's settlement in the State. James 
Foster died in Nicholas County, Ivy., where he had 
pursued his calling as farmer and Ijlacksrailh. doing 
the blacksmith work for the company with which 
llie emigrated to the 151 ue Crass Stale. David Fos- 
ter was his eldest son, and grew to manhood among 
the virgin forests and wild beautiful scenery along 
the Kentucky River. He selected his wife from 
among the women whose l)eauty is so famous 
I throughout the world as being a [troduclion of the 
I Blue (irass country. 

I Soon after marriage the faniily emigrated to 
.Greene County, III. in the year 1 8:54, where they 
llived until the death of the fatiicr, whose decease 



was caused by the falling of a tree upon him. He 
passed away from this life in 183.5. Our subject's 
mother was Priscilla G. Pipper, who was also a na- 
tive of Nicholas County, Ky. .She also died in 
Greene County in 1878. Both David Foster and 
his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church 
and took an active part in the organization and 
support of religious work; he was an Elder in the 
church of which he was a member. 

Our subject is one of seven children, the family 
numbering six sons and one daughter. .James 
F'oster was the second child and second son. His 
birthplace was in Nicholas County, Ky., his advent 
into the worlil being made February 28, 1822. He 
[iussed his childhood days in his native county, 
and came to Cireene County, this State, when he 
had reached years of manhood. He continued to 
live with his mother, adding to her means of sup- 
port as opportunity afforded until he became of 
age; as his eldest brother died while he was young, 
our subject was the main support of the family and 
he in consequence remained at home. 

Mr. Foster on April 8. 1S4.5 returned to Nich- 
olas County, and was married to Miss Elizabeth A. 
Brown, who was a native of the county in which 
her mariiage took i)lace, her birth having occurred 
July 22, 1827, The lady's parents were Milton 
and Elinor (Allison) Brown. The former was a 
native of South Carolina, anrl the latter of Nicho- 
las County, Ky. Mr. Brown was born .July 17, 1797, 
and died November 22. 1878. He was an Elder of 
the Presbyterian Church for forty years. His wife 
died September 1, 1881 at the advanced age of 
eighty- one years. They were married February 
18, 1821. The father was a farmer b^' occu]>ation 
and both parents died in Nicholas County. Thej' 
were both active members of the Presbyterian 
Church and were consistent and conscientious 
Christians. 

After marriage our subject settled in Kentucky 
and lived there until the year of 1H64, when he 
came to Macoupin County and settled in Nilwood 
Township, where he has since resided. He owns 
a farm of one hundred and sixty-one acres and h.as 
erected thereon a comfortable and commodious 
dwelling r.nd good outhouses. His property with 
the improvements he has put upon it and the ex- 



270 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



cellent iiianageinenl lie has given it inade one of 
tbe most desirable places in the comity. IMr. and 
Mrs. Foster are the parents of ten ciiildrcn. They 
are: David ]M., Tabilha A., .lames W., Mary N., 
Charles A., Elizabeth .)., Luther ,T., and three other 
children who died in infancy. The eldest son is a 
farmer in Nihvood Township. Tabitha is the wife 
of John P. Robb. James W. assists his father on 
the home farm; Mary N. is the wife of R. McGhee; 
Charles A. is a resident of Missouri; Luther J. 
devotes himself to agricultural pursuits. 

The original of this sketch was nominated on the 
Prohibition ticket in the Seventeenth Congressional 
J)istrict as a member of the lioard of Equalization. 
Mr. and Mrs. Foster liave boti) been members of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Cimrch for many years 
and Mr. Foster has held the otiice of ]<:ider in the 
church for a long time. The children are also all 
connected witii the churcli. The beautiful arrange- 
ments of the farm witli its fine buildings, all be- 
speak a care for home comforts that is a guarantee 
for the character of any man, and although Mr. 
Foster is so devoted to domestic comfort he is a 
public-spirited man, ready to give a helping hand 
to any enterprise that seems for the advantan-e of 
the locality in which he resides. 



j^^ IDNEV T. HARRIS, whose pleasant resi- 
_^^^ dence and beautiful farm constitute one of 
]^J) the landmarks of section 11. North Pal- 
myra Township, is a son of Thomas R. 
Harris, who was born in Virginia May 8. 1804. 
His mother, Eliza Fry.was a native of Fayette Coun- 
ty of the Ulue Grass State and was born there in 
March, 1801. This couple went to Missouri at a 
very early day and were there married and after- 
ward removed from that State to Morgan County, 
111., making their home there in 1835, and living 
there until about the year 18.51, when 'Ley came 
to M.acoupin County and settled in North Palmyra 
Township. The mother of our subject died while 
on a visit to a brother near Jacksonville, passing 
away in October, 1866. Her bereaved husband 



who is still living, at the age of eighty-seven years, 
makes his home with his children. They had six 
children of whom our suliject was the second. 

Sidney T. Harris w.as born near Palmyra and in 
ALarion County, Mo., February 19, 1833 and was a 
little fellow of only about two years when his par- 
ents removed from that State and made their home 
in Morgan County. There he passed his early 
years and took his education in the district schools 
which he supplemented by attendance in Mc Kend- 
ree College one year and when about eighteen years 
old, came with his parents to Macoupin County, 
where he has since been a resident of North Pal- 
myra Township. Farming and stock-raising have 
fully occupied his energies with tlie exception of 
the time wiiich he has spent in the school room, as 
he taught seven winters after coming to North Pal- 
myra Township. 

The marri.age of our subject occurred in the 
township we have just named, August 2, 1865. 
His bride bore the maiden name of Elizabeth S. 
McPherson and she was a daughter of the late 
Alexander and Tryphena (Shelton) McPherson. 
Mr. Mc Pherson was born in Muhlenberg County, 
Ky., in September, 1804 and his wife was born near 
Knoxville,.Tenn. February 4, ISOS. They m.ade 
their early married home in Muhlenberg County', 
Ky., and remained there through all their wedded 
life. He dieil August 2U, 1858 and his bereaved 
widow survived him for ten years and then passed 
away September 11, 1868. They had five sons and 
three daughters, of whom Mrs. Harris was tbe sixth 
in order of age, being born in Muhlenberg County, 
Ky., November 20, 1841. 

Eight children bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. 
Harris, n.amely: Emma, Anna. Eunice, William S., 
Lucy, Thomas L., Thaddeus S. and Estella. Anna 
died when about eighteen months old. and William 
died by drowning at the age of eleven years. Mr. 
Harris has always been engaged in farming and 
Stock-raising and owns two hundred and eighty 
acres of fine land upon which he has erected an A 
No. 1 set of farm buildings. For a long term of 
years he has satisfactorily filled the oflice of School 
Director. His political views ally him with the 
Republican party, and he pays an intelligent atten- 
tion to political movements and public affairs. His 



PORTRAir AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



271 



wife who with him is a member of the Methodist 
Ei)inCO|)al Church is possessed of unusual abilities 
and her inanajjement of domestic affairs lias aided 
greatly in his success. She is iiigiily esteemed hy 
her neighbors and is one of those women who help 
to make a country neighborhood vvhat it ever 
should be, the scene of truly friendly intercourse 
and neighborly enjoyment. 



eYRl'S W. GRAY. It affords us ])lcasure to 
present in this volume a sketcli of this gen- 
tleman, who is well known and respected 
and is at present serving his third term as a member 
of the County Board of Sui)ervlsors, representing 
Carlinville Townshij). Mr. (rray was born October 
29, 1827, in Berlin, Rensselaer County, N. Y.,ason 
of Stephen R. Gray, a native of the same town. 
The grandfather of our subject, the Hon. Daniel 
Gr.ay, was, it is thought, l)i)rn in New York. lie 
was a man of more timn ordinary intelligence and 
ability, and was prominent in public affairs. lie 
served as a member of tlie Slate Assen)l)ly and also 
in the Senate, lie was a farmer by occupation and 
his last years were passed on his farm in Berlin 
Townshii). 

Stephen R. Gr.ay was reaicd to agi icultuial pur- 
suits, and made his home in his native county until 
183(), when he came to Illinois to seek a location 
and purchased a farm in Pike County, a part of 
which is now includeil in the village of Barry. 
In the fall of that year he returned to Rensselaer 
County, and the following fall (1837) removed his 
family, consisting of his wife and four children, to 
their new home. They traveled with teams and 
were about six weeks ontlie journey. At that time 
Barry was a hamlet of three or four log houses, 
and he was among its early settlers and was po- 
tent in promoting its growth. He and his family 
removed into the log cabin that stood on his place, 
and he actively entered upon the develoiiment of 
his farm. He also soon gave his attention to the 
manufacture of lumber, and the sawmill that he 



built was one of the Brst erected in that section of 
the counlrv. 

Mr. Gray was iuHuential in the public life of his 
community, and was the first Postm.aster of Barry. 
The place was originally called Worcester, but 
when the postollice was established the name had 
to be changed and Mr. (iray, at the suggestion of 
others, proposed the name of Barry. He resided 
there until about 1851 and then, removing to Pitts- 
field, bought projierty in that city, and made his 
home there the remainder of his life, his death oc- 
curring in 1871). He was a man of firm character 
and well-balanced mind, and was endowed with 
good executive and business qualities. In his pol- 
itics he was a strong supporter of the Demociatic 
party. In 1859 he was elected to ihe important 
office of Sheriff of Pike County, and discharged 
the duties of that position very satisfactoril}'. The 
maiden name of the mother of our subject was Sa- 
brina Bently, a native of Rensselaer County, N. H. 
Her death took place in 1884 at Pittsfield, at a ripe 
old age. 

The subject of this biographical review was one 
of a family of nine children. He was in his tenth 
year when his parents came to Illinois and has 
quite a distinct recollection of his early home in 
his native Slate. During Ijis early boyhood in 
Berlin Township, Troy was the nearest market, a\)d 
it W.1S twenty miles distant. He attended the first 
school ever taught in Barry. When quite young 
he commenced to assist in the duties of the farm, 
thus quite early gaining an excellent knowledge of 
agriculiure. He ni.ade his home with his parents 
until his twenty-first year and then went to St. 
Louis, where he was engaged as a clerk in a com- 
mission house between four and five years. After 
that he went into business for himself, doing a 
general commission business and dealing principally 
in grain and country produce. He continued in 
that until 1877, when he came to Carlinville and 
for a time engaged in milling. He subsequently 
began .again to deal in grain and also in live stock, 
which business he is still carrying on with good 
financial success. 

In 18.51 Mr. Graj' married Miss Sarah E. Long, 
who died in 1862, leaving one child — Mary L., now 
the wife of W. C. Bush. Our subject was married 



272 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



to his present wife, formerli' Miss Catherine Whit- 
tiil<er, in 1867. Mrs. Gray is a native of Piiic 
County and a daughter of Abram S. AViiittakcr, a 
pioneer of that section of the State. Of this union 
there are four children — Paul W., Daisy. Helen 
and Frank M. 

Our subject is a thoroughly upright, honest man, 
alw.ays dealing fairly and squarely by all, and his 
estimable char.icter, as well as liis capability, have 
given him an important place among the civic 
ollicials of his township which, as before mentioned, 
he is well representing as one of the Macoupin 
County Board of Supervisors. Politicallj', he is a 
Democrat and his part}' finds in him a faithful sup- 
porter. Rellglousl}-, both he and his estimable 
wife are devoted and consistent members of the 
Methodist P^piscopal Church. 



bHOMAS J. JONE.S, a self-made and enter- 
'llf((^\\ P''S''ig farmer wiiose home is situated on 
V^^ section IG, Brighton Township, is a native 
of Wales. lie was born in Radnershire, September 
11, 1840, and is a son of James Jones, who was 
also born in that couqty ami there grew to mar- 
hood, becoming a first-class farmer. He wedded 
Mary Jones, who, though of the same name, was no 
relation. However, she was born and reared in 
the same parish as her husband. Unto them were 
born eight children, three sons and five daughters, 
all of whom are yet living and are married. The 
three sons only came to this country and all are 
successful farmers of Brighton Township. Tlie 
moliier died at the age of fifty years in her native 
land, after which with his two sons, Thom.-is and 
John, the father emigrat'id to America in 1861, 
taking passage on a steamer "City of Wasiiington,'' 
which dropped anchoj- in the harbor of New Yo.k 
on the 1st of August. They came direct to 
Brighton, 111., where the sons have since lived and 
made good properties. The father afterward re- 
turned for a few years to England but once more 
came to this country and died at tiie home of our 
subject on the 7th of June, 1874, at the age 
of seventy-seven years. In the county of his na- 



tivity he w.as widely and favorably known as one 
(if the best and most successful farmers. In relig- 
ious belief, both he and his wife were Baptists. 

Thomas J. Jones, wiiose name heads this notice, 
w.as reared to habits of thrift and industry such as 
would prepare him for a successful business career. 
He was yet a single man man when he crossed the 
Atlantic to America and some six years later he 
was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Greei), 
a native of the province of Nassau, Germany, born 
December 28, 1842. Her parents, John W. and 
Maria (Kretzer) Green, were also born and reared 
in that locality and when they had attained to 
mature years were married. One child was born 
unto them in the fatherland — Mrs. Jones, wife of 
our subject, and they then came to America, cross- 
ing the Atlantic in the sailing vessel "Festaw," 
which sailed from Antwerp and after twent3'-eight 
days reached New York City. Tlicir first location 
was made in Ohio, but after two years they came 
to Illinois, settling in Hardin County. Aiioiher 
two years passed by and Ihey then removed to 
Madison County, where the succeeding twelve 
j'ears of their lives were passed. At the expira- 
tion of that time tbey took up their residence in 
Bunker Hill Township, this county, where Mrs. 
Green died on the 1st of January, 1888, at the age 
of eightj'-seven years. Mr. Green is yet living on 
his old farm in Bunker Hill Township and for a 
man of his .advanced age is woiiilerfully preserved. 
In religious belief he is a Presbyterian, his wife 
having also adhered to that faith. In their family 
were three children of whom Mrs. Jones is the eld- 
est; Lewis, the son, is married and follows farming 
in Brighton Township; .and Christina is keeping 
house for her father. 

For some time before her marriage, Mrs. Jones 
earned her own living as a domestic. By their 
union have been born eight children, six of whom 
are yet living — William T., Anna M., F>mma F., 
James A., Louis H. and Frank E. John and Ed- 
ward are now deceased. In politics, Mr. Jones is 
a stalwart supporter of the Democracy-. He and 
his estimable wife, by their unassuming, yet up- 
right lives have won the confidence and regaril of 
all with whom they have come in contact. The 
farm upon which they reside and vyhere they have 







^- O, .^a^-Suyk 



PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



275 



a pleasant lioiiie consists of twoliuncircd and thirty ■ 
five acres of bigiiiy im|)rovcd land on sections !), 
10, 14 and 16, llrigliton Townsliip. We have ho- 
fore spoken of Mr. Jones as a self-inade man, a 
title which he well deserves for his possessions have 
all been acquired through his own efforts, being 
the result of his industry, enterprise, perseverance 
and good management. 



ellARLKS O. RIATLAClv, who resides in 
Sliipman,was born near Iladdonfield, Cam- 
den County, N. J., December 4, 1828. His 
father, William K). Mallack, had his nativity in 
the same place March 14, 1802, and was the son of 
Josiah Matlack of Welsh ancestry. This grand- 
father was .1 millwright bj' trade, and spent his en- 
tire life in New Jersey. He served as an olliccr in 
the War of 1812. The father of our subject was 
reared to agricultuial pursuits and resided in his 
native State until 1857, when he came to the 
Prairie State in time to spend one week in the home 
of his affectionate son, our subject, before his de- 
parture to the spirit land. 

The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Hope Osier. She also was born near Iladdon- 
field, N. J., and died in her native State in 1839, 
when Charles was a lad of eleven years. The fa- 
ther married a second time, being then united with 
Frances Ferry, who died in Martinsburg, Mo., 
while on a visit there about the year 1881. Our 
subject was reared and educated in his native 
county, and assisted his father in carrying on a 
farm, taking hold of agricultural pursuits as soon 
as he was large enough to be of help. He resided 
on the old homestead until 1855. 

In the fall of that year Charles Matlack came to 
Illinois and spent the first winter neai- Brighton. 
The following spring he bought a tract of land in 
Sliipman Townshii). There was a frame house then 
in process of construction and about eighty acres 
of the land was improved when he took it. He re- 
sided there until 1873 and during that time placed 
the land under cultivation, erected a barn and 



completed the house, besides planting orchards 
whicii arc now in full bearing condition. 

In 1873 Mr. Matlack placed his farm in the 
hands of a tenant and removed to Shipman where 
he has since that lime lived a retired life. His 
marriage which took place in 1855 united him 
with R. A. Abbott, who was born in Salem County, 
N. .1. Her father William and his father Joel, were 
natives of the same county and of English an- 
cestry. The American progenitor of this family 
is said to have come to this country at a very early 
date. The fatTier of Mrs. Matlack was finely edu- 
cated and a teacher by profession, but in his more 
advanced years devoted himself to agriculture. He 
came to Illinois in 1855 and settling near Brighton 
spent his last years there. He died April 21, 1884, 
at the home of a daughter at Springfield, Mo., 
where he was visiting. 

The maiden name of the mother of Mrs. Mat- 
lack was Abigail Steward. She was born in Salem 
County, N. J., of which her father, Nathan 
Steward, was also a native. He was the son of 
Joseph Steward, who was born in that State March 
11), 17(58. From him the family genealogy is traced 
back through Joseph Steward, the third, who was 
born May 13, 1746, and his father, Joseph Steward, 
the second, who was born September 12, 1702, to 
the original Joseph Steward, vvho with Alice 
Wright, his wife, came from Scotland to America 
in the Colonial days and settled in New Jersey. 
Joseph the second married Bridget Middleton a 
daughter of John and Esther Middleton, and died 
March 12, 1780. Joseph the third married Ann 
Robbins, daughter of Nathaniel ant! Ruth Robbins, 
and died in 1813. 

Nathan Steward, the grandfather of Mrs. Mat- 
lack, married Rachel Morgan, the daughter of Jon- 
athan and Bathsheba Morgan. He was a farmer 
and spent his entire life in New Jerse}^ dying 
April 9, 1811. The mother of Mrs. Matlack died 
in Salem County, N. J., July 16, 1847. The f.a- 
ther married a second time, his wife being Sarah 
Hutchinson who passed away March 27, 1884. Mr. 
and Mrs. Matlack are earnest and conscientious 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Cliurch, and 
the}' have laborers in the Sunday-school for many 
years. He has also been Steward of the church for 



276 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



a long time. The Rcpublifan party embodies in its 
|(lalfoiin tlie political views to wliicli he gives as- 
sent. Ho lakes an interest in ediieational matters 
and was a member of the School Hoard, serving iu 
that capacity with credit to himself and advantas^e 
to the district. 

A lithographic portrait of Mr. Matlack appears 
in connection with this biographical sketch. 

RED DUGGER, of Seoltsville Townsliii., is 
not only one of the foremost of the enlight- 
ened and progressive farmers and stock- 
raisers of this county who have contributed so 
largely to its present important position as a highly 
developed, wealthy agricultural centre, but he is 
likewise a leader in its public life, having held 
various responsible civic oflices from time to time 
for several years past, and is at present a prominent 
member of the Board of Supervisors. 

Mr. Dugger is a native of this State, born in 
Gallatin County, June 13, 1838. His father, John 
Harrison Dugger, was born in Summer County, 
Tenn., March 14, 1814. His father, who bore the 
same name as our subject, was a pioneer of that 
State, and he was a soldier in the War of 1812, 
serving under Gen. Jackson at the battle of New 
Orleans. In 1829 he emigrated to Illinois, and 
was one of the early settlers of Gallatin County, 
where he entered land from tiie Government, which 
he developed into a farm, whereon he spent his re- 
maining days, which were long in the land. 

The father of our subject was a lad of fifteen years 
when he came to this State with his parents. The 
remainder of his youth was passed in Gallatin 
County, where in due time he married and establish- 
ed a home. He made a claim to a tract of Govern- 
ment land, and in the log-house that he built upon 
it his son of whom we write was born. It was a 
primitive structure, the roof covered with l)oards 
rived by hand and held in place by poles, no nails 
entering into the const ruction of the house, and the 
floor was made of split i)unclieon. In 1 845 the father 
sold that place, and on Christmas Day started for 
Macoupin County with his wife and four children, 



traveling with ox-teams, and bringing all his earth- 
ly possessions with him, driving his stock before 
him, antl camping by the wayside at night. Two 
weeks were consumed by this slow mode of journey- 
ing, and after his firrival at his destination Mr. 
Dugger rented land in Scottsville Townshi)), whicli 
he farmed two years prior to buying a tract of one 
hundred and twenty acres on Apple Creek, to wiiicli 
he later added forty acres entered from the (iov- 
ernment adjoining his original purchase. He lived 
there until 185C, and tlien sold that properly and 
made another move, going to Missouri and taking 
up his residence in Adair County. In 1860 he re- 
turned to this county, and bouglit a part of some 
laud tliat he h.ad formerly owned. He has since 
sold that and now resides on section 6, of the same 
township (Scottsvllle), where he is very pleasantly 
situated. He has been twice married. The maiden 
name of his first wife, mother of our subject, was 
Minerva Pritcliett. She w.as a native (jf Williaui- 
son County, Tenn., and a daughter of William T. 
and Peggy I'ritchett. She died in 1854. She was 
the mother of ten children. Mr. Dugger's second 
wife was Lucinda Sharp, a native of Illinois, and a 
daughter of Henry and Jane Siiari). Eleven chil- 
dren have been born of this marriage. 

Dred Dugger was in his eighth ^ear when tlic 
family came to this county. His education was 
obtained in the pioneer schools of the early years 
of the settlement of ihis region, that were tau<'ht 
in log-houses, which were heated by fires in rude 
open fire places, and furnished with seats maile by 
splitting logs tliat were hewn smooth on one side. 
Each building was lighted by the primitive method 
of removing a log the entire lenglh of the room, 
and a row of glass being inserted in the aperture 
thus made. 

As soon as he was large enough our subject com- 
menced to .assist in the labors of the farm, and thus 
early became thoroughly drilled in agricultural pur- 
suits. He resided wilh his parents until he com- 
menced life for himself on rented land in Morgan 
County. He lived there from 185C to 1862, and 
then invested in sixty acres of land in Scottsville 
Township, at *4 an acre, to be paid on time. He 
built a hewn log- house, with an earth and stick 
chimney, and foi- a time a blanket served for 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



277 



a floor. Later lie made a door with wooden 
iiinges and a wooden latcli. Four years after he 
inircliased that place lie exchanged il for the farm 
that lie now owns an 3 occupies. He has four hun- 
dred and sevcnt\--five acres of choice land, the 
greater part of which is tillage and pasture, and it 
ranks as one of the best farms in this part of the 
county, its harvest fluids being under Hne cultiva- 
tion, and its improvements of a high order, includ- 
ing a commodious and well-arranged set of frame 
buildings. 

Mr. Dugger has been veiy happy in his domestic 
relations, as by his marriage December 3, 1857 
with Miss Sirnea J. Hart, he secured a helpmate 
that has been all to him that a true wife can bo to 
her husband. She was born at Hartland, in the 
southern part of Morgan County, and is a daugh- 
ter of l):ivid and Elizabeth (Rhodes) Hart, pioneers 
of that part of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Dugger have 
eleven children, named as follows, Elizabeth, Edgar 
A., Lillie M., Alice L., Clara L., Hallie B., Ro- 
zella, .lames E., Magnolia, Luru E. and Ralpii 
Emerson. 

The life of our subject has always been guided 
by the higiiest [jrinciples of right and honor, and 
the jiovver of honesty and unswerving integrity is 
shown by the imidicit confidence in wliicli he is 
held by all, and b^' the various positions of trust 
that iiis fellow-citizens, in just recognition of his 
great worth and his capacity for affairs, have often 
called upon him to hold. He has a strong, well- 
balanced mind, is a wise and safe counselor, and 
has a just appreciation of the best business methods, 
all of which make him a man of weight in the 
public life of township and county, and he is one 
of our best-known civic officers. He keeps well 
informed on all topics of general interest, and es- 
pecially in regard to politics, using his intluence 
in favor of the Democratic part}'. He has served 
three years as Assessor, three years as Highway 
Commissioner, a like number of years as Collector, 
and several years as a member of the District 
School Board. 

Mr. Dugger was elected Supervisor from Scotts- 
ville Township in 1885, and has been re-elected 
each year since without opposition. As a member 
of that Board he has been on various committees, 



was at one time Chairman of the Board and of the 
Judiciary Committee, and is now Chairman of the 
Committee on Abatement and Assessment. He is 
identified with the I'nion Alliance, No. 74, is Presi- 
dent of the County Alliance, and was delegate from 
Macon [>in County to the State Alliance at Spring- 
field and is now elected a Delegate to the State 
convention at S|)ringfield. PiOlli our subject and 
his wife are people of true religious convictions, 
and are members in high standing of the Baptist 
Ciiurch. 

-fSf^J^- 



\f/OHN WESLEY Dl'NCAN. This gentle- 
man is engaged in the lumber business in 
Palmyra and also handles lime, coal, hair, 
\^/' cement and grain. He devotes himself 
closely to his business and is doing well in that 
line in which ho decided to embark n. few years 
since. He is associated in business with his brother, 
Joseph B., and the lumber yard they now own 
was purchased by them in the fall of 1888. Mr. 
Duncan is quite a young man, having been born 
Octobe"- 26, 1865, but hois showing the qualities of 
which the good business man is made, and carrj'- 
ing on his work according to the truest principles, 
remembering that even in matters of trade, honesty 
is a duty as well as good policy. 

James Duncan, paternal grandfather of our sub- 
ject, is thought to have been born in A'irginia. 
For man}' years his home was in Washington Coun- 
ty, Tenn., and there his son James was born and 
reared. The latter ))egan his lifework as a school- 
teacher, but having been reared to agricultural 
pursuits he abandoned llie profession after he had 
taught several terms and took up farming. He 
had come to this county and his first term of 
school was at Simpson Hill in South Palmyra 
Township. He began his farm work near Girard, 
but after a time removed to the village and for 
two 3'ears was occupied in the grain trade. He 
then bought land in South Palmyra Township and 
resumed farming, giving it his entire attention un- 
til 1881, when he took up the lumber business, al- 
though he still occupied his farm. He died there 
in 1888. He left a widow and three children, John 



278 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Wesley, .loscpli 11. and .lames T. The widow still 
Dccupios the lioinestead. Siic bore liie maiden 
name of Aliigail I'lolliU. She was horn in Wash- 
ington County, Tenn., and is a daughter of Daniel 
and Sarah Proflllt, pioneers of this coiMity. (irand- 
father Diinean eanie hither after tiie death of his 
wife and spent his last days with his son James, 
dyinjr about 1.SG3. 

Tlic birtiiphice of our subject was the village of 
Girard, but he was reared on the farm. After tak- 
ing the course of study in the public scliool he 
spent a year in Shurlleff College in Upper Alton. 
He made his home with his parents until his mar- 
riage, then locate<l in the village of Mlwood, but 
still gave his attention to farming. lie lived there 
two years, then moved to Palmyra and entered 
upon the work he is now pursuing. lie was mar- 
ried in 1888 to Miss Fannie 15. Thaeker, who was 
born in Nilwood Township and is a daughter of 
Zaehary and Nancy Thaeker, a biogra|)hieal sketch 
of whom appears on another [lage of this Uecoud. 
Husband and wife belong to the Baptist Church, 
of which Mr. Duncan's mother is also a member 
and his father for many years was a Deacon. Our 
subjecl^and wife have one daughter living, Bertit F. 
Mr. Duncan votes the Republican ticket. He is 
connected with the Palmyra Building & Loan As- 
sociation and socially belongs to Palmyra Cami), 
No. 149. M. W. A. 



iH^JIlC^SlB 



(^ AMIEL TRIBLK. M. D., became a resi- 
,^^ dent of this county in 18;?C, and from that 

1^^ time to the present, witli the exception of 
a few earlier years, has been .i potent fac- 
tor in its pros|>erity, particularly in agricultural 
affairs. He is now living at Piasa, to which place 
he removed from the homestead in 1885. He is 
the owner of the celebrated i\lad Stone, which was 
exhibited .at the Centennial Exposition in Philadel- 
phia and which has been tested many times and suc- 
cessfully demonstrated its curative properties. Dr. 
Trible guarantees to cure bites and wounds caused 
by mad dogs, and hydrophobia, and makes no 
charge if he does not su'-ceed. He frequently oocs 



with the best physicians in the county to points 
where rabid animals have bitten i)cople, and he is 
looked upon quite in the light of a public bene- 
factor. Although he does not pr.actice medicine lie 
holds a diploma from the College of Philadelphia. 
Dr. Trible was born in Devonshire, Knghiud. 
November, 1821, and is the elder son of Samuel 
.and Susan (Trible) Trible. The family came to 
America in 183G, and set up their home on a tract 
of raw prairie in this county. The mother died in 
September after their arrival, an<l the father lived 
only until August of the ensuing year, when he 
joined his companion on the other shore. In ac- 
cordance with his father's wish Samuel Trible re- 
mained on the farm and looked to the interests of 
his brother John, who was four years younger than 
hims-jlf. The younger son was aided to a thorough 
education and became a graduate from Shurtleff 
College in Alton. He studied law and piacticed 
in Alton, of which city he became attorney. He 
resigned the position when the Civil War broke 
out and entered the service as Captain. He was 
wounded at the battle of Arkansas Post and died a 
few days later. He left one son, now Dr. John 
Trible, of Waverly, this State. 

Our subject improved the farm, replacing the 
cabin that was first built thereon for a better dwell- 
ing, and gradually adding other structures, as the 
work carried on made necessary or convenient. 
He now owns four hundred .acres of land all well 
improved and when, in 1885, he decided to take 
up bis residence elsewhere, he bought good prop- 
erty across the road within the limits of Piasa. 
His home is not only supplied with every comfort, 
but has some features very unusual. Perhaps the 
most conspicuous is a pipe organ which he bought 
while in England on a visit to his uncle. Mr Tri- 
ble sojourned in Europe eighteen months and 
greatly enjoyed ttie sights of the Old World, al- 
though he was quite willing to return to America 
to live. 

Thel.adywho presides over Dr. Triblc's home 
bore the maiden name of Mattie Reynolds, and to 
them there have been born five children. But one 
of these survives, a son, George. Dr. Trible has 
never desired public oflice. but is public spirited 
and liberal handed. He gave the ground on which 



I 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



279 



the Methodist Episcopal Church stands and that 
which is used for the cemetery, donated a mile of 
light of way to tiie railroad and grounds for the 
depot, lie votes tlie Republican ticket and can 
give a good reason for so doing. His religious 
home is in tlic Methodist F^piscopal Church, lie 
was a hard worker in his early life, even keeping 
house for himself while he was improving the 
homestead, and he knows what it is to struggle and 
toil. He is able, therefore, to sympathize with 
others and to point out the honest industrious line 
of life which will lead to success. For the pioneer 
work he has done, the upright life he has lived, 
and the interest he has shown in progress, he is 
esteemed by all who know him. 



^ 



<| felLLlAM E. P. ANDERSON, of the legal 
\/\/// '^'"^ '^^ Anderson Ai Bell, of Carlinville, 
^f%' and Master of Chancery (for Macoupin 
County) stands well at the head of liis profession, 
his clear apprehension of the fundamental |)rinci- 
ples of law, his success in liis practice, and his high 
personal ciiaiacter, having early vvon liim a prom- 
inent place at the bar of this State. Our subject 
is a native-born citizen of tliis county, and is a 
representative of a family whose name has been 
associatcil with tlie rise and progress of tiiis sec- 
tion of Illinois from the early years of its settle- 
ment. 

Mr. Anderson was born May 31, 1850, on the 
north half of section 7, Shaw's Point Township, in 
tlio home of his parents, Erasmus S. and Mary E. 
(Hogan) Anderson. His father was a native of 
Christian Count3', Ky., and was a son of Col. James 
C. Anderson, who was a Virginian by birth. The 
father of the latter was one of the three brothers 
who came to this country in Colonial times. The 
great-grandfather of our subject settled in Virginia, 
whence he subsequently removed to Bourbon 
County, Ky., of which lie was one of the original 
liioneers. He entered a thousand acres of land in 
that wild region, and as far as known spent the re- 
mainder of his life there. He was unfortunate In 



his later years and met with reverses whereby he 
lost all his property. 

Col. Anderson, who was an officer in a regiment of 
the Kentucky Slate militia while a resident of Christ- 
ian County, early had to .assume the responsibil- 
ities of life on his own account after his father lost 
his property, and at the age of sixteen he left the 
shelter of the parental roof, and from that time 
cared for himself. He learned the trade of a hatter, 
but he did not follow it long, as a sedentary occu- 
pation was little to the taste of one of his active 
temperament. He went from Bourbon to Christian 
County in Kentucky, and there bought a tract of 
land. He carried on farming, and remained a resi- 
dent of that county until 1834. In that year, ac- 
companied by his wife and six children, lie started 
for Illinois with a pair of oxen attached to a 
wagon, which conveyed the household goods, an(J 
the family rode in a two-horse carriage. Bidding 
adieu to friends, they left their old Kentucky home 
behind them on the 12tli of October, and traveling 
as fast as they could over the intervening wild 
country, camping and cooking by the wayside at 
night, they an ived at Carlinville, near the scene 
of their future dwelling place, fifteen d.ays later. 
They found here Init a small hamlet of houses 
where now stands a nourishing city, and in a log 
cabin which the grandfather of the subject rented, 
the family passed the winter. 

The Colonel was well fitted by a bold, intrepid 
nature, a resolute will, and great capability to cope 
with the hardships of a frontier life, and he active- 
ly entered n|)on his pioneer labors of building up a 
new home in the primeval wilds that were the en- 
vironments of the location that he had selected. 
He had visited this region the June before, and 
had entered from the (iovcniment four hundred 
acres of land on section 11, of what is now Carlin- 
ville 'J'ownshii), and during the winter of 1834-35 
he erected a log house on his land, riving boards 
to cover the roof, and splitting puncheon for the 
floor. The family moved into that typical [lioneer 
abode in the si)ring of 1835, and there the Colonel 
and his wife dwelt in comfort and contentment 
until their untimely death of the cholera in 1851, 
she dying thirteen da^s after he had breathed his 
last. She was likewise a native of \'irginia, and 



280 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Iier iii!ii>icn n:iini' was Ami Hico Harris. The graud- 
fatliiT was a man of more than ordinary intelli- 
gence, alwiys a great reader, and well posted. He 
was especially interested in polities, giving hearty 
support to the A\ li-g parly, and he was an ardent 
admirer of Henry Clay. He and his wife roared 
these seven children— Crittenden H. C, Maria C, 
Krasmiis S.. Augustus K.. Malcolm M., Henry 
Clay and Mary A. 

Erasmus Anderson was a lad of twelve years 
when the family came lo this county. He was 
reared to agricultural pursuits, and at the time of 
marriage had settled on a farm of two hundred and 
sixty acres, on the northern half of section 7, 
Shaw's Point Township. He was quite an exten- 
sive trader in live-stock and real estate, was one of 
the substantial men of the county who was a val- 
uable factor in its upbuilding, and by his prema- 
ture death of cholera August 20, 1851, in the full 
vigor of life that seemed to promise many more 
years of usefulness, it suffered a serious loss to its 
interests. Ills wife preceded him in death only a 
few days, dying of the same dread disease August 
16, 1851. She was a native of Shelby County, 
Ky.. and a daughter of Isaac and Nancy Hogan.' 
Her father emigrated from her native county to 
this county, and was one of the early pioneers of 
North Palmyra Township. He was a prosperous 
farmer and trader. His life w.as cut short when 
in its i.rime by his death on his homestead at the 
age of forty-four years. 

The subject of this brief biography was the only 
ehild of bis parents, and after their sad death when 
he was only fifteen months old he was taken in 
'I'aige by his uncle, Crittenden H. C. Anderson, 
who cared for him tenderly, and reared him to an 
honoiable life. As soon as he was old enouul, he 
"'!»de himself useful in herding cattle on tbe'open 
prairie and in working on the farm by the month. 
Ho attended the common schools as opportunity 
offered, and lahl a substantial foundation for his 
after pursuit of knowledge. Ills aunt, Mary J 
Anderson, was very desirous that he should have a 
good education, and it was through her interest in 
his behalf that at tbe age of fourteen he became a 
student at IJlackburn Tniversity, which heatteuded 
SIS months of the year for two years, lie then 



worked in a woolen mill one year, but he had by 
no means abandoned the idea of securing a higher 
education, and at the .age of seventeen he entered 
Wesleyan University at Blooraington, and w.as in 
attendance (here two years. 

Returning to Carlinville after he left the Tni- 
versity, Mr. Anderson studied law in tiie ofHee of 
.Tohn Mayo Palmer a part of the lime the following 
year. In 1870 he went to Philadelphia, and wa's 
in a private school in that city six months. At 
the expiration of that time he came back to Carlin- 
ville and entered the office of .Judge William R. 
Welch in April, 1871, and on August ,31 of tbe 
same year lie was .admitted to the bar. Although 
he w.as fully equipped to enter upon his profession- 
al career, he i)referrcd to prepare himself still 
further, and assiduously continued his studies until 
•lune 1872, when he opened an office in Carlinville, 
where he has pr,-.ctice<l law ever since. September 
1, 1877, Alexander U. Hell became his partner, 
under the firm name of Anderson & Bell, .and the' 
partnership still continues to their mutual a.lvan- 
tage. Not only is our subject iirominent in the 
professional and public life of this his native coun- 
ty, but he is one of its foremost agriculturists. He 
has an inherent love for farming, and now owns 
hvc hundred acres of highly cultivaterl lan.l, in- 
cluding two line farms in Carlinville Township. 

Mr. Anderson and Miss Nellie I). Hamilton were 
unitcl in marriage October 23, 1873, .and their 
home is one of the most inviting and attractive in 
Carlinville. so full and free in its delightful hospi- 
tality and the nameless charm of an all-pervadin-^ 
air of ease and comfort. Mrs. An.lerson is a nat" 
ive of McLean County, this State, and a d.aughter 
of .lohn and Rebecca (Pritchard) Hamilton "tIic 
following is the record of the three children that 
complele the household of our subject and his 
wife: William Hamilton was born August 8 1874- 
Crittenden H. C, March 18, 1878; WaRer Stratton' 
October 4, 1881. Mrs. Anderson is a woman of 
hue character, filling i„ a perfect measure her posi- 
tion as wife and mother, and in her the Methodist 
Episcoiial Church has a valued member. 

Mr. Anderson, .as a Lawyer with a clear concep- 
tion of the legal questions involved, unites a won- 
derful iu.luslry and a tireless pertiu.acit,y which 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



281 



are invaluable. He is bocesl, conscientious and 
faithful always. He never wearies in a cause whicli 
lie rofianis as just. Is always faithful to his trust, 
and promptly and carefully attends to whatever 
may be entrusted to his care. Honestj', industry 
and unfailing promptness distinguish his character 
at all times. He has a frank and generous nature, 
is courteous and considerate in his intercourse 
with others, and both his public and private life 
is blameless. 

Ills fellow-citizens, admiring his talents and ajj- 
preciating his fitness for responsible [losilions, have 
often honored him and themselves bj' electing him 
to some public oflBce. He served as City Attorney 
in 1K74 and 187.5. and in 1877 was elected Assist- 
ant Supervisor to represent Carlinville Township 
on the County IJoard of Supervisors, and he was 
inllucnlial in securing the funding of the county 
debt that year. He has interested himself in local 
educational matters, and for four terms was a mem- 
ber of the Carlinville Hoard of Education. In Oc- 
tober, 1H.'S7, Mr. Anderson was appointed Master 
in Chancery by .Judge Welch, he being regnriled 
as the man best qualified in man}' respects for that 
l)Osition, and in October, 1889, he was re-appointed 
to that o(IiC(s by .Judge .7 esse .J. l'liilli|)s, with the 
appnjval of the entire bar. We can but add that 
Ills able and faithful discharge of his duties as 
Master of C'hancery since his appointment has jus- 
tified his selection. Mr. Anderson cast his first 
Presidential vote for Horace Greele^' in 1872, and 
has lieen a confirmed Democrat ever since then. 



\l/OHN W. HARRISON. The genial owner 
of the farm located on section 18, xN'ilwood 
Township, is conspicuous for the success he 
has attained by his close application to his 
business, of whose minutiae he has complete mast- 
ery. He is a go-ahead, pushing man, in fact a fair 
type of an American farmer, quick to turn every 
feature of nature to its own advantage. Mr. Har- 
rison is of English parentage, his father, being John 
W. Harrison who was born in England. His moth- 
er, Mary (Snyder) Harrison, was a native of Mary- 



land. After their marriage they settled in Cov- 
ington, Ky., and from there moved to Shelbj' 
County, Ohio, where they lived. In 1852 Mr. Har- 
rison went to California with the idea of engaging 
in gold mining. He, however, died in Yuba County, 
Cal., in 1850. The mother, after her husband's 
death, removed from 8helb\- County-, Ohio to 
.Springfield, Ohio, where she died. They were the 
parents of four children, three daughters and one 
son. Our subject was the second child. 

Mr. Harrison was born in Shelby Counlj', Ohio, 
September 22, 1847. There he grew to manhood, 
and at the call for volunteers during the late war 
he enlisted, February 1862, in Compan3'K, of the 
Twentieth Ohio Regiment. He served until the 
close of the war, his time covering a period of three 
years: he then re-enliateil as a veteran and served 
until he was discharged. He took part in many of 
the desperate battles for which the war of the rebel- 
lion will ever 1)0 noted. He was slightly wounded in 
the neck at the battle of Shiloli. He was appointed 
as Dispatch Orderly under Gen. Logan and after- 
waril held the same [)Osition under Gen. M. D. Leg- 
gett. After his discharge he returned to Shelby 
County, Ohio, whe;e he remained about one and 
one-half years and then came to Girard, III. where 
he worked for Aaron Hickman for a space of one 
year and then rented some land which he farmed 
on his own account. He soon after this purchased 
eighty acres of land near Girard whi(-h he afterward 
sold and purchased two hundred acres. To this he 
has since added one hundred and forty acres. 

Mr. Harrison does not believe in a divided affec- 
tion nor docs he think that any enterprise can be a 
success unless it is made a specialty. He gives his 
attention wliolh' to farming with its legitmate 
branches. He is much interested in stock raising 
ship[)ing his stock to metropolitan markets. This 
business he has found to be lucrative and satisfa- 
tory in that there is a better chance to attain a 
higher degree of perfection in breeding animals 
than in raising crops. 

The original of this biography united himself for 
better or worse March 18, 1808, to Miss Mary C. 
Powers, a daughter of George and Casander 
(Brown) Powers. The nuptials took place in Girard. 
The parents of Mrs. Harrison are both natives of 



282 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Pennsylvania. Tlic fallicr diod in Paric County, 
Ohio; the raolliei- passed away in Nilvvood Town- 
ship, at tiie residence of iier daughter Mary, M.ay 
30, 1884. She was born in Rusli County, Ind., 
September 18, 1849. 

Our subject and his wife iiave welcomed into 
their home nine children whose names are as follow: 
Hugh VV., Charles W., Edward C, Herbert M., 
Maud M., Lulu E., Noia E., and Ada M. Hugh 
and one other child were taken away from their 
parents in infancy. Mr. Harrison has been school 
Director for several years. Mrs. Harrison, who is 
a woman of unusual ability and intelligence main- 
taining herself in every [wsition in wiiich she may 
be placed with dignity and elegance, is a mem- 
ber of the Christian Church, and in her social rela- 
tions her genial and ami.ible temperament com- 
mend her most affectionately to all who are thrown 
in her daily pathway. 



4- 



-^^ 



Vt/AMESG. HAGLER. One of the substan- 
tial men in Macoupin County, who owns a 
flnely improved farm of throe hundred and 
live acres on section 15, North Otter Town- 
ship, and which is devoted, as is so much of the 
fertile valley of Central Illinois, laigely to the cul- 
tivation of fine stock as well as general farming. 
This place is owned by the gentleman whose ,^^^6 
heads this sketch. 

Eor a history of Mr. Hagler's parents see a sketch 
Of John G. Hagler on another page of this volume. 
Our subject was one of fourteen children, who 
were in.parlially divided, there being seven sons and 
seven daughters. Of these children our subject 
w-as the third child and second son. He was horn 
September 28, 1820, in Madison County, this 
State. There he grew to manhood and lived until 
he was about twenty-four years old. j 

The years of our subject's adolescence were much ' 
Idve those of other farmer lads. He atten.lcd dis- 
trict school and got into mischief as boys will j 
The long sunKners were full of hard work, relieved ' 
by some frolics. The severity of winter lost its | 
sting by the pleasure of looking forwar.l to the 



singing schools and frolics in the barns where 
country dances were participated in with vim if 
not with elegance. Such pleasures .is these varied 
the monotony and tedious routine of the life of the 
farmer boy until he reached his twenty-fourth year, 
when he felt that he must branch out for himself. 

In 1845 Mr. Hagler went to Morgan County and 
for a time he lived on a farm which he had pur- 
chased on his arrival there. In four years he sol.1 
this out and came to Macoupin County, havin<r 
been a resident in North Otter Township since thai 
time, with the exception of two years, when he re- 
turned to Madison County. He h.is always been 
eng.agod in farming and agricultural pursuits and 
I now owns the fine farm above mentioned, upon 
which he h.as erected at grcnt expense buildings 
that are adequate for the demands of storage, etc. 
Our subject was married in Morgan County," this 
State, to Miss Elvira E. Millen, a daughter of Arch- 
I -bald and Polly (Graham) Millen, who died in Mor- 
gan County. Mrs. Elvira Hagler was born in 
I Monroe County, October 0, 1825. She was the 
mother of five children, they being Mary E., who 
! <lied in infancy; Harvey T., wiio is a farmer in 
Colorado; John 11.. a miner; William I. and Hiram 
J5., who died in childhood. Mr. Ilagler's wife 
died August 18, 185.3, in the county in which 
i was their residence. On the 23d of Novem- 
ber 1854, he gave his motherless children a new 
guar.lian, his second wife being Miss Clarissa 
, Fails, a daughter of William and .Sar.ali (Dixon) 
F.alls. The mother died in North Carolina and the 
father in Bond County, HI. The present Mrs 
Hagler was born in North Carolina, .January 5, 
1833. She is the mother of nine children, who .ire' 
Sidney, Frances I., Homer P., Janette, Alice, El- 
mer E., George L.. Arthur L. and Carrie M. The 
el<lest son is the proprietor of a farm in North Ot- 
ter Township; his eldest sister is the wife of 
Homer B. Mitchell, of North Otter; Janette is 
the wife of Thomas Graham; Alice w.as united in 
marriage to Ellsworth Chaffln; Elmer is a physician 
in Ann Arbor, Mich. 

Our subject has been elected School Treasurer of 
the township and hcM the position for eleven 
years, thereby demonstrating the confidence that 
the people have in his honor and integrity He 




ROBERT' JARM-AN. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, 



285 



was formerly an adherent of the Republican part}', 
hut of late has been an active worker in the Pro- 
hibition party. Mr. Hagler and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which 
he has lilicd various offices. Ilis wife is higlily es- 
teemed as being a woman of exceptional ability 



and intellectual gifts. 



t^OBERT .lARMAN, a resident of Sliaw's 
Point Township, was born in Devonshire, 
P^ngland, in May, 1833. There he passed 
the early years of his life, being employed 
upon a farm, and caring for horses, until he was 
twenty years old. He then came to America in 
1853 and landing in Quebec, proceeded toCliicago, 
l)iit resided there only a short time, going with a 
friend to Lake County, 111. He was employed in 
Waukegan for a while and in the vicinity of that 
city on a farm until fall, and then came down the 
Illinois River to Altoi>, where for two years he was 
employed in a slaughter-house. 

We next find our subject in Jersey County, 111., 
where he hired out for nine months on a farm. 
Then buying a team and renting land iu compan}' 
with his cousin John .Sioraan, now a resident of 
Honey Point Township, he farmed it for three 
years. He then engaged in running a threshing 
machine in company with two other men and car- 
ried on this kind of work for ten years in Jersey 
County. In the spring of 1800 he came to Ma- 
coupin County, and bought fifty acres in Honey 
Point Township, but returned to Jersey County for 
the threshing season and then came liack to his farm 
in Honey Point. He set out an orchard, made var- 
ious improvements, and lived tliere for four years, 
removing thence to Shaw's Point Township. 

Mr. Jarmun became a soldier in the Civil War, 
enlisting in Comp.T,ny K, One Hundred and Forty- 
fourth Illinois Regiment in the fall of 1864. He 
served until May*25, 1865, when he was mustered 
out of the service. He then returned to his home 
in Shaw's Point Township, where he has since re- 
sided. Farming has been his chief occupation, al- 



though he makes a specialty of fine stock of all 
kinds, and is the owner of some splendid speci- 
mens. He has four hundred acres and upon his 
faiia he has erected an excellent sot of buildings, 
which indicate the thrift and energy- of the owner. 

On March 4, 18G1, Robert Jarman and Selinda 
McDow were united in marriage in Jersey County, 
and since that time the estimable wife may be justly 
said to have divided the sorrows and doubled the 
joys which have come to her husband. Mrs. Jar- 
man is a native of Jersey County and was born 
April 28, 1835. Of the children born unto them 
five survive, viz: Margaret M., born December 15, 
1861; Elmer E., December 4, 1863, and now an 
engineer in California; Lura E., born in 1872; 
Charles O.. May 18, 1875, and Emma M., July 8, 
1880. Four children have been laiii to rest by the 
mourning parents: Carrie E., who was born March 
1, 1866, died when twenty years old F'ebruary 27, 
1886; Mary H., born July 28, 1870, died August 
10, 1871 ; Willie born February 4, 1878, died Jan- 
uary 27, 1879; Freddie E., who was born October 
27, 1867, died February 27, 1868. 

In all matters calculaterl to advance the interests 
of the comuiuiiity where he resides, Mr. Jarman is 
intensely and actively interested. He is a promi- 
nent member of the Republican i)arty, and has 
filled various offices, among them that of Highway' 
Commissioner. He belongs to the Farmers' Mutual 
Benefit Association and to Shaw's Point Horse Thief 
Detective Society. His wife is a consistent and earn- 
est member of the Christian Church, and he eon- 
tributes liberally to the support of every religious 
and benevolent enter|)rise. 

The paients of our subject were Philip and Eliza- 
beth (Sloman) Jarman, both natives of Devonshire, 
England, where they died. Mr. Jarman was a ma- 
son and architect by occupation. The parents of 
Mrs. Jarman were Thomas and Mary L. (Lofton) 
IMcDow, the former was born in North Carolina 
and the latter in Kentucky. They v/ere among the 
earl}' settlers of Jersey County, 111., to which they 
came from Kentucky at an early day. He was a 
farmer by occupation. Mr. Jarman takes great 
pride in his fine stock, and also in the general con- 
dition of his farm. The buildings are first-class 
in every waj' and conduce not only to the happi- 



286 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ness of the household but to the well-being of the 
farm slock. Mr. .T;iiiii:iii is n man with a deep fund 
of information and of broad intelliyenec, and liis 
wife being a lad>' of great loveliness of character 
and refinement of taste, it is natural that they are 
universally esteemed. On another page of this 
volume the reader will lind a lithographic portrait 
of Mr. Jartnan. 



-^^>^^^^^if^)<^^< 




|/^_^^ ENRY J. BOVVN. Among the most prosper- 
ous and thrifty farmers of Bird Township, 
we m.ay count a number who are of English 
birth or parentage, and wiio had learned 
farming in a most thorough and systematic manner 
in the old country. An English farmer is Seldom 
careless and unsystematic in his plan of work. He 
h.as learned to economize space and to let nothing 
lie about at loose ejids. These methods of work 
transferred to the broad and fertile prairies of the 
West make the best of farmers. AraoTig these 
Brilish-Aniericans we may name Henry J. Bown, 
who resides on section 12. 

The parents of our subject were Samuel and 
Jemima (Barnstable) Hown, who were natives of 
Somersetshire, England, where they were reared, 
married, lived and died. Mr. Bown was a farmer 
by occupation and trained his children in the )ii-.ac- 
tical work of agriculture. This worthy couple 
were the parents of thirteen children of whom 
Henry is the youngest. His birth took place in 
Somersetshire, England .luly 15, 18(50. He had 
reached the .age of tliirteen years when he left home 
and went to London, Engl.ind, to make his home 
for five years with his eldest brother, Samuel. Here 
he engaged in peddling milk. In the fall of 1878 
he came to America, m.aking an end to his long 
journey by settling in Macoupin County. 

When this young man first arrived in Illinois he 
lived for two ye.'irs in Polk Township, and after 
this was employed by the late Charles Morris of 
CarlinviUe Townshi|) for three years on his farm. 
He then worked for Samuel E. Killam for two years 
and for Mr. Denby about a year and a half. His 
happy marriage January 5, 1887, with Miss Sarah 



Morris, presaged a jicriod of pros|)erity and was 
the beginning of a life of true domestic hapi)iness. 
The lady who now became Mrs. Bown is a daugh- 
ter of the late Charles Morris, whose sketch appears 
elsewhere iu this book. She w.as born in CarlinviUe 
Township April 2, 1865. Two children h.ave 
blessed this home. They are named AHnnie B. and 
Charles S. 

Mr. Bown has a splendid farm of two hundred 
and thirty acres. It is in excellent condition and 
thoroughly cultivated. He has erected upon it a 
convenient and pleasant homo and an excellent set 
of farm buildings. He makes a specialty of fine 
gr.aded stock and gives to them kind and judicious 
care. In politics he is Republican but is not an 
ottice-seeker, but takes an intelligent interest, not 
only in local affairs, but in county. State and na- 
tional elections. He is a wide-awake, progressive 
farmer and well merits the esteem and confidence 
which is shown him by his neighbors. 

EVIN N. ENGLISH. Few residents of 
Shaw's Point Township have so strong a 
claim on the consideration of the readers 
of this volume as Mr. English. He has borne an 
honorable part in the public affairs of the county, 
and has successfully prosecuted a farmer's career. 
In noting the present prosperity of Macoupin 
County, it is well to remember that it w.as once a 
great tr.act of undeveloped land and that those 
who brought it to its present condition underwent 
much toil and in many cases suffered privations 
unknown to men of the present day. The subject 
of this biographical .«ketch, who came to this 
county in liis youth, has aided in the development 
of his community, and has in the meantime gath- 
ered around him many of the comforts and con- 
veniences which belong to modern farm life. Of 
a generous and hospitable nature, he holds a high 
place in the esteem of his neighbors. 

Many years ago the ceremony was performed 
which united in marri.age Thomas English, a n.ative 
of Maryland, and Ally Cooper, a native of Ken- 
tucky. They located in what was then Greene 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



287 



County, but now a part of Jersey County, 111., 
vvliich was their home until ileatli. Twelve chil- 
ilrcn were born to them, of wiiom our subject wa.s 
llie eleventh in order of birth. On September 21, 
1830, lie was born in Greene County, and there 
jjasseil iiis childhood amid pioneer scenes. At 
an early age lie gained a thorough practical 
linowledge of agriculture in all its departments 
and to this labor he determined to devote himself 
when he was leady to lake up tiie work of life. 
His parents dying when he was quite young, the 
orphaned lad c.".me to Macoupin County and made 
his home with a sister, Mrs Eleanor Fullinglon. 

In Shaw's Point Township, Mr. English grew to 
man's estate. At the age of twenty-two he re- 
moved to Missouri, wliere, iiowever, he sojourned 
only a short time, returning to tliis township and 
renting the farm he now owns on section 35. Af- 
ter following farming pursuits here five years he 
removed to an adjoining farm, which he purchased 
and improved. He has engaged principally in 
general farming althougli devoting some atten- 
tion to stock-raising, in which he has met witli 
mort! than ordinary success. His chief interest 
centers in iiis estate, but he holds exalted ideas of 
the duties and privileges of citizenslii|) and never 
misses an (ii)portunity to advocate by ballot and 
inrtuence those principles he believes to be for ilie 
best progress of tlie country. In him the Demo- 
cratic party finds a stanch adherent rnd one who 
takes an active part in political affairs. He has 
served his fellow-citizens in various capacities, 
holding tlie ofiiec of Suiiervisor one terra, also 
serving as Constable and Highway Commissioner. 

The lady wlio presides with grace over the home 
of Mr. English, was formerly known as Miss Mary 
West, and is tlic daughter of Edward and E\'\7.:\ 
l)eth (Fo.xwell) West, natives of North Carolina 
and Virginia. They were earl^- settlers in .lersey 
County, III., wliere the mother died. The father 
spent his last days with his daughter, Mrs. English, 
and tiiere he died at a good old age. Mrs. English 
who was the foiiith in a family of five children, 
was born in St. Clair County, 111., April 5, 1835, 
and was there married November 2, 1851. Mr. 
Englisii and his estimable wife are the parents of 
five children: Robert W., who married Miss Edna 



L. Johnson; Levin N., Jr.; Ella L., the wife of 
Harvey Allen; Mary V., and John N. Mrs. Eng- 
lish is a consistent member of the Baptist Church 
and an active worker in that organization. So- 
cially, Mr. Englisii is identified witli the Masonic 
fraternity. 



-^^• 




R. MARVEL THOMAS, one of the lead- 
ing young physicians of this count}', now 
successfully engaged in the practice of 
medicine and surgery in Gillespie, was 
born near Plainview, in Hilyard Township, on the 
8th of October, 1855, and comes of good old Revo- 
lutionary' stock. Tlie great-grandfather of our sub- 
ject, John Thomas, was one of five brothers who 
enlisted in the Revolutionary War, but during that 
struggle they became separated, and the family has 
since been divided; in fact, thej' have few known 
relations. John David Thomas, the grandfather 
of the Doctor, was born in South Carolina, and af- 
ter marrying a lady of that State, began life upon 
a farm. Some years later he emigrated Westward 
with his family and settled in St. Clair Count}-, 111. 
as did also his father, who was Secretary of the 
Territory, and after the admission of Illinois to the 
I'nioii, became the first Secretary of State. He 
died at an .advanced age, a man of prominence and 
inlluence, whose loss was mourned by many friends. 
His name is inseparalily connectetl with the early 
history of the State, for lie did much in the inter- 
ests of the public. 

John Thomas and his wife resided in St. Clair 
County during the Territorial days of Illinois, and 
on the 29tli of Juno, 1818, the year of the admis- 
sion to the I'nion, William A. Tiiomas was born. 
When a lad of si.xteen years he came with Hie fam- 
ily to Macoupin County in 1S31, and sulisequenlly 
entered land from the Government in Hilyard 
Township, developing tlierefrom a farm, upon 
which the parents resided until called to their final 
rest. The old homestead fell into the hands ot 
tlioir son William A., wiiodied in December, 1881, 
and left the properly to his four ciiildren. It is 
now in the possession of ihe Doctor and his brother 
Harris, and consists of two hundred and forty acres 



288 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of highly improved lanii. This farm has never 
been out of the familj- since it was obtained from 
the Government about sixty years ago. William 
Tiiomas spent the daj's of his boyhood and youtii 
in tiie usual manner of farmer lads, and when he 
iiad attained to mature years, wedded Luoinda Le 
May, who was born in Indiana, and when a child 
came to Illinois with her parents, the family set- 
tling near Plainview, where the father and motiier 
died. The death of Mrs. Thomas occurred in 1863, 
at the age of forty years. She was a member of 
tiie Baptist Church, and a lady whose many acts of 
kindness and deeds of charity won her the love of 
all. Mr. Thomas became a prominent citizen of 
Ililyard Township, and was a leader in local poli- 
tics. His business aflfairs prospered, and lie became 
quite well-to-do. He was a believer in religion, 
and all th.at tended to elevate mankind and lived 
an upright life. In harmony with the thouglit that 
"the groves were God's first temples,"' his father, 
John D. Thomas, would often repair to a beautiful 
grove near his home for a quiet hour of prayer, 
and in reverence William Thomas would never per- 
mit it to be cut down or molested in any way. 

We now take up tiie personal history of our sub- 
ject, who upon the old Thomas homestead was 
reared to manhood in the usual manner of farmer 
lads, spending his boyhood days midst play and 
work. His literary education was acquired in the 
public schools, and when he had determined to 
make the medical profession his life work, he began 
reading under private direction. Our subject en- 
tered Blackburn I'niversity in the fall of 1873, and 
after completing a regular course, he was gradu- 
ated with the degree of B. fS. After a time he en- 
tered the Missouri Medical College of St. Louis, 
from which institution he was graduated with the 
Class of '84. He entered upon practice in Palmyra 
immediately thereafter, and five years ago opened 
an oflice in Gillespie, wiiero he has since built up j 
a large and lucrative practice. 

The Doctor was married in Palmyra, to Minnie j 
F., daughter of D. N. Solomon, a prominent busi- ! 
ness man and leading citizen of that place. The ' 
lady was born in Macoupin County, on the 8th of 
April, 1863, and is a graduate of the University of 
Lincoln, 111. She was also a student for some time 



in the Jacksonville Female College, and is a lady 
of intelligence and culture, who occupies a promi- 
nent position in the social world. Hospitality 
abounds in her own home, which she presides over 
with the grace and dignity of an accomplished 
lady. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat. He 
has worked his way upward to the front rank of the 
meciical profession, and his skill and ability have 
won him a liberal patronage. 




■€~*^- 



NDREW HUBKR. Commercial life 
Mini throughout America has been stimulated 
and invigorated by assimilating to itself 
the versatility, energy and enthusiasm of 
the Gaulic race. Descendants of this race are 
everywhere found to be successful farmers, mer- 
chants and dealers in various branches of business. 
Andrew Iluber is the leading business man of the 
city of Bunker Hill. His is the liest business house 
in the town, centrally located at the southeast cor- 
ner of Washington and Warren Streets. He is a 
dealer in dry-goods, clothing, men's furnishing 
goods, boots and shoes, hats and caps, millinery, 
carpets, etc. The magnitude of his business may 
be estimated when it is known that his income is 
upwards of $20,000 annually and that in outside 
business, such .as dealing in gr.ain, wool, apples and 
as a manufacturer of barrels, he does an annual bus- 
iness of *75,000. He is a hard-working man and 
wrapped up in his commercial pursuits. 

Mr. Huber was born in New Orleans, La., No- 
vember 2, 1856, where he lived with his parents 
until 1878, being educated in the Mound City Col- 
lege. His life h.as for the most part been spent in 
this part of Illinois. He went into business for 
himself in 1880 and has maintained his position at 
the present stand since 1884. He is a practical, 
far-seeing business man, one to whom the interests 
of the town are pre-eminently important — helpful 
in every way. 

Our subject was ra.arried to Miss Augusta Fail - 
renkrog, November 23, 1882, in Bunker Hill. 
The lady was born in M.idison County, III., Janu- 
ary 6, 1865, and was reared and educated in Bun- 



PORTRAl r AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



289 



ker Hill. Naturally attractive and b}- virtue of 
her husband's liigh position as a leading merchant 
of tiie city, she takfs her place as a leader of soci- 
ety and their home is the center of the best life, so- 
cially and intellectually, of the community. Mr. 
and Mrs. lliiber attend and are members of the 
Lutheran Church. They are the proud parents of 
three dnugiiters — Clara E., Ettie F. and Bertha L. 
Scarcel}' a project lias been inaugurated in the 
city in which Mr. Huber has not been a leading 
s[)irit. lie has been City Treasurer for sometime, 
for two years a member of the City Council, Vice 
President and Director of the Building Associa- 
tion, Director and President of the Bunker Hill 
Nail Company, Treasurer of the Bunker Hill Fire 
Company, and is also proprietor of the Huber Op- 
era House, which is over his store. Such men as 
these give us our reputation abroad as being tiie 
most energetic and far-seeing business men of the 
world. 



■ ^ ^ * 



•J^zSi' 




^^1 RTHUR BOYLE, a general farmer and 
stock-raiser and a very successful busi- 
ness man, located on section 12, of Hii- 
yard Township, owns a fine li'act of three 
hundred and twenty acres, most of which is under 
tlie |)low, and which is adorned wilii fine farm 
buildings. He has owned this place for the 
past nine years and it formerly belonged to his 
father. 

Our subject was born in Burton, N. J., April 1, 
18.")6. and is the eldest son of William and Mar- 
garet (McPhillips) Boyle, natives of the North of 
Leland. Mr. Boyle came of Scotch-Lish Protes- 
tant stock and his wife's parents were Roman 
Catholics. This couple wore leared and married 
in Count}' Derry, and soon after iheir union emi- 
grated to this country, leaving their native shore 
on board a sailing-vessel and landing in New York 
City about the year 1858. They settled for a 
time in New .Jersey and three years later came to 
this Slate, making their home in Ililyard Town- 
ship, and here beginning life without capital ex- 
cept their own ciiaracter. health and j'outh. After 
renting land for a time, thej' saved enough money 



to purchase their first eightj' acres, which, after 
improving, the}' augmented by purchase until they 
owned a whole half- section. This large tract of 
rich fHrming land Mr. Boyle improved and made 
of it one of the best farms in this township. 

After acquiring and improving this handsome 
propert}', Mr. Boyle died at his comfortable and 
beautiful home in December, 1881, having then 
reached the age of sixt3'-six j'rars. He had joined 
the Methodist Episcopal Church early in life soon 
after coining to this counfy, and died in that 
faith and in the hope of a glorious resurrection. 
He was a sound Republican in his political views 
and a man of thought on [lublic matters. He was 
a good and worthy citizen and had many friends 
in tills township and county, being highl}' esteemed 
as a practical and progressive farmer and stock- 
raiser. 

The first Mrs. Boyle had died at home in this 
township in 1863, being then in the prime of life 
about thirty-five years old. Her sister became 
the secot3d wife of Mr. Boyle, having before mar- 
riage been Ellen McPhillips, and being, like her 
sister, a native of L'cland and a Roman Catholic. 
She came to this country when a 3'oung woman 
and is now in a ripe old age, h;iving reached the 
limit of three-score 3ears and ten. 

Arthur Boj'le has one brother living, Edwar<l .J., 
a merchant at Omaha, Neb., whose wife was Maud 
White, of that cit}', and he also has a sister, Mary, 
the wife of C. S. Morgan, who lives on a farm 
in the same township with her brother. These are 
all that are now left of the father's family. Our 
subject was reared to manhood in this township, 
and was here united in marriage with Mary 'I"un- 
ncll, who was born in Polk Township, this county, 
March 2.5, 1864. Her parents, John and Eliza- 
beth (Brown) Tunnell, are now both departed. 
The father was for many years a prominent farmer 
of tliis county, and died in Carlinville in 1890, 
at the age of si.xty. Ilis wife had died four years 
previously at the old homestead in Polk Town- 
ship, having passed the milestone of her half cen- 
tury. They were prominent memljcrs of the Pres- 
byterian Church and well esteemed both for 
character and ability. Their daugliler was judic- 
iously reared and given a liberal education, being 



290 rORTKAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



H graduate of Blackburn rniversity at Carlinville, 
and becoming a teacher for a sbort time before 
her marriage. Siie is a woman of superior quali- 
ties and culture, having true refinement and liber- 
ality of thought, and is a noble homemaker and 
housekeeper. No children have come to lirighten 
the home. Mr. and Mrs. Boyle are attendants 
upon tlie Presbyterian Church and Mr. Boyle's 
political views arc expressed in the iilatform of 
the Republican party. 

"^^^^^S T-lL-r^ ?5.*=S-». 



ILISIIA DAWSON. The gentleman whose 
name heads this sketch is the owner and res- 
ILs^ ident of the farm on section 3, Western 
Mound Township. He is a Virginian by birth and 
early education, having been born in Morgan 
County, W. Va., July 9, 1S27, where he re- 
mained until he reached the years of manhood. 
His early years were spent on a farm in his native 
State and he remained under the home roof until he 
attained his majority. 

On Noveml)er 2, 1818, Mr. Dawson was united in 
marriage to Miss Mary Sliade, who was born in 
Frederick County, Va., July 28, 1828. Their mar- 
riage took place in her native town and their first 
liome was made in Morgan County, W. Va. where 
they lived from March 1849, until March, 1852, 
when they removed to Frederick County, Va., and 
remained until September, 18.54. In the fall of 
that year they removed to Macoupin County, and 
located in Barr Township living thereuntil the fol- 
lowing spring, when they removed to Western 
Mound Township, settling on section 3, of which 
place they have since been residents. 

The farm of three hundred acres which our sub- 
ject owns has been well improved and yields a good 
income to its owner. Mr. and Mrt*. Dawson are the 
parents of eiglit children. They are: Thomas J. 
John S., Charles W. Marshall D., Klizabeth C, 
Henry C, Edwin C, and Minnie T. Elizabeth is' 
the wife of T.J. Dawson; the daughter Minnie died j 
when only two years of age. 

Mr. Dawson has been awarded several offices in 
the township by virtue of his knowledge, ability 



and superior executive power. He has been Sup- 
ervisor of Western Mound Township and Justice 
of the Peace for ten years. Township Assessor for 
two years. Township Collector for one year. High- 
way Commissioner for three years. Township Trus- 
tee six years and School Director, also Township 
Treasurer for six years. Mr. Dawson h.as ever 
taken an active part in local politics, feeling that 
the integral parts of this great land should be as 
well governed as is the whole. 

Mr. and Mrs. Dawson are members of the Bap- 
tist Church. They are the only surviving members 
of tliose who were associated in its organization. 
Oar subject's parents were Thomas and Catherine 
(Hawvermale), Dawson, the former born in Morgan 
County, W. Va., of which county the mother was 
also a native. They came to Macoupin County 
in the fall of 1867 and there died, having spent 
their last days in West Mound Township. They 
were the parents of nine children of wliom our 
subject is the eldest. 



^OIIN H. BROWN, who was for man V years 
one of the leading farmers of this county, 
j and is still connected with its agricultural 
(^^ interests as the proprietor of one of its large 
and finely improved farms, is now living somewhat 
retired from active business in one of the manv at- 
tractive homes of Carlinville. He is by birth a 
native of Tennessee, born near the city of Knox- 
viUe May 6, 1826. His father, Francis G. Brown, 
w.is born in West ^'irginia, and was young when 
his father died. His mother then removed with 
her family to Tennessee, and there he was reared 
and married. Ambitious to avail himself of the 
advantages offered by the cheap lands and the rich 
virgin soil of this State, in 1837 he visited 
Macoupin County, and entered a tract of Govern- 
ment land in what is now Western Mound Town- 
ship, on section 23. He returned to Tennessee 
after that transaction, and the following year came 
back here with his wife and six children to settle 
in this county permanently. The journey was 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



291 



made hither on a flat boat on the waters of the 
Ilolston, Tennessee, Oliio and Mississippi rivers to 
within fifty miles of Paducali, tiien by steaniei- to 
Alton, and tlienee by team to their destination. 
'I'hey anived here in April, and Mr. Brovvn rented 
a ioij' house on section 4, 15ird Townslii|i, in whieh 
the family lived until November, and in the mean- 
time he bought a (juarter of section 1 8, of the same 
township, tifly acres of which were improved and 
two log cabins stood on the place. He paid about 
$5 an acre foi' the land, and while it was in his 
possession he placed it under excellent cultivation 
and greatly increased its value. lie was one of 
the pioneer settlers of this section of the State, 
which was then but sparsely inhabited, the sur- 
rounding country being in a wild condition, with 
deer, wolves and other wild animals roaming at 
will over the prairies and through the timljer. 
There were no railways, and the principal market 
was at Alton, thirty-three miles distant, and the 
nearest at Chesterlield. 

In 1851 the father of our subject sold his farm in 
Bird Township, and removing to Chesterfield, en- 
gaged in the merchandising business in that vil- 
lage and also kept a hotel. He was thus occupied 
a few years, and then retired. At his death in 
October, 1878, at a ripe old age, this county lost 
one of its venerated pioneers who had aided in its 
upbuilding, and had been in every way a desirable 
citizen. His wife, whose maiden name was Mar}' 
Bell, preceded him in death, dying at Chesterfield 
in July, 18(54. She was a native of Knox County, 
Tenn. Those worthy people were the parents of 
nine children, as follows: Elizabeth N., married 
George 8. Huskey; John H.; Melinda, wife of 
Joseph Rafferty; William A.; Matilda C, wife of 
Elisha Harbour; Leonidas M.; Mary J., wife of 
Jacob Dohn; Laura and Hattie (twins), the former 
of whom married Charles .Saunders, and the latter 
J. J. Leach. 

John H. Brown was in his twelfth year when he 
came to this county with his parents, and his edu- 
cation was gained here in the primitive pioneer 
schools of the early years of the settlement of this 
region. The schoolhouse was built of logs; the 
seats were made of split saplings, that were hewn 
smooth on one side, had wooden pins for legs, and 



had neither backs or desks. Our subject received a 
good training in farm work, for as soon as he was 
large enough he had to do his share of it, and he 
afforded his father valuable .assistance in his agri- 
cultural operations, continuing to live with his par- 
ents until ho was twent>-one when he married and 
established a home of his own in a log cabin, six- 
teen feet square, with an earth and stick chimney, 
located on section 5, Bird Township. Ho resided 
on that place two years, and then sold and bought 
one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 
17, of the same township. It was a tr.act of wild 
prairie, for which he paid $.5 an acre. He built a 
small frame house and frame barn, and during the 
two 3ears that he lived there he made many im- 
provements. He then sold that place and bought 
his father's old homestead of two hundred and 
twenty acres, and devoted himself assiduously to 
its cultivation. He met with more than ordinary 
success in his undertakings, as he was practical, 
energetic and sharp-sighted, and at the same time 
prudent and cautious in his transactions, and in the 
course of time he accumulated a valuable property, 
which includes nearly six hundred acres of land. 

In 1881 Mr. Brown came to Cirhnville and 
bougiit the place where he now resides, a commodi- 
ous residence of a modern style of architecture, 
l)leasantly located on North Broad Street. To the 
estimable lady who presides over this beautiful 
home, he was united in marriage September 22, 
1847, and their household is completed b}' their 
two children, Samuel N. and Daisj'. 

Mrs. Brown was formerly Miss Martha E. 
Huskey, and she was born in Dallas County, near 
Selma, Ala., April 13, 1831. Her father, James 
Huskey, was a native of East Tennessee, and was a 
son of one of its early pioneers, Isaac Huskey. 
James Huskey was reared in Tennessee, and went 
from there to Alabama soon after marriage, loca- 
ting in what is now Dallas County, of which he 
was a pioneer. He bought a tract of (iovernment 
land as soon as it came into the market, and resided 
there until 1834, when, with his wife and ten chil- 
dren, he started for Illinois, journeying with ox- 
teams and camping and cooking by the wayside at 
night. He was six weeks on his w.ay, and after his 
arrival in this county he entered Government laud 



292 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



on sections 5, 6, 7, and 8, IJirrl Township, and on 
sections ;?1 and 32, South Paluiyra Township, and 
on section 5, of liie first-named township lie built a 
dwelling, and was a resident there until his death in 
August, 1845. deprived that township of one of its 
foremost pioneers. The maiden name of his wife 
was RhodaReagf n. She was born in East Tennes- 
see, and was a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth 
(Trigg) Reagiin. Siie die<l on the old homestead in 
the fall of 1855. She was the motiier of eleven 
cliildren, namely: Elizabeth, Jane, George, Sarah, 
Mary, Matilda, Pinina, Millie, Martha, Harkey and 
Zerilda. 

A man of Mr. Brown's mental calibre, sound and 
incorruptible character and general trustworthiness 
is necessarily influential in his community, and we 
find that he h.as borne an important part in the 
management of public affairs as an incumbent of 
various responsible offices. He has rei)resented 
Bird Township as a member of the County Board 
of Supervisors; he has served as Township Treas- 
urer and as School Director, and he is an active 
member of the Macoupin County Agricultural 
Hoard. Pulilicall3', he is a Democrat. Religiously, 
both he and his wife are members of tiie Baptist 
Church, and it may l)e said of them that they lead 
consistent Christian lives, and are universally re- 
spected and esteemed. 



ILLIAM C. DRAKE has for many years 



W 



jl carried on farming and stock-raising in 
^^^ Scottsville Township, and by his able man- 
agement of his affairs has not only improveil a 
large and valuable farm that is among the finest 
in this vicinity, but he has at the same time nia- 
tprially aided in extending the agricultural interests 
of the county and thus promoting its growth and 
prosperity. 

Mr. Drake is of Kentucky birth, born in Casey 
County, August 25, 1825. His father, whose name 
was Hiram Drake, was a native of tlie same county, 
a son of one of its pioneer farmers. Carter Drake, 
who spent his last years there. The father of our 
subject grew to man's estate in Casey County and 



there married one of Kentucky's daughters, Naoy 
Murphy, a native of that county. In the fall of 
1830, with his wife and the three children that had 
been born to them in their old home, he came to 
Illinois, making the journey with teams and bring- 
ing the household goods along. He located in the 
wilds of Greene County, in what is now Mt. Era 
Township, entering a tr.act of Government land 
three miles south of Athensville, and building a log 
house to shelter his family, riving boards to cover 
the roof. Two years he lived in that primitive 
abode without any floor and then one was made of 
puncheon. Boards were split for the door, which 
was made to swing inside on wooden hinges, fast- 
ened with a wooden pin. At that time deer, wild 
turkeys and all kinds of game were plentiful, often 
furnishing food for the pioneers, who were princi- 
Ijally home-livers, subsisting on the products of 
their farm, and their clothing was spun and woven 
by the women from flax and wool. The country 
w.as sparsely settled and Alton was the nearest mar- 
ket. 

Mr. Drake was one of the i)ioneers of that sec- 
tion of the Slate, and by liard labor he improved a 
good farm on which he lived many years. He 
finally sold it, and removing to (irecnfleld lived 
retired there until his mortal career was closed in 
the long, dreamless sleep of death. His worthy 
wife also departed this life at Greenfield. They 
reared a family of eleven children. 

William C. Drake, of whom these lines are prin- 
cipally written, was five years old when the family 
came to Illinois, and he grew up amid the primitive 
influences of pioneer life, and well remembers many 
incidents of the early days of the settlement of this 
State, especially the noted "Winter of the Deep 
Snow." His education was gained in the pioneer 
schools that were taught in a rude log house. He 
made his home with his parents until he was 
twenty-one years old, and then came to this county 
and bargained for fifty-eight acres of land at ^b 
an acre, having to go in debt for the place as be 
had no money to pay for it. However, his pros- 
pects for the future were bright, as he had health, 
youth and vigor on his side, seconded by habits of 
industry, excellent judgment and sound common 
Sense. He also had the able assistance of a capable 



I 




X, 







''m^- ^t 



'c:z.A!^<r2^ty^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



295 



wife, and they went to work willi a good will to 
to secure llieir lionie. As soon as that was paid 
for Mr. Drake bought other land at different, times, 
at one time owning six hundred acres of valuable 
real estate, which he has developed into one of the 
choicest farms in the township in regard to im- 
provements and cultivation. lie has given a part 
of his land to his children and now has three hun- 
dred and twenty-five acres. 

Tlie marriage of our subject with Miss Mary A. 
AVheeler took place in 1847. They have five chil- 
dren living, named Martha, Sally, M. L., Nancy 
Alice and Mary. M.artha married Washington 
Richmond; Sally is the wife of .John Redfern; 
M. I,, married Lou Davis; and Mary married J. B. 
Vaughn. Mrs. Drake is a native of Knox Count}-, 
Ky., and a daugiiter of Joshua and Sally (Venbeb- 
bcr) Wheeler. She is a woman of rai-e merit, and 
a devoted member of the Baptist Church. 

Mr. Drake's course as a farmer lias been marked 
by siirewdness and integrity in his dealings, b^' 
forethought and enterprise, and these traits have 
inane him an invaluable aid in the upbuilding of his 
township, and gives him high rank among its i)io- 
neers although he was not one of its earliest settlers. 
He is interested in promoting its prosperity and 
th.at of the county, as well as in the welfare of the 
country at large, and in regard to political ques- 
tions we find him a true Democrat. 



•^■s> > 



-^^i^^Vt^^V^— 




iOBERT BACON. Of the many English 
landowners who have made settlement in 
^ \V our State and Lave carried into execution 
\^ the theories and practice of farmers in 
tlieir native land, a prominent place belongs to the 
gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and whose 
portrait is presented on the opposite page. He is 
the owner of a tine farm located on section 30, 
South Otter Townshi[), and which has been highly' 
improved under his careful supervision. He is of 
English parentage, his father, Richard Bacon, hav- 
ing been born in Norfolk, England, his mother, . 
Mary K. (S.ayers) Bacon, was also a native of Nor- 
folk. 

Our subject's parents left England and emi- 



grated to the United States at an early day. They 
first settled in Troy, N. Y., where the}' remained 
for two years. Then in 1837 they came to jMacou- 
l)in County, and after spending one year in Carlin- 
ville Township, moved to Chesterfield Township, 
where the following year the head of the family 
passed away from earth. The mother died in Palm^'- 
ra Townsiiip, this county, in 1863, leaving a family 
of eight children. Our subject, the second in order 
of birth, first opened his eyes in Norfolk, England, 
June 10, 1825. He came to America with his par- 
ents when a lad and grew to man's estate in Macou- 
pin County, of which he luas been a resident since 
1837. 

The marriage of our subject and Miss Mary Ann 
INI i Her was celebrated November 18, 1849. Mrs. 
Bacon was born in Floyd County, Indiana, Febru- 
ary 3, 1824. They settled soon after their marriage 
on section 30, South Otter Township, where they 
have since lived. Mr. Bacon h.as erected a hand- 
some residence upon his place, which is a favorite 
resort of the best people in the township. It is 
made charming by the genial manners and hospi- 
tality of the owner and his amiable wife. Other 
fine and subtantial buildings have been erected on 
the place. The farm comprises two hundred and 
forty acres of land which is under a high state of 
cultivation. 

Our subject antl his wife have welcomed four 
children to their household, Emily, Henry R., 
Mary A. and Thomas W. Of these the eldest be- 
came the wife of George M. Killam, and passed 
from this life in Bird Township, in August, 1878. 
A sketch will be found of her husband in another 
part of this volume. Henry R. was taken aw.ay 
from his parents while yet an infant. Mary A. is 
the wife of John C. Wiggins; and Tliomas W. was 
united in marriage with Nancy J. Clark. 

The original of our sketch has been honored by 
apijointment to several ollices in the gift of the 
township. He has filled tiie office of Supervisor 
of Otter Township for several years, and has served 
as Township Assessor and Collector, has been a 
member of the School Board for twenty years, and 
four 3'ears the title of Justice of the Peace has 
been his. He was appointed by Gov. Oglesby, 
Public Administator and has filled the ollice for 



296 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 




four years. He has been Treasurer of the Macou- 
pin County Agricultural Board for number of 
years. Me has ever takeu an active part iu the 
local affairs of the township and casts his vote with 
the Republican party. He has now retired from 
the active i)roprietorship of farm life, renting his 
place to tenants, and only keeping a pleasant super- 
vision over the whole. He is one of the leading 
men of South Otter Townsln'p. and no beneficient 
enterprise or movement for the improvement of the 
locality in which he dwells is complete without his 
name. 

-^ -^^^-^ ^ 

ExNRY T. MEINECKE, who is engaged in 
business as a dealer in wines and liquors in 
Gillespie, is a native of that place and has 
there spent the greater part of his life. He 
was born on the 29th of -January, 1867, and is the 
son of Antone W. Meinecke, a native of Germany, 
who spent his boyhood days in the Fatherland but 
wiicn a young man crossed the Atlantic, determined 
to seek his fortune in the United States. He made 
Ins first location in Alton, 111., where he remained 
for some years, and then removed to this county, 
settling in Gillespie, where he embarked in busi- 
ness as a paitner of Henry Bherns. They estab- 
lished a general merchandise store which is still 
carried on by Mr. Bherns. After a time Mr. Mein- 
ecke withdrew from the business and engaged as a 
dealer in wines and liquors, carrying on operations 
ni that line for a number of years when he sold out 
his interest here and went to Baltimore, Md., where 
he still makes his home. In that city he is also en- 
gaged in the same line of trade which he followed 
here. He was united in marriage with Anna Brush, 
also a native of Germany,who during the days of her 
maidenhood crossed the broad ocean and took up 
her residence in Macoupin County, III. She died 
at her home in Gillespie in 1876, in the faith of the 
Lutheran Church, of wliich Mr. Meinecke is also a 
member. 

Our subject was reared and educated in Gillespie 
and in 1890 formed a matrimonial alliance with 
Miss Mary Raynor, who was born in Belleville 111 
of English parentage, and had come to this county 



during her girlhood. In Belleville her parents, 
Robert and Sarah (Burton) Raynor, both died^ 
passing away when in middle life. Mrs. Meinecke 
was only a child at liiat time and by her sister she 
was reared to womanhootl. After she had attained 
to years of in;tliirity her marriage was celebrated 
and their union lias been blessed by one child, a 
son, William. 

Mr. ami Mrs. Meinecke have many friends 
throughout the community wliere he has long 
resided. In (jolitics he is a Democrat, having sup°- 
ported that pai-ty since he attained his ma'jority 
and keeps himself well informed concerning the 
political issues of the day. He entered upo^'n his 
business career as a bartender in the employ of 
Fred Schalk of Litchfield, where he remaineil for 
some lime. He established business on Main Street 
in Gillespie in November, 1890, and has since car- 
ried on operations as a retail-dealer of wines and 
liquors. 



->^ir>- 



-Er- 



^>f^EORGE BRALEY. Although in the prime 
1/ (=, of manhood the original of this sketch has 
~^^ settled down to a life of comparative com- 
fort and ease on his farm on section 11, North Otter 
Township, after having experienced more' or less 
incident and adventure in traveling in the distant 
portions of the country and engaging in various 
pursuits. His early days were spent under tiie roof 
of his father who was Ellison Braley of Carlinville, 
of whom a sketch will be found in another part of 
this volume. 

Our subject was one of the family of seven chil- 
dren of whom he was the second in order of birth. 
His birthplace was Collinsville, Madison County, 
this State, and he was born December 19, 1842. 
When he reached manhood he left the parental roof 
and went to Marysville, AIo., where he was engaged 
in mercantile business for a period of about four 
years, at the end of which lime he sold out return- 
ing to Collinsville. 

On Mr. Braley's return to his native place he en- 
gaged in farming in Collinsville Township, pnrsu- 
ing this calling for seven years, when he gave up 
his place and went to Shaw's Point, remaining there 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



297 



two years and then settled in North Otter Town- 
sliip where he has been a resident since t!ie winter 
of 1880. Farming lias been his chief business 
tlirough life, although he has engaged in various 
other things. Prior to the beginning of this year he 
acted as Deputy Postmaster under II. M. Kimball. 
In 18G4, during the last call for volunteers in the 
late war, our subject enlisted in the one hundred 
days' campaign and served the full period. He 
was a member of Company F, One Hundred and 
Thirty-third Illinois Regiment. On his discharge 
from the army he was employed as dry-goods clerk 
in a store in CoUinsville. This was before he was of 
age. His first business after he became of age was 
in a woolen mill with Clement & Son, the firm name 
being Clement, Braley efe Co. He was with this 
flrm'for one year, when he sold out and engaged 
in the grocery business. This also he engaged in 
but a short time with Edward iMcMillen, under the 
firm name of Braley & McMillen. 

October 27, 1869, Mr. Braley was married to Miss 
Amv A. HoUiday, who was born in Greene County, 
HI. .March 13, 184G. She is a d.-iughter of Arthur 
D. and Amanda .1. HoUiday. Mr. and Mrs. Braley 
are the parents of live children— Ivlgar W., Truman 
H.. Florence L.. Arthur E. and Howard. Our sub- 
ject is a Republican in his political preferences, 
giving his undivided allegiance to that party. He 
is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 



,..^©Sr-i — »'!«^"|>r*-^ ^' 



\il OHN BENNETT, who is engaged in general 
farming and stock-raising on section 17, 
Brighton Township, where he owns one 
hundred and seventy-seven acres of highly 
iniproved land, has made his home upon that farm 
since 1853. He is therefore entitled to be classed 
among the honored early settlers of the comimin- 
ity. The greater i)art of his land has been placed 
under cultivation by himself and all of the build- 
ings and improvements seen thereon stand as monu- 
ments to his thrift and enterprise. 

As Mr. Bennett is well and favorably known we 
feel assured that his sketch will prove of interest 



to many of our readers. He was born in Rodne- 
shiio, Wales, in 1821, and is a son of Benjamin 
and Mary (Lewis) Bennett, both of whom were 
natives of that country and there spent their entire 
lives, the father dying at the age of seventy-seven 
years, the mother in the seventy-lirst year of her 
ntre. Both were members of the Baptist Church 
and they have four sons and four daughters living 
in Wales who are married and have families. 

Our subject is the only one who ever came to 
America. He grew to manliood in the usual man- 
ner of farmer lads and in 1844. having bade good- 
by to home and friends, he sailed from Liverpool 
on board the " Frank Field, " which crossed the 
Atlintic, reaching New Orleans after seven weeks. 
Another week was consumed in making the trip up 
the Mississippi River to Alton, from whence he 
came to Brighton, Macoupin County, and began life 
in the new world as a farm laborer. His cash cap- 
ital on his arrival consisted of only five dollars, a 
small sum with which to enter upon a business 
career. He entered tiie employ of one of the 
pioneers of the county, A. A. Hilyard who paid him 
in compensation for his services, 16 per month. 
Nine years he thus labored and by industry and 
economy at length acquired the capital with which 
in 1853, he purchased his present farm, then all 

wild land. 

In Brighton Township, Mr. Bennett led to the 
marriage altar Miss Martha Bradley, who was born 
in England, and when a young maiden came with 
her parents to the I'nited States, the family settling 
in Macoupin County, 111., where Mr. and Mrs. 
Bradley spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. 
Bennett proved a true helpmate to her husband, 
and to her able assistance was due in no small de- 
gree the success which attended her husband's 
efforts. She died on the 8th of Ai)ril, 1881, at the 
age of forty-five years. By her marriage have been 
born the following children, two of whom are now 

deceased Frank and Mark. The members of the 

family still living are Mary A., wife of William 
Yarham, a farmer of Franklin County, Kan.; 
Liza, wife of Tim Chawing, a resident farmer of 
Wilbarger County, Tex.; John, who married Flora 
Mason and is engaged in agricultural pursuits in 
Franklin County, Kan.; Emma, wife of Richard 



298 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Ketcbell. who resides on Ibe Bennett homestead; 
Sarah, wife of Albert Keas wiio operates a creamery 
in Brighton; Angie, May, Edward and Rosic at 
home. 

Mr. Bennett is a menioer of the Bapi ist Church, 
to wbicli bis wife also belongs and in politics he is 
a Republican, keeping himself well informed on the 
questions of the day, both political and otherwise. 
He is true to every duty of citizenship and is re- 
garded .as one of the leading and enterprising 
farmers of this community, where be has so long 
made his home. 



.o*o» 



GEORGE F. BOOSINGER, who resides on 
III ^_. section 17, is one of the earl3^ settlers of 
'^^J! Cahokia Township, having made his home 
there since bis arrival in the count}- in 1840. His 
entire life has been spent as a farmer p.nd upon the 
same section where be still makes his home. He 
now has a fine farm of two hundred and seven 
acres, under a high state of cultivation, and sup- 
plied with good buildings, all of which were 
erected by himself and stand as monuments to his 
thrift and industry. The place is also well stocked. 
His home is a commodious and tasty farm resi- 
dence, supplied with all tlie comforts and many of 
the luxuries of life. By his fellow-townsmen Mr. 
Boosinger is accounted one of the thrifty and en- 
terprising stock-raisers of this community. He 
has lived to see all the country round about him 
improved from the raw prairie to its present ad- 
vanced position, having come to this county during 
bis boyhood, in companj' with bis parents, George 
and M. Antoinette (Workinger) Boosinger. 

The Boosinger family came from Virginia, and 
in the early days of Ohio's history settled in the 
Buckeye State, where the grandfather of our sub- 
ject was accidentally shot while one day out hunt- 
ing. He had a deerskin hung over his shoulders, 
and by another hunter was shot, bis death occur- 
ring from the effects of that wound about a month 
later. He was then well advanced in years, having 
attainefl to the age of seventy. His wife survived 
him some time, and died when well advanced in 



life. George Boosinger had accompanied bis 
parents to Ohio when a child, and in Portage 
County was reared to nianiiood. He enlisted as a 
private for the War of ISl'i, and served .as a team- 
ster during that struggle. On his return he mar- 
ried an Oiiio lady, who died some years later, 
leaving five children. He was a second time -mar- 
lied to Antoinette Woikinger, a l.ady of German 
birth, who with her parents bad crossed the Atlan- 
tic and located in Portage County, where her 
father and mother ilied. They began tiieir domes- 
tic life upon a farm in that county, where seven of 
their children were born. With their family they 
left Ohio in 1836, joining the Mormon colony en 
route for the West, and traveling overland, at 
length made a settlement in Ray County, Mo., 
near the followers of Josei)h Smith, to whose creed Ml 
Mr. Boosinger subscribed. In 1839 the}- came to™' 
Illinois, and after spending a j-ear on Smooth 
Prairie, in Madison County, took up their resi- 
dence in Cahokia Township, where the father pur- 
chased an unbroken tract of land on section 17. 
The farm which be there developed he made bis 
home until bis death in 1862, at the age of seventy- 
nine years. He had spent his life as a hard-work- 
ing man, and adhered to the faith which he had pro- 
fessed in Portage County. His wife preceded him 
to the final rest, dying at the age of sixty-six. In 
early life she joined the Lutheran Church, but 
afterward became a Methodist, and subsequently 
united with the Christian Church, dying in that 
faith. 

Our subject was born in Portage Count}', Ohio, 
January 28, 1825, and was tiie second of the family 
of eight children. He was therefore a lad of only 
fifteen summers when he came with his family 
to this county. LTnder the parental roof he 
was reared to manhood, and gave his father the 
benefit of bis labors until be bad attained to ma- 
ture 3'ears, when be was united in marriage with 
Miss Maria Edwards, who was born August 28, 
1832, and grew to womanhood in Sandusky, Ohio. 
Her parents were Milton W. ond Esther (Powers) 
Edwards. They came to this county in an early 
daj', settling in Gillespie Townshi]), where the 
mother died in the prime of life. She was a con- 
sistent member of the Christian Church, and a 



rORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, 



299 



ady of many excellencies of character. A f tel- 
ler (lealii, INIr. Edwards went Soutli, and made his 
lome with his son in St. .losepli, La., where he died 
;ix months later. He studied medicine at Elyria, 
Dliio, and was also a carpenter, devoting his ener- 
gies to both lines of business. He was a Democrat 
n politics, and lived an upright life, which won 
lim many friends. 

Mr. and Mrs. Boosinger began their domesticlife 
ipon the farm which is still their home, and which 
le developed from its primitive condition, making 
-he once wild land to bloom and blossom as the 
•oso. Their fine residence and comfortable sur- 
•oundings all indicate the prosperity, which has 
M'owned their efforts. Their home has been blessed 
jy the presence of two children, and they also lost 
.wo in infancy. Carrie is now the wife of Marcus 
^V. Clark, who owns and operates a farm in Gilles- 
)ie Township, and unto them have been born 
,liree childicn — Marci?, Harvey and Frank. Frank 
■i. is a successful druggist and enterprising business 
nan of Gillespie. He married Miss Lula Brown, 
md thej^ have one child, Marcus. Mr. and Mrs. 
Boosinger are people of worth, ranking high in the 
?sleem of their manj' acquaintances. He is a Re- 
jublican in politics, has served for eight years as 
Road Commissioner, and for the long period of 
liirty-five j'ears has been a school oflicer, which 
'act shows that be has the educational interests of 
;he comnuinitj' at heart. Our subject is President 
A the (Jillespie Brass P>and. 



ERBERT A. JONES, a substantial and en- 
r j^) terprising business man of Staunton, now 
engaged in general merchandising in the 
)) Quade department of the Union Block, be- 
jan business licre in 1881, when, as a member of the 
firm of Gaby & Jones, he opened a general store, 
riiis partnership continued for three years and 
Lhen a change occurred, the firm becoming Jones, 
Newman & Co., under which style operations were 
jonlinued for a year, when Mr. Jones became sole 
[)roprietor. He now has a tine store, with en- 
trances on two of the princijial streets of Staunton. 



The Main Street entrance ushers one into a room 
65x28 feet and from this is another department, 
leading into a second room 28x24 feet. Mr. Jones 
carries a full line of general merchandise and by his 
earnest desire to please his customers, his genial 
manner and fair dealing, he has worked up an ex- 
cellent trade and the liberal patronage which he has 
secured nets him a good income. 

On the 16th of October, 1840, in Henrj- County, 
Iowa, Mr. Jones was born unto Herbert and Eliza- 
beth (Farris) Jones. His father, a native of Wales, 
emigrated to this country and located in New 
Hampshire, where he met and married Miss Farris, 
a native of the Granite State. On coming West in 
an early day, they settled on a farm in Henry 
County, Iowa, where all of their children were 
born, and there the parents died in middle life. 

The boyhood days of our subject were spent un- 
der the parental roof and when a young man he 
came to Illinois. In 1855 he secured a position in 
a dry-goods house in St. Louis, Mo., where he re- 
mained until 1861, when he came to Illinois. Two 
years later he obtained a clerkship in the Levi dr}'- 
goods store and clothing house, of Litchfield, where 
he resided for twenty 3ears, during all that time 
being in the employ of the one firm. It was dur- 
ing his residence in Litchfield that he met and mar- 
ried Miss Maltie Brooks, a native of Illinois, born 
near Nauvoo, Hancock County, in September, 
1856. When a child she removed with hei- par- 
ents to Duquoin County, where her father died in 
the prime of life. Mrs. Brooks, her mother, after- 
ward removed to Litchfield, and her death occurred 
in Edwardsvilie, at the age of seventy years. The 
marriage of our subject and his wife was celebrated 
in 1867, and unto them has been born a daughter, 
INlaude, an accomplished j'oung lady, who has a 
host of friends in Staunton. 

Mr. Jones has led a busy and useful life, yet 
aside from his business interests he has found time 
to devote to public affairs. He is a progressive 
and public-spirited citizen, who manifests a deep 
interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the 
county and its advancement. In his social rela- 
tions he is a Mason, belonging to Staunton Lodge, 
No. 177, A. F. & A. M., of which he is Treasurer; 
he also holds membership with Camp No. 572, M. 



300 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



W.- A. ami of the Kiiiglils ami Ladies of Honor. 
In business and social circles he 's alike favorably 
known and tli()n>i;li his residence in Sluunton cov- 
ers a period of only ten years, he lakes rank among 
her leading citizens. 

-iH»i*H^- 



FH. ELDRED,a representative of one of the 
early pioneer families of Illinois, is an old 



and higldy respected citizen of this county, 
who is now living in retirement at Carlinville, hav- 
ing acquired a goodly amount of proi)erty during 
his active business life as a farmer from which he 
derives an ample income He was born at Win- 
field, Herkimer County, N. Y., October 31, 1819. 
His father, who was named Ward Eldred, was born 
in Connecticut in 1705. and was a son of .lehose- 
phat Eldred, who was also a native of that New 
State, and was a descendant of one of three broth- 
ers who came to America from Wales in Colonial 
times. 

The grandfather of our subject was reared on a 
farm, and was married in his native State to Polly 
Landon. After marriage he removed to Herki 
mer County, N. Y., and w.as a pioneer of that 
section of the country, buying a tract of wood 
land and clearing a farm. There were no railro.ads 
or canals in the Empire State in those days, and 
Albany was the nearest market and depot for sup- 
plies. In 1820 he sold bis possessions there, and 
with his wife and seven children, two of whom had 
families, he again started Westward in search of a 
new location in the young State of Illinois. The 
little party set out on their long and momentous 
journey in the month of March, driving to Olean 
Point, where they embarked, teams and all on Hat- 
boats and floated down on the Alleghany and Ohio 
Rivers to the Mississippi, to Shawneetown, having 
an Indian pilot to guide them on their way, and 
from the latter pl.ace drove with their teams to Mad- 
ison County. The grandfather of our subject rented 
improved land and after raising a crop for win- 
ter use, removed with his family to Greene County. 
He and his sons, William and Ward, bought to- 
gether a squatter's claim to a tract of Government 



land, a part of which is now included in the town 
of Carrollton. He erected a log house, and at once 
commenced to evolve a farm from the wilderness; 
that was prior to the time that Carrollton was laid 
out, and Greene, Jersey, Macoupin and a p.art of 
Scott Count}' were included in Greene County, St. 
Louis being the nearest market. Deer, turkeys and 
other kind of game were abundant, and the In- 
dians still lived on the Illinois River. In 1820 
Grandfather Eldred went to the mines at Galena, 
and in that vicinity spent the remainder of his 
life, his death occurring at a venerable age in 1847. 
His wife died before he did, her life terminating 
Greene County in 1824. 

Ward Eldred was but a child when his parents 
went to New York State, and there he grew to a 
vigorous manhood, and in due time he w.as married. 
In 1818 he visited Illinois on a i)rospecting tour, 
and after a short stay in Madison County, returned 
as he came, on foot. In 1820 he came back here 
with his father and other members of the family 
and settled in Greene County, buying a claim on 
which he located. When the land came into mar- 
ket he attended the sale at Edwardsville, and 
bought four hundred acres for himself, besides 
quite a tract for bis father and another for his 
brother. It w.as prairie and timber land, and a 
cabin stood on his purchase, into which the family 
moved in December, 1820. After the death of his 
wife in 1823 Mr. Eldred broke up housekeeping 
and ma<le his home with his brotiier AVilliam until 
1828, when he married a second time, and built a 
log house on his farm for the accommodation of 
his bride. He lived on that place some years and 
then sold and bought Illinois River bottom lands 
ill tlLC same county. There he closed his eyes in 
that dreamless sleep that knows no waking, in 
June, 1851. The maiden name of the mother of our 
subject was Emma Brace, and she was of Connect- 
icut birth. Her father Asahel Br.ace, was also a 
native of New England, and he was a son 
of Abel Brace. Tiie former went to New York to 
locate in the early days of the settlement of that 
State, and became a resident of Winfield, where he 
drew out the remnant of his d.ays to a good old 
age. His wife bore the maiden name of Katie 
Curtis. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



301 



Our subject was the only son of bis mother, anil 
be was bereft by deatb of ber tender care when 
lie was scarcclj- four 3'ears old. His paternal grand- 
parents then took him in cbar^e until his father's 
second marriage. His education was obtained in 
the pioneer schools of the early years of the settle- 
ment of this State, which were held in log houses, 
furnished with slab benches that were supjjorted by 
wooden pegs, and a board on either side of the 
school-room served as a common writing desk for 
the pupils. These primitive buildings were lighted 
by a part of two logs being cut out and a row of 
pieces of glass eight bj' ten inches in size being in- 
serted in the hole thus made in the wall. The 
schools were taught on the subscription plan, and 
our subject, eager for a practical knowledge of 
books, attended whenever opportunity offered. 

When not in school our subject assisted in the 
labors of the farm, and continued to reside with 
his parents until he established domestic relations 
of his own by his marriage in Marcli, 1842, to 
Miss Emeline Wooley, a native of Greene County, 
HI., and a <laughter of David and Lauretta 
(Hodge) Wooley, who were residents of New York 
State prior to their removal to Illinois when they 
became )jioneers of Greene Countj\ Mr. Eldred's 
first wife died in 1857, leaving three children, Da- 
mon H., William O. and George. Hissecond mar- 
riage was in 1858 to Miss Elizabeth Ritchie, a 
native of New York City, and a daughter of .John 
and Margaret (Wilson) Ritcliie. Her death oc- 
curred May 24, 1873. Five children are living of 
that marriage — Charles W., Samuel W., Horace ()., 
Margaret D. and .John F. Our subject was a third 
time married September 3, 1875, Miss Grace Trible 
becoming his wife. She is a native of Devonshire, 
England, and a daugliter of John and Mary (Oli- 
ver) Trible. Her parents were also natives of 
Devonshire, and came from the'r old English home 
to this country in 1858. They settled nearGirard, 
in this county, where Mr. Trible bought land .and 
was prosperously engaged in farming until his 
death in January, 1890. His widow now makes 
her home with her children. 

When Mr. Eldred married and settled down in 
life iiis father gave him eighty acres of land nine 
miles west of Carrollton. In March, 1857, he sold 



that place, and coming to t'lis count\', bought four 
hundred and eighty acres of land in Folk Town- 
ship, upon which he made his home until March, 
1890, when he purchased his present commodious 
and conveniently arranged residence in Carlinville. 
During his active business life he displayed great 
enterprise, tact and ability in the management of 
his affairs that brought him riclies, and lie knows 
how to enjo}' his wealth, and he has a thorough 
appreciation of good things of life. His many 
years' residence in this county have gained him a 
large acquaintance, among whom he has manj' 
warm friends, attracted to him by his genial, jovial 
disposition, and b}' his generous and kindly nature. 
In his earl}" life he was a Whig, and his first Presi- 
dential vote was cast for W. H. Harrison. Since 
1860 he has been a devoted adherent of liie Repub- 
lican party. He has served as Assessor of Polk 
Township, and is a member and Director of the 
Macoupin Count}' Agricultural Society, alw.ays do- 
ing all in his power to promote the best interests 
of this section. 



-"^ 



-^ 



W 



ILLIAM JONP>S, Esq., a well-known and 
honored pioneer of this county, now en- 
gaged in general farming on section 10, 
Brighton Township, claims Wales as the land of 
his nativity. lie was born in Radnorshire, on the 
14th of May, 1816, of the union of Thomas and 
Ellen (Vail) .Jones. His father is of Welsh de- 
scent, his mother of French lineage. They were 
married and beg.an their domestic life in the 
province where our subject was born and after 
some years removed into an adjoining county in 
P^ngland. During the war with France wiiich 
ended in the defeat of Napoleon, Thomas Jones 
made and lost a fortune. In 1831, after the birth 
of all their children, he and his wife left England, 
sailing from Liverpool to tiie United States upon 
the ship "Aj.ax," commanded by Capt. Hurn. After 
five weeks and three days spent upon the water 
they landed in New York City, whence they 
made their way to Dutchess County, N. Y., where 
they resided until the spring of 1833, when they 



302 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



niadn tlieii- wa)' by the New Orleans and Alton 
route to Illinois. Tbe eombined eaintal of the 
family at that time was only ^10, five of which was 
paid for conveying Iheui to Brighton. The other 
five was used to make a partial payment upon a 
milch cow, the remainder to paid for by the labor 
of one of the boys. After a time with the help of 
one of his sons, Thomas Jones purchased one hun- 
dred and twenty acres of Government land which 
be cleared and developed, making it a good farm. 
The mother died at their home in the early days 
when about sixtj- years of age. The father died 
at the home of his son, our subject, about nineteen 
years later. Both he and his wife were members of 
the Baptist Church. They had a large family but 
with tbe exception of William and his brother 
Thomas, who is now living in Beardstown, III., all 
are now deceased. 

Our subject has been a resident of Illinois since 
he was seventeen years of age with the exception 
of a very shoit period. He worked for many 
years as a farm hand and throughout his life has 
engaged in agricultural pursuits with the exceptior. 
of the two years he spent on the Pacific Slope. 
Immediately after the discovery of gold in Cali- 
fornia, he set out with H. C. Clark and William 
Loveland with fourteen ox-teams and as many 
wagons. Oil tbe 6th of May the party crossed the 
Missiouri River at St. Joseph, and started on the 
wearisome march across tiie plains, arriving on the 
1st of August at the Nev.ada mines on Greenhorn 
River. They made the first trail over that country'. 
For a time Mr. Jones engaged in mining and then 
made a trip to San Francisco and Sacramento for 
the mail for the others of the camp. Subsequently 
he joined parties in a merchandising venture which 
was very successful and later he struck some very 
good surface mining. After spending two years 
in California, he returned home by the way of the 
Isthmus of Panama and New Orleans and with his 
gold dust purchased his present homestead. His 
western experience was interesting in many par- 
ticulars yet he also suffered many hardships, being 
afflicted with the scurvy which prevailed to a great 
extent among the miners. 

In this county, Mr. Jones was united in marriage 
with Miss Eveline Dandridge, who was born in 



Alabama, in 1813, and died at her home in Brighton 
Township in 1864, leaving one son, Thomas A., 
who married Clara Clark and is now a farmer of 
this community. The mother was a member of 
the Baptist Church and a most estimable lady. For 
a second wife Mr. Jones choose Miss Margaret 
Forse, vvho was born and reared in Dresden, Ohio, 
and afterward came to Illinois, where she married 
Mr. Jones. In religious belief she was a Presby- 
terian and died in the faith of that church in 1881. 
Three children were born of their marriage, Susan 
M., Vail F. and Hugh W., who are still at home 
with their father. 

Mr. Jones is a prominent IMnson, belonging to 
the Blue Lodge of Brighton, and in politics is a 
Democrat. He has served as Justice of the Peace 
and School Trustee for thirty-nine years and is re- 
garded as one of the leading citizens of the com- 
munity. His attention however has been devoted 
mostly to his farming interests and he is now the 
owner of twelve hundred acres of higlil3"-im proved 
land which yields to him a golden tribute for the 
care and cultivation he bestows u[)on it. 



I 



^1= 



■^^ AMES ETTER is one of the reputable farm- 
ers of South I'almyra 'I'ownsliip, owning 
and operating an estate pleasantly located 
on section 9. It consists of ninety acres of 
fertile land which was given to our subject by his 
father, and which is well cultivated, supplied with 
substantial buildings and made the source of a good 
income. Mr. Etter was reared to farm life and is 
well acquainted with all the details of his work and 
knows what means should be taken to beautify as 
well as to make productive. He was born in the 
townshipin which he now lives, July 21, 1848, 
and in his early j-ears attended the district school. 
His parents are Henry and Elizabeth (Davidson) 
Etter, under whose roof he remained until he was 
twenty-five j'ears of age. 

October 30, 1873, Mr. Etter was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Julia F. Richie, who was born in 
South Palmyra Township in 1856. Her father, 
Eli W. Richie, is a reputable farmer. After their 



1 








PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



305 



marriage Mr. and Mrs. Etter settled where they are 
now living. Thoir pleasant home is brightened by 
tlie presence of four children, named respectively, 
Eli Scott; Settia A., died when seven years old; 
Elfa J., Henr3- Ross and Ola J. 

Mr. Etter has served as Constable, Road Com- 
missioner, Townsiiip Clerk and Collector. He was 
elected to the first ofHce soon after attaining his 
majority, and filled each of the other positions in 
turn in a capable manner. He keeps himself well 
informed regarding the news of the day and the 
political issues and converses intelligently. He 
always casts his ballot with the Democrats. As a 
citizen he is reliable and steady going, in social 
life he is agreeable, and in Lis own home he is 
thoughtful and considerate. 



:^ 



\r^«) LLISON BRALEY. The gentleman whose 
fe portrait is presented on the opposite page is 
J I — ^ one of the most extensive farmers and land- 
owners in the county, and is numliered among the 
oldest citizens now residing at Carlinville. He is 
widely' known and honored for his integrity of 
character and good citizenshii). He conies of good 
old New England stock and is himself a native of 
that section of the country, Hopkinton, Middlesex 
County, Mass., his place of birth and July 26, 
1810. the date thereof. 

His father, whose given name was Ezekiel, was 
born in Rhode Island in 1782 and was a son of 
Roger Bralc}-, who was a native of Massachusetts 
and the descendant of an old Huguenot family 
that came to America in 1700 to escape religious 
persecution in their native land, and settled in 
Massachusetts, buying large tracts of land from 
the Indians, the deed of the same reading, "in con- 
sideration of two smokes of the pipe and one drink 
of cider." A part of the land was afterward the 
home of Daniel Webster. The first ancestor to 
come to this country spelled bis name Brales. He 
reared four sons, who were named Ezekiel, Rauel, 
John and Roger. 

The grandfather of our subject left his early 
Lome in the old Bay State and made a new one for 



himself in Rhode Island, where he lived until 
death closed his mortal career. He married Ruth 
Cole, who after his death became the wife of a man 
by the name of Bosworth, spending her last years 
in Massachusetts. The father of our subject lived 
in his native State until he attained manhood and 
early learned the trade of a shoemaker. When a 
young man he went to Massachusetts and was em- 
[iloyed on a farm by Ca[)t. Rockwood in that part 
of the town of Upton now included in Hopkinton. 
He subsequently bought a small tract of land five 
miles south of that town, and resided thereon some 
years, farming in summer and making shoes in 
the winter. In 1826 he removed to Holliston, 
wiiere lie lived until 1840. llig next move was to 
Westboro, where his earthly pilgrimage was brought 
to an end and he was gathered to his fathers at a 
ripe old age. 

He and his good wife reared a family of nine 
children, of whom the following is noted: Elliott, 
who came to Illinois in 1857, died at Carlinville 
in his eighty-third year; Ellison is the subject of 
this sketch; Philander came to this State in 1836, 
and after living in Madison County fifteen years, 
has ever since been a resident of Carlinville; 
Louisa married Charles Morgan and resides at 
Carlinville; Harriet married Nelson Cole and lives 
at Piasa this county; Benjamin is a resident of 
of Westboro, Mass.; George R. lives near Dexter, 
JIo. ; Gibbs, the eldest son of the fai...l3% died in 
1881, at the age of seventy-five; Esther, the 
youngest daughter, died in 1886 at the age of 
fifty-seven years. 

The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Lois Walker and she was born in 1783 in 
Hopkinton, Mass. Her father, Timothy Walker, 
was also a native of Massachusetts and was a son 
of Israel and Abigail Walker. He was a soldier 
in both the Revolution and the AVar of 1812. 
His entire life was passed in his native State, where 
he carried on the occupation of a farmer and 
hunter. He married Lois Gibbs, a native of Hop- 
kinton and a daugiiter of Isaac and Lois Gibbs. 
The mother of our subject departed this life in 
her native town. 

Ellison Braley left the parental home at the 
age of twelve years and went to live with Charles 



306 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Valentine in Hopkinton, witli whom he remained 
until ho was fifteen years old. He tlien accom- 
panied Mr. Valentine to Boston, where the latter 
formed a partnerchip with Mr. Bridges to carry on 
the business of wholesale provision merchants. 
Our subject continued in their employ in the Boyl- 
ston Market six years and tiien in 1832 went to 
New York in the interests of Mr. Bridges, and 
.assisted him there until 1838. In the fall of that 
year he started Westward with another young 
man, driving' to Western Pennsylvania with a 
horse and wagon, then traveling by stage by the 
way of Pittsburg and Wlieeling to Cincinnati; 
there they embarked on a steamboat and proceeded 
to Madison, Ind., where Mr. Braley worked for a 
time for a New York firm. Tlie following spring 
he made his wa^' to Illinois, traveling on the Ohio 
and Mississii^pi rivers to St. Louis and from th.at 
city by a two-horse wagon to Carlinville, where 
ho arrived tiie 1st of Aiiril. He rented land, on 
which he raised a crop of corn and in the fall 
formed a partnership with a tanner. Five years 
later ho sold out his interest in the tanner^' and 
hougiit a country store, which lie managed a year 
and a half, and later bought a grist mill at Collins 
Mill. The next venture was to buy a steam flour 
mill at K.ast St. Louis, which he operated a few 
months and tlien sold advantageously. 

Soon after that Mr. Braley bought a steam saw- 
mill on Macoupin Creek, a mile and a half from 
Carlinville, his brother being interested with him 
in the purchase. They refitted the mill, putting 
in new machinery and repairing the boilers, and 
worked the concern very profitabl}- until it was 
burned a year later. The brothers then came to 
Carlinville and erected a steam saw mill and were 
engaged in the manufacture of lumber until 1864, 
when they sold their mill. During that time the 
Cliicago & Alton Railroad was in process of con- 
struction and they had the contract to furnish tlie 
joint ties for the road, which was completed from 
Alton to Carlinville in .July, 1852. That fall they 
took the contract to furnish ties and lumber to be 
used in the construction of the road between 
Springfield and Bloomington. After disposing of 
the mill our subject turned his attention to farm- 
ing and became one of the most extensive and 



successful farmers in this region. He now owns 
eight hundred and sixty acres of choice land, all 
lying in tiiis county and conveniently divided into 
different farms, which are under good till.age and 
amply supplied with a good class of farm build- 
ings. 

Mr. Braley was married in the city of New York 
November 1, 1840, to Miss Catherine Coon, a na- 
tive of Rensselaer Count}', N. Y., and to lier devo- 
tion to his interests is undoubtedly attributable a 
good share of his prosperity-. They have six cliil- 
dren: George, a resident of Virden; Sarah, living 
in California; Eleanora, the widow of General 

I Rowett, of whom see biograpiiy on another p.age 
of this volume; Catherine, Paul and Cyrus F., the 
latter three living witii their parents. ■] 

' Through a long and busy life that has passed~ 
the eightieth milestone on the journey to immor- 
tality, our subject has shown himself to possess in 

' an eminent degree those dominant characteristics 
of tlie genuine sons of New England that have 
made them such potent factors in the upbuilding 
of any community wherever their lot m.aj' be cast. 
Ills capability and keen insiglit into tbe best metii- 
ods of managing his financial interests, together 
with his plain and straightforward dealings, have 
placed him among the moneyed men of the count}'. 
He and his wife stand high in social and religious 
circles and are among the most esteemed members 
of the Presbyterian Church. Formerly a Whig, 
Mr. Braley has been a tried and true Republican 
since the formation of the part}'. 



/AMES F. MES8ICK. The varied wants of 
the present generation and the man}' inven- 
tions that have been made during the cent- 
ury give rise to numerous occupations and 
lines of tr.ade. It is well that it is so, as the tastes 
and peculiar abilities of men are thus called in 
play and legitimately exercised for their worldly 
prosperity. Carlinville is the headquarters of Mr. 
Messick, who has for some time been engaged in 
the sale of musical instruments in this and adjoin- 
ing counties. By fair dealing he has secured a 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



307 



large trade and his reward has been a good main- 
tenance and tiie abilit}' to siipplj' his faniilj' with 
every comfort and give his danghtcr excellent ad- 
vantages. 

Mr. Messick is a native of this county, lisving 
))een born on a farm in Brusiiy Mound Townsliip., 
Fehrnary 24, 1844. His father, .Joseph W. Mes- 
sick, wiio was born in Cliristian Count}-, K}-., was 
reared and married in his native State, and con- 
tinued to reside tiiere until 1840, wiien he removed 
to this .State with teams. Reaching Cahokia Town- 
ship, this county, he made Ins iiome there two 
years, then went to C4illesi)ie Townshi(), and in 
Feliru.iry, 1844, settled in lj"ushy Mound Town- 
sliip. He bougiit :i tract of wild prairie land and 
built upon it the log-house in which his son .Tames 
was born. He improved the land and lived upon 
it until 1868, then sold and for a few ^ears resided 
in TS'ilwood Township, after which he went lo 
Kansas. For a lime he made his home in Bourbon 
County, but finally established himself in Crawford 
County, where he is still living. His f.ither, Abra- 
ham Messick, is believed to have been born in 
Pennsylvania and was an earl}' setiler in Cliristian 
County, K}-. 

The wife of .loseph Messick and mother of our 
subject was Sarah Kittinger, a native of the Blue 
Grass State, who died in 1860. She had six child- 
ren, n.amcd respectively, Daniel W., James F., 
Joseph 15., Martin A., Sarah and Thomas. Daniel 
was killed at Pittsburg Landing, being a member 
of the Thirty-second Illinois Infantry; Joseiih 
served in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Illin- 
ois Infantry. 

The gentleman whose name introduces these 
paragraphs was educated in his native township 
and in the intervals of study assisted in carrying 
on the farm. He obtained a practical education 
and at the early age of sixteen j'ears began teacli- 
ing and until 1864 gave a part of each year to ped- 
agogical work. He then enlisted, enrolling himself 
in Company G.One Hundred and Tliirt}'. third Illin- 
ois Infantry, in the month of May, but a short time 
after he had passed his twentieth birthdaj'. His 
enrollment was for one hundred days and he served 
until September, when he was iionorahly dis- 
charged, the term of service having expired. He 



resumed his former occupations of teaching and 
farming, and spent each winter in the school-room 
until 1873. He then entered upon his jjresent 
business, in which he has been more than ordinarily 
successful. 

The family of Mr. Messick consists of a wife and 
daughter. His wife was known in her maidenhood 
as Miss Susan R. Kelly, and changed her name to 
that she now bears, in 1868. She is a capable, 
well-read woman, with a Christian character, and 
is an excellent neighbor and true friend. The 
daughter, Nellie H., has been the object of tender 
and judicious care and is well calculated to adorn 
any circle in which she may be placed. Husband, 
wife and daughter belong to the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church and Mr. Messick is Trustee and Stew- 
ard. After giving due thought to the political 
situation he decided in favor of Republican princi- 
ples and he has seen no reason lo abandon the 
party. 



3^1 



^r^EORGE H. GILSON, M. D., is a popular 
(|| 1^— - and well-known physician at Shiimian. He 
V^^l is a native of this State, born at Brighton 
September 15, 1853. His father, James W. Gilson, 
was a Pcnns3'lvanian by birth, and was a son of 
William Gilson, who was also a native of the Key- 
stone State, of which he was a life-long resident. 
He was of Scotch ancestry. His occupation was 
that of a farmer. 

The father of our subject passed his earl}- life 
amid the scenes of his birth, but when he attained 
nifmhood he set out in the world to seek fortune's 
favors in the Great West, as this part of the coun- 
try was then called. He came to this State in 
1840, and buying a partly improved farm near 
Brighton, he devoted himself to agriculture for 
some }'ears. He then took up his residence at 
Brighton, where he turned his attention to the mer- 
cantile business, and to buying and shipping grain. 
His death August 30, 1860, removed from tha' 
town one of its most enterprising citizens, who had 
been a valuable help in its upbuilding. In early 
manhood he had married at Jefferson, Ind., Marian 
Meriiwether, a native of Todd County, K}'. She 



308 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



departed tliis life August 31, 1873. She was llie 
mother of seven children. 

Our subject laid tiic foundation of a liberal edu- 
cation in the Brighton pub'ic schools, and was 
subsequently graduated from Blackburn University 
in the class of 1872. Thus well prepared, he en- 
tered upon his medical studies at the St. Louis 
Medical College, from which he was graduated in 
the class of March. 187(1. Before he entered ujion 
his professional career, he made a tour of the Kast- 
ern States, visiting the Centennial Exposition at 
Philadelphia, and other points of interest, broaden- 
ing his mind by contact with the outside world 
and deepening his knowledge by intelligent obser- 
vation. 

In the f.'ill of the year he opened an ofHce at 
Shipman, and has been in continuous pr.ielice here 
since, establishing himself in the confidence of the 
people by his successful mode of treatment of the 
various ailments and diseases that come under his 
care, and obtaining a warm place in their hearts by 
his manifest interest in the welfare of his |)atients, 
by his never failing geniality, and by coiirleous 
consideration of others. Our subject is prominent 
in medical and social circles as a member and \'ice- 
I'resident of the Macoupin County Society for 
Medical Improvement; of the American Medic:il 
Association; of the Illinois State Medical Society; 
and of Shipman Lodge, No. 212, A. F. it A. M. 

Doctor Gilson was united in marriage to Miss 
M. A. Preston, in 1880. 'I'lieir wedded life was 
terminated by her death October 18, 1888. 



f/ M'. ZIMMERMANN, one of the substantial 
farmers and stock-raisers of Bunker Hill 
Township, residing on section 33, has there 
ni.ide his home since before the war. He 
W!is born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Ger- 
many, November 8. 1822. not far from the North 
Sea, and his parents, William and Minnie (I)ebulir) 
Zimmerman, were also born in the same locality, 
where they spent their entire lives. The father 
of our subject was a farmer and both he and 
his wife were members of the German Lutheran 



Church. Unto them were born seven children, 
after which the mother died and Mr. Zimmerman 
was again married, while of that union were born 
a son anil dauglitor. Onl}' four members of the 
family have made homes in America — John, Rich- 
ard and F. W., all of whom are resident farmers of 
this county; and a half-brother Henry, who lives 
in Bethalto, III. 

The subject of this sketch spent the days of 
liis bo\ hood and youili in his native land and 
when twenty-five years of age, having determined to 
try his fortune in the New World, took passage at 
Bremen, on the sailing-vessel "Post," which at 
length reached the harlK)r of New Orleans, after 
a long and tedious voyage of ten weeks, in which 
they encountered two hard storms. This was in 
the fall of 1818 and in the following spring Mr. 
Zimmoriiiann made his way up the Mississippi River 
to Alton and located in Madison County. There 
he married Miss Margaretta Post, who was also a 
native of ILanover and came to the United Slates 
in the same vessel in which her future husband 
sailed. Her parents continued to reside in (^er- 
many until death. 

For the long period of foriy yeais Mr. and Mrs. 
Zimmermann have traveled life's journey together, 
sharing with each other its prosperity and adver- 
sity, its joys and its sorrows. Five children have 
come to bless their union, but four of them are now 
deceased — William, who die(i at the .age of eight 
years; Willie, who died when nine months old; 
Anna, whose death occurred at the age of twenty- 
four; and Frank, who died at the age of thirty- 
four; he married Anna Lutz, who is now living in 
Bunker Hill; Herman F. wedded Belle Duffy and 
owns and operates a good farm in Bunker Hill 
Township. 

Mr. Zimmernu.nn loft Illinois in 1 850, attracted 
by the discovery of gold in California, and in com- 
pany with Henry Keizer and John Heind starteil for 
the Pacific Slope with five mules and one w.agon. 
They left in the month of April, crossed the Mis- 
souri River at St. Joseph, thence followed the old 
Fremont trail and after seventy-four days reached 
Hangtown, Cal., where Mr. Zimmermann worked for 
a time. Along the banks of the river he then en- 
gageil in mining for six months, when his right 




RESIDlIJCE or peter HOF.CKER, 5EC. a,, SHAW'S POIKT TR, MACOUPIN CO, ILL. 




REjIUCuCl uf riLRMAN F. Zl MMCR MANI . SCC £8., BUNKER HILL. 



/-«,-.v.'>.vatw6i>«te>'«*vS-**a«sah?aw. 



_ °" - - •™-^.^"«_,. .. ' 




RESIDENCE OF T. W. Zl MM ERMAN Ni , SEC.33.,BU NKER HI LL TP.MACOU PI U CO., ILL. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



311 



tinkle was crushed. As no physici.in was access- 
ible in that country lie suffered greally from the ac- 
cident and resolved to return lionie. He li.ad been 
Huite suecTSsful ill his mining operations and with 
a considerable quantity of gold dust lie sailed out 
of tlie fiolden Gate in an ocean vessel, returning 
home by way of the I&lhnius. The}' toiiclied on 
the island of Culia and thence sailed to Now Or- 
leans and afterward up the river to Alton. 

For a time after his return Mr. Zimmerman en- 
gaged in farming in Madison County and then pur- 
chased his present farm on section 3.3, Bunker Hill 
Township, wliicii has now been his home for about 
li third of a century. He has a pleasant residence, a 
view of which ap|)ears on another page, good liarns 
and other outbuildings and all the improvements 
necessary to a model farm. Although he had little 
capital when he came to America, he has worked 
his way steadily upward, overcoming tiio obstacles 
in his path and is now numbered among the well- 
to-do farmers of the community. In political sen- 
timent Rlr. Zimmerman was formerly a Democrat, 
but since the war has been a Republican. Both he 
and his vvife arc mcmbeisof tiie (Jernian Methodist 
Church of Bunker Hill, and such iiavc been their 
lives that they have won the confidence and esteem 
of all witii whom they have come in contact. 




„ KTER HOECKER. President of the Board 
of School Directors of Shaw's Point Town- 
ship, is numbered among the leading Ger- 
man-American citizens of tiiis count}', 
where he has a beautiful farm on section 8. 
Through unremitting exertions he has become the 
owner of two hundred and thirty acres, all under 
a high state of cultivation, and divided into fields 
from which good crops are garnered at the proi)er 
time. He has embellished his estate with substan- 
tial farm buildings and a commodious residence, 
and is carrying on the work of general farming 
systematically and with pleasing success. The at- 
tention of the reader is invited to a view of his 
liomcstead which appears on another page. 



A native of Germany, ]Mr. Iloecker was born 
November 26, 1840, and is the son of Abraham 
and Katherine (Darsam) Iloecker. AVlien he was 
five years old he accompanied his parents across 
the broad Atlantic and after landing in New York 
came West with them to St. Clair Count}-, 111. 
Here this worthy couple resided for many years, 
engaged in farming jiursuils and becoming known 
as honorable citizens. When they became old, they 
left their homestead and removed to Macoupin 
County, making their home with our suliject dur- 
ing their declining years and liere also liiey pass3d 
from earth. They were surrounded by all the com- 
forts which affection could supply and after brave- 
ly fighting the battle of life, peacefully entered 
into their final rest. 

The youth of our subject was p.assed in mucli 
the same manner as that of most farmer boys, alter- 
nating his attendance in school with lalior at home. 
He early gained a practical knowledge of agricul- 
ture and when prepared to start out in life for him- 
self, naturally chose farming as his avocation. In 
1865 lie left St. Clair County, where he had re- 
sided after coming to the I'liitc-d States, and lo- 
cated in Shaw's Point Township, this county. He 
become identified with this community and is 
known as an honorable, high minded citizen. As 
above stated he is now President of the School 
Board, of which he has been a member for many 
years. He has also served the people in various 
minor offices and politically is independent, casting 
his ballot in favor of those whom he thinks best 
qualified to serve the interests of the people. 

On .January 23, 1873, Mr. Iloecker was married 
to Miss Mary Laubenthal, an estimable woman, 
whose price has indeed been "far above rubies" 
and whose children "rise up and call her blessed." 
Mrs. Hoecker is the daughter of .lacob and Mary 
(Weaver) Laubenthal, natives of Germany, who 
came to the United States, settling in Monroe 
County, III., where they died. Their daughter, 
M.iry, was born in Monroe County, November 27, 
18.52, and was there reared to maturity. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hoecker are the parents of eight children, as 
follows: Anna L., Katie L., Louis, Mary T.,Otilda 
A., August, Elenora, and John. Klenora died when 
three and one-half years old, (ipd the other child- 



312 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ren remain under the parental roof. They are 

being carefully instructed, not only in matters of 
the intellect but in graces of character, and their 
increase in knowledge and true politeness gratifies 
their parents greatly. 



\jl EWIS JOHNSON, a retired fanner, living 
I (^ at Carliaville, has been a resident of this 
II L^ county forty-six years, corning here in pio- 
neer times, and he has contributed his quota to its 
growth and prosperity. He was born in Clark 
County, Ind., .lune 30, 18^0, a son of James John- 
son, who was a Pcnnsylvanian bj' birth, born in 
1788. The father of the latter, who was also 
named .lames, removed from Pennsylvania to Ken- 
tucky in 1790, floating down the Ohio in a Hat- 
boat to his destination. He resided for a time in 
Scott Count}-, and was one of its early settlers. 
He went from there to Shelby County in 1792, and 
resided there until his death. 

The father of our subject was reared in Kentucky. 
He was one of the men set to guard the river at 
the falls to intercept Aaron Burr when lie was ar- 
rested for plotting the formation of a new and rival 
State from the South-western territory of the Union, 
and later he received a land grant for his services. 
He married in Kentucky Miss Mary Miller, who 
was born in Pennsylvania, and w.as a daughter of 
David and Elizabeth (Wise) Miller. In 1811 Mr. 
Johnson became a (jionoer of Clark County, Ind.. 
that Stale vhen being a territory, still in the pos- 
session of the Indians, with but few white inhabi- 
tants. He built a log house on the tract uf land 
that he bought from the Govern(nent, and in that 
humble abode in the wilderness his son of whom 
we write was born. The father cleared a good 
farm, and resided on it until 18G8, when he sold it 
and came to Illinois to spend his last days in Ma- 
coupin County, and here his death occurred in 
1871. His wife died on the old farm in Indiana 
in 1842. 

The subject of this biographical review grew to 
a stalwart manhood in his native count}-, and was 
educated in its primitive schools, that were taught 



in log houses, whicli were rudely furnished with 
seats made by splitting poplar logs hewn smooth 
on one side and wooden pins inserted for legs. 
Mr. Johnson remained with his parents until he 
was twentj'-four years old, affording his father val- 
uable assistance on the farm, and also working at 
the trade of a cooper. In 1845, in the prime and 
vigor of early manhood, imbued by the pioneer 
spirit of his ancestors, he, too, sought to build up a 
home in a new country, and coming to Illinois on 
hoiseback, he cast his lot with the early settlers of 
Bird Township. He bought a tract of wild prai- 
rie on section l.and by hard pioneer labor devel- 
oped in time into a fine farm. His first work was 
to erect a log cabin, and when he married he and 
his bride commenced life together within its walls. 
He was much prospered in liis calling, and in Sep- 
tember, 1889, was enabled to retire from active 
business, renting his farm and coming to Carlin- 
VI lie, where he had previously erected a comforta- 
ble house, in whicli he has since made his home. 

One of the most important events in the life of 
our subject was his marriage November '25, 1847, 
to Miss Minerva Stevens Good, a native of Fa3-ette, 
Greene County, III., born September 25, 1828. 
They have two children, Clara K. and Kdgar K. 
The former married Peter L. Uenby, of South Pal- 
myra Township, and they have two children, Zoe 
and Frederick L. Edgar married Yif)la Harring;ton 
and they have one child, named Lois. They live 
at Carlinvillc. 

Mrs. Johnson comes of one of the old i)ioneer 
families of this State. Her father, Ezekiel Good, 
was a native of Georgia, and was a son of Thomas 
H. Good, who was a Virginian by birth. The lat- 
ter removed from Virginia to Georgia, thence to 
South Carolina, and from there came to Illinois in 
1815, in territorial days. He evolved a farm from 
the wilderness on which he continued to live until 
death ended his earthly pilgrimage. The maiden 
name of his wife was Gillam, and she also died in 
Madison County. 

Mrs. Johnson's father w.as a young man when 
he came to Illinois with his parents. After mar- 
riage he settled in Greene County, whence he came 
in 1821), to Macoupin County, and was one of the 
first to settle at Carlinville, the house that he built 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



313 



being the first dwelling erected on the present site 
of the city. He was also one of the first to engage 
in mercantile business here. He did not continue 
it long, however, but devoted himself to farming 
and surveying. He was the first Postmaster at 
Carlitiville, and the Circuit Court was held in his 
house. In 1834 his useful life was terminated by 
his death, and Macoupin County was deprived of 
the services of one of its i)ractical, energetic pio- 
neers. The maiden name of his wife was Alice 
Bird, and she was born in New York City. Her 
father, Henry Knickerbocker Bird, was a native of 
the State of New York, and commenced the life of 
a sailor in his boyhood, becoming in time the com- 
mander of a vessel. Mrs. Johnson's mother died 
at Carlinville in 1851. 

A sturdy Re|)ublican in politics, Mr. .Tohnson 
has always faithfully supported his party. For 
thirty-three years he held the ofiSce of Postmaster, 
and has served as School Trustee and Townshii) 
Assessor. His life-course has been marked by 
strict integrity in all things, and as a man and a 
citizen he has always conducted himself so as to 
win and retain the respect of all with whom he 
comes in contact. In his wife ]Mr. Johnson has a 
faithful helpmate and companion. .She is a sincere 
Christian and a valued member of the Methodist 
P^jiscopal Church. 



'»f|OHN J. WOMACK. This gentleman ig 
identified with the vast army of farmers 
who are doing so mucli to enhance the pros- 
perity of the State of Illinois, and whose 
homes attest to their enjoyment of the material 
comforts which they gain and the advantages 
afforded by modern civilization. His home is on 
section 32, Shaw's Point Township, and his farm 
of one hundred and sixty acres is as carefully and 
intelligently tilled as any in Macoupin County. 
His character is one worthy to be held up as a 
model to those who succeed him, while his record 
as a citizen can be [jointed to with pride by his 
posterity. 

Mr. Womack claims Kentucky as his native 



State, and in Spencer County he was born Novem- 
ber 27, 1819. Being the son of a poor man, he 
was obliged to assist his father in laboring for 
the support of the family, and his educational ad- 
vantages were therefore limited. He has made 
up for the deficiences of his early education by 
careful reading, and is always well i)osted upon 
all to|)ics of importance. He spent the first six- 
teen years of his life in the Blue Grass State, and 
in 1835 accompanied his father, John W. Woa:ack, 
to Macoupin County, this Stale. 'I'he father lo- 
cated first in Shaw's Point Township, and thence, 
after a sojourn of ten years, he removed to Bird 
Township, where he died. The mother of our 
subject, Elizabeth (Maddox) Womack, died in 
Kentucky. 

Since 1835 ISIr. Womack has resided coniinu- 
ously in this county, where he has been engaged 
in farming. He was married in Shaw's Point 
Township, December 23, 1847, to Miss Mary A. 
Lofton, and of tlie eigiit children born to them 
we note the following: Thomas W. served during 
the late war in the Seventh Illinois Infantry, and 
died in Louisville, Ky. ; Barbara A. died when two 
years old: 'William is at home; Abigail passed 
from earth at the age of twenty three; Lucj- died 
in infancy; John is at home; George died when 
about twenty' years old ; Albartis passed away at 
the age of less than nineteen 3ears. Mrs. Womack 
died at their home in Shaw's Point Township 
October 8, 1865. 

The lady who now presides over the domestic 
affairs in the home of Mr. Womack became his 
wife May 9, 1867. She was born in Kentucky 
and bore the maiden name of Ann M. Bainbridge. 
She was the widow of John D. Thompson, of Car- 
linville Township, and her marriage to Mr. Wo- 
mack was solenuiized in the city of Carlinville. 
To Mr. Womack and his estimable wife two chil- 
dren have been born — James H. and Frederick M., 
both of whom ave still under the parental roof. 

Mr. Womack keeps himself informed regarding 
political and other issues, votes the Republican 
ticket and takes special interest in educational 
matters. His fellow-citizens have often called 
upon him to fill various positions of responsibility 
and trust, and to the duties of ever}' office he 



314 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



he has brought the same enterprise and devotion 
which has characterized iiis personal eflforts. He 
1ms been Supervisor of Shaw's Point Township 
seven terms, and has served as Justice of the Peace 
eigiit years. For twentj'-six years in succession 
lie lias been the efficient Sciiool Director of his 
district, and has in various ways l>epn identifled 
witli the progress of the county. For many years 
he and his estimable wife have been members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has 
been Steward and Trustee. He is a firm believer 
in the power of Chrisiian principle, and he thinks 
the good of the people is subserved by religious 
societies, even though thr-y are not of his denomi- 



nation. 



'-^^^^^^^^tr^^^*--^ 



ELIAS TONGATE, one of the prosperous 
farmers of tiie county, is located on section 
3, South Palmyra Township. He has one 
hundred and twenty-one acres of well improved 
land and is [irosocuting his chosen vvork with the 
zeal and intelligence that make a success of an un- 
dertaking. He belongs to one of the pioneer fam- 
ilies of tlie county, his grandparents having brought 
their family hither in 1837. Grandfather Tongate, 
whose given name was Achilles, was born in Am. 
herst County, Ya., removed from his native State 
to Kentucky', thence to Missouri and to this State 
in 1836. For about a twelvemonth he resided in 
Morgan County, then made a permanent location 
near Palmyra. He and his faithful wife lived to- 
gether sixty -six years, and he survived her only a 
few years, reaching the veneral)lc age of ninety- 
three. He sat on the jury in the first murder trial 
in this county which brought in a verdict of guilty 
and was followed b}- hanging. (Traiidfather Ton- 
gate accumulated a fortune of about iji 10,000, which 
was divided among six sons and a daughter. 

Micajah C. Tongate, father of our subject, was 
born in ( J leen County, Ivy., June 1, 1821, and hav 
ing accompanied his parents to this State, grew to 
maturity here. November 16, 1843, he married 
Melinda Fletchei, a native of Kentucky who died 
August 24, 1853. She had four children, two of 
whom survive — Elias and Xaucy J., the latter now 



the widow of William Davis. In June, 1854 IMr. 
Tongate made a second marriage, wedding Mary 
A. Cherry, a native of Tennessee, who came to this 
State when quite young. This union was blest by 
the birth of five children, four of whom are now 
living and all in South Palm\ra Township. The 
third of these is William M. and the youngest is 
Hattie L., who is unmarried. The others are 
Vesta H., wife of James W. Challacombe, and Ida 
M., wife of F. K. Strale. The mother died in De- 
cember, 1883, and the father passed away July 19, 
1890. Mr. Tongate left an estate of two humlred 
and forty eight acres of well-improved land. He 
was a Democrat and never failed to deposit his 
vote. He never sought office but was sometimes 
chosen for local positions of trust. He was a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity. 

Elias Tongate was born in this county January 
12, 1848, was educated in the common schools and 
reared as a farmer. He thoroughly understands 
his calling and secured good results for his labors. 
He was married, October 26, 1873, to Clara E. 
Childs, who was born in this county in 1850. She 
was removed fi'om her family by death in 1881, 
leaving to the tender care of her husband two 
daughters — Melinda C. and Nellie M. She was a 
member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
Her father was Thomas W. Childs, whose name is 
familiar to many of our readers. Mr. Tongate is 
a Democrat and a member of the Masonic frater 
nity. He has held township offices and has worth- 
ily discharged the duties pertaining thereto and 
at the same time has been a good citizen and 
one who is respected by his acquaintances. 

William M. Tongate whose home is on section 
4, South Palmyra Township, is the only surviving 
son of Micajah and Mary (Cherry) Tongate, and 
is therefore a half-brother of our subject. The 
history of his paternal ancestors has already- been 
given in brief. His mother was born in December, 
1825, and accompanied her parents, William and 
Anna (Crawford) Cherry, to this State in 1833. 
They settled in this county and the parents died 
soon after. Miss Clierry received a good common- 
school education and for nine years w.as engaged 
in teaching in this State and Jlissouri. She aband- 
oned her profession in order to become the wife of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



317 



Mr. Tongate and immediately after tlieir marriage 
tiiey settled on the land the husband already 
owned. She was somewhat of an invalid for twen- 
tj'-two years but was able to be up until v.ilhin 
twenty-four hours of her death. She was a mem- 
ber of the Christian Church. William Tongate is 
living on the homestead and he is unmarried; his 
sister Hattie is his housekeeper, lie is a well-re- 
spected young man, a good farmer and citizen, and 
a pleasant companion. 



a APT. IIP:NRY W. KP:RR. a gallant offl- 
, cer in the late Civil War, in wiiich he won 
' a fine military record, and afterward attain- 
ing a liigii reputation at the bar, Capt. Kerr has, 
since he turned his attention to agriculture, made a 
success at that vocation which Horace Greeley 
aptly styled the "noblest of professions," and now 
stands among the leading farmers of Honey Point 
Township. His portrait on the opi)Osite [)ago rep- 
resents one whose interests have long been identi- 
fied with those of the county. 

Capt. Kerr was born in Monroe County, Ky., 
Januar3' 11, 1836. His father, Abraham Kerr, was 
a native of Guilford Court House, N. C, and was 
a son of John Kerr, who was born in the same lo- 
cality. The name of the great-grandfather of our 
subject was Levi Kerr, and he was born in Vir- 
ginia of Welsh parentage. He removed to North 
Carolina in the early settlement of that colonj', and 
there spent the rest of his days as a farmer, dying 
at Guilford Court House at a ripe age. He was a 
soldier of the Revolution. 

.lohn Kerr grew to man's estate in North Caro- 
lina, and was there married to Sarah Scott, who was 
also born in North Carolina. He learned the trades 
of a blacksmith and miller and carried them on in 
his native State until his removal to Kentucky in 
1810. He became a pioneer of Monroe County, 
that State, buying a large tract of land bordering 
on a stream, which he named Kettle Creek because 
he found a kettle therein. He built a gristmill 



with a bolter operated by hand, and also had a dis- 
tillery connected with his mill. He server! under 
.lackson in the War of 1812, and took pai't in the 
battle of New Orleans. His life was brought to a 
close in June 1848, at a venerable age; his wife also 
lived to be very old, her death occurring in Mon- 
roe County in 1870. at which time she was ninety- 
five years old. 

The father of our subject was young when his 
|>arents removed to Kentucky, and there the re- 
mainder of his youth was passed. He was married 
in Monroe County to Nancy Davis, a native of 
Rockingham County ,Va., and a daughter of Joshua 
and Sarah Davis, who were also Virginians. In 
1843 Mr. Kerr determined to leave his old Ken- 
tucky home to try farming in Missouri. With his 
wife and seven children he started for his destina- 
tion with ox-teams, and cooked and camped at 
night while on the journey. He bought a tract of 
wild land in Dallas Count3' after his arrival in Mis- 
souri, and erecting a log cabin for the shelter of 
his family, at once entered upon the pioneer task 
of preparing his land for cultivation, and broke a 
good many acres and placed them under tillage 
during his residence there. In September, 1847, he 
sold that property and coming to Macoupin County, 
settled in what is now Shaw's Point Township. At 
that time the settlements in this county were con- 
fined to the timber, and the prairie land was uncul- 
tivated. AVild animals, such as deer and wolves, 
were plentiful, and the country roundabout was 
still in the hands of the pioneers. Alton and St. 
Louis were the onl}' convenient markets until the 
railway was completed. Wheat sold at the former 
place for thirty-seven and one-half cents a bushel, 
and dressed hogs sold at St. Louis at $1.50 to 12.50 
per hundred pounds. 

In 1865 Mr. Kerr disposed of his farm at Shaw's 
Point, and took up his residence at Carlinville, 
where he lived until 1870. Removing then to 
Lovington, Moultrie County, he bought property, 
and there he and his good wife passed their remain- 
ing days in comfort and happiness, he dying in 
1875 and she in 1877. Mr. Kerr was a sound 
Democrat in his political views. While a resident 
of Shaw's Point he served as Justice of the Peace 
a number of years. Both he and his wife were 



318 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



people of rare merit, who led exemplary lives, and 
were devoted members of the Christian Church. 

The subject of tliis biographical review was 
seven years old when he accompanied his parents 
in their migration to Missouri and was twelve 
years of age when tliey retraced their steiis East- 
ward and settled in this county. From the time 
that he was six years old he attended school in the 
winter and worked on the farm at other seasons 
until he was eighteen years old, when he started 
out in life for himself. He found employment on 
a farm, and being of a studious turn of mind he 
devoted his spare time to Ids books, and when 
twenty-one taught one term of school. He was 
ambitious to prepare himself for a professional life, 
and selecting the law as best suited to his tastes, he 
entered the law office of Robert M. McWilliams at 
nillsboro. Under the instruction of that gentle- 
man he pursued his legal studies and in 1858 was 
admitted to the bar. 

On September 1, 1861, Capt. Kerr threw aside 
liis law business to lake up the military profession, 
animated by tlie same patriotic spirit that had 
made his greatgrandsire take up arms at the time 
of the Revolution and had caused his grandfatlicr 
to become a soldier when war again broke out witli 
England. He enlisted as a private in Company E, 
Forty-ninth Illinois Infantry, but was mustered in 
as Second Lieutenant. He displayed such excel- 
lent qualities as an officer that he was subsequently 
promoted to the position -of First Lieutenant, and 
in that capacity commanded his company for some 
time before he was commissioned its captain. He 
took an active part in man3' important battles, in- 
cluding Ft. Donelson, Siiiloh, siege of Corinth, 
Little Rock and Tupelo, Miss., and accompanied 
Gen. Banks on Ids Red River expedition. He also 
served under Gen. A. J. Smitii in Missouri while 
he was fighting Price's army. 

After tlie battle of Nashville Capt. Kerr was 
sent in charge of a detachment of soldiers to dis- 
lodge a party of bushwhackers tliat were stationed 
at the mouth of Sand Creek. He performed his 
difficult and dangerous task in an able and brilliant 
manner, and so as to win the commendations of 
his superiors for his coolness and skill in routing 
the enemy. That was the last battle in which he 



fought, and he was honorably discha'/ged in Padu- 
cah, Ky., in 1865. 

In the fall of the year after his retirement from 
the arny Capt. Kerr went to Savannah, Tenn., to 
practice law. In 1866 Parson Brownlow, then 
Governor of that State, appointed him Attorne^'- 
Gencral for the Twelfth Tennessee Circuit, and he 
served with distinction in that responsible office 
for eighteen months during the trying period of 
reconstruction. He then resigned and returned to 
Illinois, and for a year resided in Carlinville. At 
the expiration of that time he adopted the calling 
of a farmer, and carried on operations in Bird 
Township for some j'ears. In 1881 he sold his 
propert3' there and bought his present farm on 
section 4, Honey Point Township. This is a tine, 
highl}' productive prairie farm of one hundred 
and sixtj' acres, and since it came into his posses- 
sion he has greatly increased its value by the many 
excellent improvements that he has made, includ- 
ing the substantial set of farm buildings which 
he has erected. 

Capt. Kerr was united in marriage witli Miss 
Mary A. Purviance October 4, 1866. To them 
have been born eight children: Henry W. Jr., M. 
Cornie, Annie E., .Jennie M., N. Blanche, Speed, 
,)ohn F. and .James W. P. Mrs. Kerr is a native 
of this county, Polk Township her birthplace, and 
she is descended from the old pioneer stock of this 
Slate. Her father, Robert W. Purviance, was born 
in jMadison County, III., December 22, 1813. Her 
grandfather, William Purviance, w.as a native of 
North Carolina. At an early date he removed 
from there to this part of the country then known 
as the Northwestern Territory-, and located in what 
is now Troy Township, Madison Count}'. Mrs. 
Kerr's father spent his eail}' life in his native 
county, remaining there until 1838, when he started 
witli his l)iide for Macoupin County, traveling 
thither with a team, and bringing all their house- 
hold goods with them. A few months jjrior to that 
he had entered a tract of land from the (Jovern- 
raenl in Polk Township. He built a log cabin and 
and in that humble dwelling he and his young wife 
commenced housekeeping. He improved a good 
farm, and replaced his first home by a good frame 
house and erected other buildings. He resided 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



319 



tliere for many ycais, but spent the last part of his 
life at Carlinville, where both lie .ami his wife died, 
llcr maiden name w.as Moriuila (inskill, and she 
was also born in Mailison Count}-. 

Capt. Kerr has always been a stanch sui)porter 
of Republican principles, and since the war lias 
voted with, that party. His services as a solilier 
are commemorated by his connection witli the Dan 
Messick Post, G. A. R. Socially, he is a member 
of Mt. Nebo Lodge, No. 76, A. F. & A. M. He 
is engaged in stock-raising, in which he has met 
with success. Of his herii of fifteen registered 
cattle, six are imported. This brief record of the 
life of Air. Kerr shows that he has ever been an 
honorable man and a 103:11 citizen, and no higher 
eulogy can be pronounced on anyone. 



f-+J«=Ss€g=€-M- 




lk£\ ^^- !^ARAH .1. (ARMSTRONG) HALL, 
widow of Edson Chase Hall, a former well- 
known business man of this county, is a 
lady greatly respected in Chesterfield, 
where she is pleasantly situated in a home that is 
replete with coziness and true comfort. She was 
born near Athensville, Greene Count}', and is a 
daughter of one of tiie pioneers of that section of 
Illinois, John Armstrong. Her father was a na- 
tive of Northumberland, .Scotland, and was a son 
of William and Jane Armstrong, who were also of 
Scottish birth and spent their entire lives in their 
native land. 

John Armstrong left his old home when he was 
a lad of fourteen years to accompany an English 
family to ihe United States. They came directly 
to Illinois, and were among the first to locate in 
Greene County. Indians were then more numerous 
than whites, and the country was mostly in its 
primilive condition, the greater part of the land 
being owned by the Government and for sale at 
prices ranging from twelve and one-half cents to 
*1.25 an acre. When Mr. Armstrong attained 
manhood he entered a tract of land near Athens- 
ville, and erected two log cabins, one for a dwell- 
ing and the other for a store, as in addition to 
farming he intended to engage in mercantile pur- 



suits, keeping a general stock of merchandise, 
including groceries, dry goods, boots, shoes, etc. 
There were no railroads there then, and he had to 
team all his produce to Alton, where he purchased 
his goods, the trip occupying three days. He re- 
sided at Athensville until his death, which occurred 
in 185'J. That town was then de|)rived of a good 
citizen who li.ad interested himself in its welfare 
and had been .active in promoting its commerce, as 
well as in developing the agricultural resources of 
that county. v- 

The maiden name of Mrs. Hall's mother wiis 
Elizabeth Gehler, and she was a daughter of John 
and Elizabeth Gelder. For an account of her par- 
ents see sketch of John Gelder that appears else- 
where in this book. After the death of her husband 
Mrs. Armstrong came to Chesterfield and passed 
her remaining days here, dying February 20, 1878, 
at a venerable age. She was the mother of these 
six children: Thomas H., Mary A., Sarah J., John 
W., Charles and Elizabeth. 

Mrs. Hall was carefully reared and was well 
trained in all that goes to make a good housewife. 
She remained with her mother until her marriage, 
November 20, 1872, to Edson Chase Hall. Her 
wedded life with Mr. Hall was hallowed by the 
birth of three children: Grace, Horace Chase and 
May. 

Edson C. Hall was a native of Wisconsin, born 
February 2, 1837. He was a son of Dr. Jeremiah 
Hall, who was born in New Hampshire. He was 
educated as a piiysician in lioston, and going to 
Wisconsin in Territorial days he was one of the 
pioneers of his calling in that section of the coun- 
try. After a time he removed to Iowa, and was 
one of the early settlers of Danville, Des Moines 
County, where he practiced medicine until his 
death, becoming one of the leading men of his pro- 
fession in that part of the Stale. The wife of Dr. 
Hall was Harriet Conning, who was born in New 
York and died at Danville, Iowa. 

Mr. Hall, the husband of our subject, was reared 
and educated in Danville. At the age of nineteen 
he entered upon his mercantile career as a clerk in 
a store in that place, and continued thus engaged 
until the Civil War broke out. He was then in tlie 
prime and vigor of early manhood with the promise 



320 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RF.CORD. 



of a successful life before liira, but ho laid aside 
personal consideration to enlist in defense of tlie 
Union, becoming a member of the One Hundred 
and Tiiirtj-third Iowa Infantry. He took part in 
every battle in which his regiment engaged, re- 
maining with it until the end and winning an hon- 
orable record as a patriotic and efficient soldier, 
and after peace was declared he was discliarged 
with his comrades. 

Returning northward after leaving thcarm^- Mr. 
Hall sought and obtained a position as clerk at 
Alton, HI. He subsequently established himself in 
business at Chesterfield, and was thus prosperously 
engaged up to the time of his death, which occur- 
red June 3, 1884. Chesterfield then lost a valuable 
citizen who had materially promoted its commerce 
as one of its leading merchants. The Congrega- 
tional Church was deprived of the help and liberal 
support of one of its most esteemed members. He 
was missed not only by his family', but by the 
friends and acquaintances that he had gathered 
around him during his residence here, as he was a 
man whose sterling integrity of character and 
geniality won him regard. Mrs. Hall shared the 
consideration in which her husband was held, and 
slie stands high in the social circles of this town. 
She is of the Episcopal faith, and is a member of 
the church of that denomination. 




)OBERT S. COWAN, M. I)., Iws been prac- 
ticing medicine at Girard for more than 
<^ \V twenty years.and his high professional stand- 
^)ing among the physicians of this county is 
indicative of the success that he has attained in his 
career. He is a native of Sullivan County, Tenn., born 
March 9, 1833, a son of George R. Cowan, a native 
of East Tennessee and a grandson of Robert Cowan, 
who was born in the North of Ireland, being a de- 
scendant of Scotch ancestry. He came to America 
before the Revolution in the prime of young man- 
hood and when the war broke out between the Col- 
onists and the Mother Country he entered the Con- 
tinental army, and did brave service in the cause 
of liberty. He fought under Gen. Washington, 



and was with the army when it crossed the Dela- 
ware. When peace was declared he resided in Vir- 
ginia for a time, and then removed to Tennessee, 
of which he was a pioneer, and there his life was 
brought to a close at a ripe age. The maiden 
name of his wife, great-grandmother of subject, 
was Nancy Rutledge. She is thought to have been 
born in South Carolina, and she died in Tennessee. 
She was the mother of five sons, — James, Andrew, 
William, George and John. The three elder sons 
served under Jackson at the battle of New Orleans 
during the War of 1812. 

The father of our suliject was reared and mar- 
ried in Tennessee, Mary May becoraii'g his wife. 
.She was a native of that State, and a daughter of 
Dr. Samuel and Catherine (Shelby) May. Her 
father was a native of England, and a surgeon by 
profession. Mr. Cowan early learned the trade of 
a tanner, and eng.agod in tiie business at Paper- 
ville, Sullivan County. He also had an interest in 
a paper mill and other manufacturing industiies. 
He was a man of marked energy of character, of 
many resources, and verj' capable. In 1838 he 
resolved to try his fortunes in the Slate of Mis- 
souri, that was still in the hands of the pioneers, 
his bold, resolute spirit, hard}' nature and powers 
of endurance fitting him to cope with the many 
difficulties to be encountered in settling in a new 
country. With his wife and six children he era- 
barked on a flat-boat and floated down the llolston 
River to the Ohio, where he boarded a steamer 
that bore him and his family down the waters of 
the Ohio and up the Mississii)|)i and Missouri riv- 
ers to I5oonville, Mo. He located in Polk County, 
and entered lai'ge tracts of Government land in 
different counties, which he subsequently improved 
with slave labor. He resided for* some 3'ears in 
that part of Polk County now included in Cedar 
County, and then sold his property there and re- 
moved to .St. Clair Count}-, where lie had previ- 
ously entered land. He erected suitable buildings 
and improved a large farm, which he m.ade his 
home until 1854. In that year he went to Bolivar, 
the counly-seat of Polk County to reside, and 
soon after he was appointed Judge of Probate, and 
held that office with distinction until the breaking 
out of the war. lie then retired to private life, and 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



321 



passed his remaining dajs in tiie liome of adaujili- 
tcr at Sarcoxie, Jasper County, Mo., rljing Janu- 
ary 1, 1874. He liad been bereaved of bis wife 
many years liefore, slie dying in St. Clair County. 
INIo., in 1.S52. Slie w.as tiie mother of six children, 
of whom these are tlie names, — Catherine, George, 
Nancy, Robert S., Mary and Salina. Our subject 
was but a child when liis parents migrated to Mis- 
souri, and lie was reared under pioneer influences. 
There were no free scliools in Missouri in iiis 
younger days, and he gained the preliminaries of 
iiis education in tlie school house that his father 
erected on his land, under the instruction of a 
teaclier tiual Iiis father einplo3'ed. Later he became 
a student at Ebenczer College, ten miles north of 
Springfield, Mo., and there he laid a solid founda- 
tion for his medical studies, which he commenced 
at the age of twenty-three, under the tuition of Dr. 
Samuel B. Bowles, of Greenfield. He afterward 
further prepared himself for his profession by at- 
tending lectures at the Missouri Medical College, 
and be began upon his career as a physician in 
Dade County. 

From that county the Doctor went in a short 
time to Newton County, where there seemed to be 
a wider field of usefulness, and he was engaged in 
active i)ractice there when the war broke out. 
Having been re.ared in a slave state his sympathies 
naturally went out to the Southern cause and he 
offered his services to the Confederate States in 
1861, manv of his life-long friends enlisting at the 
same time, and he was ap|)oinled Assistant Surgeon 
of the Third Missouri Cavalry. He was soon promo- 
ted to be Surgeon of his regiment, and did valuable 
service in that capacity in Price's army for three 
years, gaining an experience iu those trying times 
that added tu his professional knowledge and in- 
creased his reputation for skill and ability. At Lhe 
expiration of that time he resigned his position 
and went to Mexico, where he spent six months. 
After that he staid in New Orleans until the 
S|)ring of 1865, when he came to this county 
and opened an office at Nilwood. In 1869 he 
came from there toGirard, and has been in contin- 
uous practice here since. The Doctor's success 
may lie partly attributable to Iiis frank, generous 
nature, and his courteous and thoughtful treatment 



of all with whom he comes in contact, his manner 
gaining him popidarity and friendship on all sides. 
He is a member of the Macoupin County Society 
for Medical Improvement, and also of the State 
Medical Society. 

Dr. Cowan was happily married in 1854 to Eliz- 
abeth Weir, a native of Cooper County, Mo., and 
a daughter of the Rev. Samuel and Mary B. 
(Stephens) Weir. Our subject and his wife have 
five children living, namely: George R., a gradu- 
ate of the St. Louis Meilical College, and now 
his father's assistant; Jlary, wife of Ed E. Mc- 
Coy, of Springfield, III.; Florence; DoUie and 
Elizabeth G. 




OOO 



DWARD B. MEATYARD. The late Mr. 
Meatyard is well remembered by manj- citi- 
fj zens of this county, as he was born at Piasa 
and there spent the years until after he had grown 
to manhood. His natal day was February 13, 1839, 
and his parents were Robert and Betsc}' (Brown) 
Meatyard, who were natives of England. In his 
early boyhood Edward displayed the bent of his 
genius and he was educated as a civil engineer, 
making a thorough study of mechanics. At the 
death of his mother he inherited a large sum of 
money, and he was thus enabled to do more in the 
way of investigation and invention than is the case 
with some who possess an inventive genius. 

December 24, 1873, Mr. Meatyard was united in 
marriage with Miss Anna E. Boswell. daughter of 
John G. and Ann (Nightingale) Boswell, who live 
in Shipman Township. The bride was born in 
London, England, but was brought to the United 
States by her parents when an infant, and is to all 
intents and purposes a thorough American. She 
possesses an estimable character, a well-informed 
mind, and much capability forafl'airs, so that since 
she was left a widow she has been able to look after 
her monied interests very satisfactorily'. Her home 
is brightened by the presence of four chiklren. 
named respectively: Maynard M.. James E., Bessie 
N., and Mina E. 

About four months after his marriage Mr. Meat- 
yard removed to Walworth County, AVis., and 



322 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



found a pleasant home on the shores of Lake Gen- 
eva. He then gave his attention to inventions and 
secured patents on about twenty, tlie most import- 
ant of which were a car wheel and a press used in 
making the same, and a steam liammer. For his 
patent-right on the last named he was offered $75,- 
000, but as ho considered it the foundation of his 
work he refused the offer. He accomplished a vast 
amount of work, and had tiie foundation laid for 
a large fortune, but his career was cut short by 
death, May 13, 1889, when lie was but little more 
tlian fifty years old. On being taken sick he sold 
out his propertj' at Lake Geneva and spent some 
time in a hospital at Chicago, then carae to Ship- 
man where he died three weeks later. 

Mr. Meatjard was the author of many valuable 
papers on works in which ho was interested, and 
published a volume on the "Transportation Prob- 
lem." This is a working-man's manual, treating 
of curves, grades, locations, permanent way, heavy 
rails, rail joints, bridges, uniform distribution of 
moving load on tracks and Inidges, light strong 
cars, steel-cusliioned wheels, train brakes, self lubri- 
cation, radial axles, traction resistance, and many 
crude ideas to be worked out with hard and tough 
steel. He enlisted on the Union side at the break- 
ing out of the war as a private, but by bravery and 
true worth he was promoted successively through 
the various offices, and at the close of the war came 
out with the shoulder straps and rank of a Major 
of Kngineering and Artillery. 

-^ -^-#' -^ 



UILLIAM N. CULP is a naiive-born citi- 
zen of this county who is classeil among its 
\)^' foremost farmers and stock-raisei-s. His 
extensive and well equipped farm in Honey Point 
Township, shows every evidence of careful cultiva- 
tion and superior management, and its fertile har- 
vest fields and rich pastures yield a liberal income. 
Mr. Culp was born October 1, 1839, at Rivesvillc, 
III. His father, the Rev. Samuel B. Culp, was a 
native of Nicholas County, Ky., born February 1, 
1813, a son of one Thomas Culp, who was also of 
Kentucky birth, and was a descendant of the old 



pioneer stock of tliat Slate. He was a tanner by 
trade. In 181. 5 he migrated to the territory of 
Missouri, and was one of the first settlers of Ripley 
County. Ho became a prominent figure in its 
pul)lic life, and represented it in the State Legisla- 
ture. In 1811 he removed to Arkansas, and locat- 
ing in Izard County on a tract of timber land, he 
erected a saw-mill and manufactured lumber in 
connection with farming. His death occurred 
there in 1848. The grandmother of our subject 
married a second time, becoming the wife of 
Thomas Kennedy, and died at the home of the 
father of our subject in September, 1844. Her 
maiden name w.as Mary Gahegan, and she was a 
native of Nicholas County, Ky. Her father was 
.John Gahegan and he was born in Maryland. He 
was a Revolutionary soldier, and it is thought that 
he served throughout the entire conflict. He took 
part in the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill. 
After the Revolution he removed to Kentucky, and 
was one of the first settlers of what is now Fayette 
County. 

Tl'.e father of our subject did not go to Missouri 
with his father, but remained in Kentucky with his 
mother. He live<l in his native count}- until he 
was fourteen j-ears old, and tlien went to Bourbon 
Countj', and lived at Millersburg two years. From 
there he went to Paris, where he finished an aj)- 
prenticeship of seven years, begun at Millersburg, 
to learn ihe trade of a tailor. When he was twenty- 
one he went to Cynthiana, and carried on his call- 
ing there a few months. His next move w.as in 
the spring of 1834, when he came to Illinois, trav- 
eling by the w.ay of the Ohio and Mississippi Riv- 
ers to Bushnel's Ferr^', now Columbiana, landing 
there the 1st of March, and walking from there to 
the vicinit}' of Greenfield, whore he visited an old 
neighbor. At that time there were but three 
buildings on the present site of that town, and 
those were of logs, the only store in the village 
being kept in one of them. Mr. Culp rented the 
back part of that building for a time and plied his 
trade. He remained there two years, and we next 
hear of him at Rivesville, this countj', where he 
opened a shop and carried on business as a tailor. 

In 1839 the father of our subject turned his at- 
tention to farming for two j'oars, eng.aging at his 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



323 



trade .1 pnit, of llie time. In 1815 be came to 
fScottsviile and eslabli&lied himself at his tailor bus- 
iness, which he conducted four j'oars. At the ex- 
piration of that time he bought forty acres of land 
ill Bird Township, at 12 ai) acre, going in debt for 
it. After he had paid for the land he bought 
otlier reality, until finally he had two hundred and 
ten acres of rieii farming land. He resided on it bus- 
ily engaged in its improvement, until 1881, wlien 
lie disposed of it at a good jirice, and bought in 
Cold .Spring, Shelby County, where he is still liv- 
ing. He married April 28, 1838, Gahilla Finley, 
and for more than half a century they shared life's 
jo^'s and sorrcnvs until they were called upon to 
part by her death April 12, 1890. 

Her father. William Finley, was born and reared 
in South Carolina. He went from there to Geor- 
gia, thence to Kentucky, whence he came to Illinois 
in 1S16. in Ihe territorial d.aysof this State, and lo- 
cated at Wood River Fort, now in Madison County. 
At that time there w.is not a white settler within 
the present bounds of Macoupin County, and In- 
dians occupied the greater part of the territory now 
included in the State of Illinois. A few j^ears 
later the grandfather of our subject settled on the 
edge of Greene County, and afterward entered a 
tract of land from the Government a mile and a 
quarter from Greenfield, where he improved a 
farm. He finally sold that, and passed the rest of 
his da3 s with his children, dying in the fall of 
1815, November 12. His wife bore the maiden 
name of Sarah Stanford, and she w.as also of South 
Carolina birth. She died in 1839. 

William N. Gulp was reared under pioneer influ- 
ences in this county, and was educated in its 
schools. From his youth up he has always been 
engaged in agricultural pursuits, and from the verj' 
start showed a special aptitude for his chosen call- 
ing, displaying a keen appreciation of the best mod- 
ern methods of farming in the management of his 
farming interests, and he has so profited by ex- 
perience and observation that he is to-day one of 
the most prosperous men of his calling in Honey 
Point Township. He took possession of his present 
farm in 18G4, and now owns upward of five hun- 
dred acres of land. He enjoys to the full the re- 
spect accorded to an honorable, upright man, whose 



habits are exemplary, and whose dealings are 
strictly' just and fair, it being the universal testi- 
mony of his many friends and acquaintances in 
this county where his life h.as been passed, that his 
character is thus rightly summed up in the forego- 
ing words. In him and his amiable wife the Bap- 
tist Church hiis two of its most earnest members, 
who are zealous in helping forward every good 
work in the community. 

M rs. Gulp bore the maiden name of Rachel E. 
Frazier. She is a native of South Palmyra Town- 
ship, and a daughter of William C. and Melinda 
Frazier, pioneers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. 
Gulp have seven children — ^Flora, Carrie, Samuel, 
Frank, Mabel, Cl.adius and Mattie. 



^^ 



; ^^HARLES F. BAUER. It is a question 
1 (|( whether there is any people on earth who 

i ^^7 have the varied experiences afforded by 
I travel, of the Americans. The West has been con- 
j stantly beckoning with alluring hand to golden 
fields that promise opulence to the enthusiastic 
seeker. After the mighty Father of Waters had 
j been crossed by eager seeke''s for the golden treas- 
ures of the earth, Pike's Peak flashed fascinating 
gleams of opalescent light in the eager eyes of the 
Western traveler. Then California, like the sirens 
of the sea, induced weary travelers to leave their 
homes and come overland to partake of the intoxi- 
cating delights of unparalleled climate and hopes 
of riches. The life of Charles F. Bauer is one of 
the many, varied anil made interesting by his trav- 
els and experience in the West. The subject of 
this sketch had come to the State of Illinois in 
1852, where be made his home in Dorchester Town- 
ship to the end of his life, excepting four years 
that he spent in California in the mining regions. 
He died at his home on section 17, Dorchester 
Township, November IG, 1889. 

Soon after the discovery of gold Mr. Bauer too 
caught the fever, and determined to take his course 
Westward. He did not take the overland route as 
did so many to their sorrow, but took the ocean 
voyage, crossed the Isthmus and arrived at San 



324 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Francisco, where be went into the orold regions, 
working as a laborer for some time. His experi- 
ence here was necessarily varied and interesting, 
and it never ceased to be a cliarming subject of 
conversation to the gentleman. He returned from 
California by way of the Isthmus in 1856, and be- 
gan life anew in Dorchester Townshi|) on wild un- 
brokerj farm land. He acquired before his death 
eight hundred and thirty-five acies of very fine 
land. The most of it is the best the county and 
township affords. 

Mr. Bauer made one of the most beautiful of 
farms of his domain. He built a fine residence, 
with all the im|)roveraents in the way of farm build- 
ings that could be desired. The farm implements 
were of the finest. The widow and her children 
still reside at the homo, and all tiio land is yet in 
the family thougii divided among the children. 
Our subject was born in Sax Altenburg, Germany, 
Decembers, 1827. He is a brother of J. Henry 
Bauer, whose biography may be found in this vol- 
ume. 

He of whom we write arrived at his majority in 
his native German province, and when onl\- twenty- 
five years of age, deeming the promises of Amer- 
ica better than those of his native land for an am- 
bitious and sturdy young man, crossed the Atlantic 
in a sailing-vessel. The trip was a long and tedi- 
ous one. He landed at New Orleans, and came to 
Illinois, where he remained during the rest of his 
life with the exception of the years spent on the 
Pacific .Slope. Mr. Bauer's life is a fair illustration 
of how tiie industry and energy of an intelligent 
man can make the fertile acres of our America 
laugh with joy and graciously give forth ricli treas- 
ures. Our subject had an unimpeachable chaiacter 
for honesty; though he gained his competency with 
hard labor he was universally esteemed in his 
neigborhood. 

Mr. Bauer on his return from California, married 
Miss Wilhelmina Kretzchimer. She was born in 
Altenburg, Germany, .June 18, 1835. She was a 
daughter of Christopher and Joh.anna (Dingue; 
Kretzchimer, natives of Germany, and small flrm- 
ers who lived and died in theirnative land. Tliey 
were taken away while yet in the heyday of life 
Mrs. Baner, the wife of our subject, is the second 



child and first and only daughter born to her par- 
ents. One brother, Charles, now lives in California, 
while a younger brother Henry still lives in Ger- 
many. Mrs. Bauer herself was reared and educated 
in her native German province, and was the first of 
her family to leave the home nest and come to the 
United States. Leaving Bremen in a German ves- 
sel she arrived in New York City, came to Pitts- 
burg, Pa., thence to Columbiana, Ohio, and later 
to Macoupin County, 111., where she has since lived. 
She has been a true wife and efficient helpmate to 
her husband, and is a good and worthy woman. 
She is a member in good standing of the 15aptist 
Church. Eleven children were given to gladden 
the hearts and home of this worthy couple. Three 
of the children died young, and George died at the 
age of twenty-<me years. Those still living are 
Lewis, who married Mary Perrine; tliey livein°Dor- 
chcster Township, on a fine fa,m ; Theodore farms 
in this township; Charles, who assists on the home 
farm; Emma, William, Ida and Hannah. This 
family of bright and interesting .hildren are a 
credit to the mother who has so lovingly reared 
them. 



^^^EORGE W. SMITH. The owner of the 
III ssp f'i"n of forty-seven acres on section 25, 
^?yi North Otter Township, is he whose name is 
to be found at the head of this writing. A history 
of his parents may be found in the sketch of Elisha 
Smith in another part of this RhX'OKu. Our subject 
is a native of North Otter Township, being there 
born January 3, 1846. He was reared to manhood 
on his father's farm, receiving a common-school 
education that comprised the tliree "K's" that was 
at that time thought not only indispensible but 
almost sufficient for the education of the ordinary 
youth. In the intervals of school life he assisted 
his father on tiie farm, remaining on the home 
place until his marriage. 

Our subject was married in Marion County, 
Iowa, September 12, 1867, to Miss Viola Millen, a 
daughter of Thomas and Mary ^Clark) Millen. 
She was born in North Otter Township, this county, 
November 16, 1849. They immediately settled on 



^"^ 






•^(At..^--* 






Jf \' 




T'. ^^w7^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



327 



anuw farm [iroviously belonging to his faliiei' and 
he has since lived on this place with the exception 
of one year wiiich lie spent in the West. He has 
always followed agriculture and is now the owner 
of forty-seven acres of land. 

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of three 
cliildren — Orah who is a teacher: Laura H. and 
Eva E. In politics our subject is a Republican, 
being a firm believer in the protective tariff and 
all the other tenets of this party. The}- are both 
members of the Methodist Episcoi)al Church, being 
devoted supporters of the same. 



'm^^^ ^ I ^ t^^mw 




FERDINAND TAGGART. A goodly nura- 
ber of men now living in liiis county have 

\ '^ been so successful in their business affairs 
as to be enabled to retire from the arduous work of 
life, and enjoy all that lieart can wish of material 
comfort, [)leasant associations and cliccrful recrea- 
tions. Among this class is Mr. Taggart, whose 
portrait appears on the opposite page and who for 
some years has been living a life of ease, to which 
he is entitled by the manner in which he carried on 
the enterprises in which he was engaged earlier in 
life. In every occupation in which he took part 
he manifested good judgment, and this quality 
combined with his persevering industry resulted in 
his accumulation of a goodly fortune. He has a 
beautiful residence on the outskirts of the city, 
furnished in accordanc(! with tlie refined tastes of 
its occupants, wiio are not hampered by a lack of 
means, but are able to obtain every a<]oiniiiciit they 
desire. 

Before entering upon the career of our subject 
iiimself, it will be well to make some mention of 
prominent events in tiie history of his (larents. 
Samuel Taggart and Margaret Davis were born, 
reared and married in Tyrone County, Ireland, and 
came to America very early in this centurj'. They 
settled in Shelby County, Ky., and endured l!ie 
self-denials and hardships common to all i)oineers, 
wliilo the}' were clearing and improving a tract of 
timber land. Mr. Taggart died there about 181.S 
and his widow survived him only six years. Both 



belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Six 
of their cliildren were reared to maturity. 

In the log-house built by his father, Ferdinand 
Taggart was born April 6, 1812. He was six years 
old when his father died but he remained with his 
mother on the homestead until her decease, when 
with two other of the children he went to live with 
an aunt. After a year spent in her home he re- 
turned to his birthplace and was cared for by his 
eldest brother until he was eighteen years old. At 
that time young Taggart came to this State and 
made Carrollton, Greene County, his place of re- 
sidence about three years, learning the trade of 
brickmaking. He then came to Carlinville to start 
a brickyard for his employer and having done so 
lie acted for tliat gentleman one season. This was 
in 1833, when Carlinville had a population of 
about two hundred and the buildings were mostly 
of logs with mud and stick chimneys. Tliere was 
not a brick building here and but one brick chim- 
ney. 

During the season after his arrival here Mr. Tag- 
gart bought a lot on the e.ist side of the square and 
also entered eighty acres of Government land near 
town. The next 3'ear he went to Missouri to ex- 
[ilore, and siient the summer and fall, after which 
he returned hithcu- and early in 1835 started a 
brickyard for himself. He became a contractor 
and among the contr.-icts he had was one for the 
biick work on tha court-house that was built in 
1837. This was the lirst court-house built of brick, 
the structure previously' used having been made of 
hewed logs. 

As a contractor and builder Mr. Taggart con- 
tinued to labor until 1840, when he engaged in the 
sale of merchandise in comjiany with A. S. Walker 
and William Pliel|is. Tliey bought goods in St. 
Louis, then the chief vvestern market, and liad them 
hauled to Carlinville liy teams. 'J he firm also car- 
ried on a branch store at Taylorville. Mr. T.aggart 
pursued a mercantile career most of the time until 
after the v>ar and proved that he was possessed of 
financial tact and business enterprise. 

The first niariiagc of Mr. Taggart was solemn- 
ized in 184."), his bride lieing Ann V. Ilesser, a lady 
who was born in \'irgiiiia and died in Carlinville; 
she loft a daughter, Mary E., who inai-ried John 



328 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



McNeal aiui lias six cliililrcii. Slie lives in Carlin- 
ville. The second wife of Mr. Taggart was Dar- 
inda Renshaw, a native of the State, who also died 
in Carliiiville. His present companion bore the 
maiden name of T. V. Walker and is a native of 
Tenne.ssee. She is a sister of Charles A. Walker, 
to whose sketch the reader is referred for her par- 
ental history. She is a lady of fine character, be- 
longing, like her husband, to the Methodist Ei)is- 
copal Church. 



vi?OSKPII UTZ. We are pleased to mention, 
I among tlie enterprising farmers and promi- 
i nent workers in every good cause, the name 

' which we have given at the head of this 

paragraph. The excellent farm and pleasant home 
of Mr. Utz is an object of interest to ever^- one 
who passes along tiie highway near its location, 
and those who know the man best most truly re- 
spect and esteem him. 

Daniel riz, the father of our subject, was born 
near Little York, Pa., and his mother, Magdalena 
Muraard, was a native of York County, Pa., and 
died in her native State in Cumberland County, 
while her husband's last da^'s were spent in Mont- 
gomery County, Ohio. Five of their children grew 
to years of maturity, and the one of whom we 
write was next to the eldest, being born in York 
County, Pa., August 19, 1828. His early educa 
tion and training were received in his native home 
upon his father's farm, and when quite a young 
man he accompanied that parent to Maryland, and 
lived there for some four years. 

In Carroll County, Md., the young man found 
his bride in the person of Miss p:iizabeth Sharer, 
daughter of William and Margaret (Rirabey) 
Sharer, both natives of that State. Mr. Sharer died 
in Maryland and his widow afterward came to 
Illinois and made her home in Morgan County, 
until her death. Their daughter Elizabeth was the; 
youngest in a family of three and was born in Car- 
roll County, Md., December 23, 1879. 

Soon after their marriage which was celebrated 
January 9, 1851, the young couple came to Mont- 



gomery County, Ohio, and thence to Darke County, 
the same St.ate, and in the fall of 1865 journeyed 
still farther West, and coming to the Empire State, 
made their home for one year in Morgan County, 
after which they came to this county and settled in 
North Otter Township, which became their per- 
manent home. To them were born ten children, 
namely : Ellen, who grew to a beautiful young 
womanhoo(L and died at the age of twenty-three; 
Mary, who is now the wife of William Hockviet- 
ner: George W.; Ann C. the wife of James M. 
Nead; Hattie, who married Charles Crump; Nora, 
who is Mrs. William McGinnis; Talitha the wife 
of Mclvin Reafsnyder; Tabitha, who married Al- 
bin Driver; Franceanna and Edward E. 

Agricultural pursuits have alw.ays claimed the 
entire attention and efforts of Mr. Utz, and in this 
work he has been successful and prosperous. Upon 
his farm of seventy-two acres of rich and fertile soil 
he has crecte() a pleasant and commodious new 
home and has outbuildings, which accommodate 
well the work of the farm. He has been an incum- 
bent of the office of School Director, and in that 
lias been thoroughly satisfactory. Both he and 
his capable wife are members of tiie Methodist 
Episcopal Church South, and in this connection he 
has ailed the offices of Steward, Class-Leader and 
Trustee. He ever takes a great interest in religious 
affairs, and his well-known reputation for reliabil- 
ity and thoroughness as well as his devotion to the 
cause of CMuistianity have made him a power in 
church circles. 



I MLLIAM C. MERRILL, of the firm of 
\&j// Merrill & Chase, who are the leading 
W^ dry-goods merchants of the village of 
J5righton, and one of the oldest houses in this pnrt 
of the State, is a gentleman whose biography we 
are pleased to present to our readers. This firm 
has existed under the firm name for nearly thirty 
years and prior to that time our subject was en- 
gaged in the business on his own .account for one 
year and for one year also under the firm name of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



329 



Cranclall ik Merrill. Mr. Merrill is a thorough 
business man as also his partner and their business 
.association h.as grown into ;i close and warm friend- 
ship. 

Mr. Merrill came to lirighlon in 1857, and in 
the spring of that year he established a grocery 
store under the firm name of Merrill ■k. Bean. 
Later he introduced a drug department and man- 
aged this business for some time, and then under 
the same title did business in the line of merchan- 
dise. Mr. Merrill has been closely associated with 
ever3thing of interest in Hrighton since before the 
village was incorporated and he has been identified 
with the business interests of the place for many 
years. He has also been helpful and active in po- 
litical matters and was one of the first members of 
the village board of trustees. 

Previous to his coming to this county, our sub- 
ject had been a resident of California, having gone 
there in the spring of 18.'>2, from New York, his na- 
tive State, traveling by the water route through 
the Straits of Magellan and around Cape Horn, 
landing there in the fall of the year after a six 
month's vo^'age. The vessel was a propeller and 
made many stops on the South American Conti- 
nent and Mexico, including .San .Juan, Valparaiso, 
Talqua-Calsawana and other points. At the last 
named place they mot with a terrible storm that 
nearly caused the loss of the vessel, and later the}' 
continued the journey having barely escaped the 
"yellow jack" at Rio Janeiro, one of their stop- 
ping places. 

After landing on the Western Slope our subject 
turned his attention to the gold mines, working 
first at Mnrplw's Camp and spent the last year of 
the three years he w.as in the Golden State at Vol- 
cano, a mining town. After the varied experiences 
known only to the miner of those times, he finally 
in 1855, retained East b}' the way of the Isthmus 
of Panama to New York City and returned to his 
old home in Franklin County', N. Y., where he first 
saw the light in Malone, May 4, 1828. lie came of 
good Huguenot slock, who left their native couiitry, 
France, and came to England at the time of the 
persecutions and later in Colonial times emigrated 
to the New World with the Hartford Colony. 
There the firsli two brothers of this farail}-, Abraham 



and Isaac Merrill (whose name in France was 
spelled Merl) made their home. The family di- 
vided and subdivided and is now to be found in 
almost eyery State in the I'nion. Some of them 
were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. 

The grandfather of our subject was of the second 
or third generation from the two original brothers. 
His name was Paul Merrill. He was originally a 
carpenter but he reasoned as he pounded away with 
his tools that he was making something while he 
worked, but that if he were a farmer his work 
would go on while he slept, so he clianged his occu- 
pation. He lived to be over ninety years old. His 
son Enoch, the father of our subject, is supposed 
to be a native of New Hampshire, and was reared 
in that state. He was united in marriage with Miss 
Betsey Bean who came of an old New England 
familj' of good stock and was born and reared in 
New Hampshire. 

After marriage P^noch Merrill and his young wife 
came to New Yo^k .State in the early days of Frank- 
lin County, when it was all wild woods, and there 
they hewed out of the timber a |)leasant home and 
a fine (arm. They lived for years in the log house 
which they erected, and cultivated a large farm, 
and there they both died, Mr. Merrill in 1854, 
being sixt^'-fonr years old, and his wife five years 
later, having attained about the same age. They 
were earnest and devout members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

Three sons and four daughters formed the family 
of this worthy and enterprising couple upon the 
old homestead, and they have all lived to establish 
homes of their own, and to retlect credit upon 
their parents. Their home training made of them 
worthy citizens and industrious and good men and 
women. They were taught practical home duties 
and the care of the farm and were given a good 
eiiucation. Our subject was a teacher before com- 
ing West and was at the lime of his emigration a 
single man, but somewhat later he went back to 
bring to his new home the "girl he left behind 
him." 

The marriage of William C. Merrill and Harriet 
A. Smith took place in Franklin County, N. Y., in 
1859. They were both reared in that county and 
she was also a teacher in her girlhood days. She 



330 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



is the daughter of Giles W. and Sallie (Blanchard) 
Smith. Mrs. Smith is now living with a sister in 
New York City and lias reached the limit of three- 
score 3'ears and ten. Mr. Smith died some years 
ago wiiile living in Minnesota at the age of seventy' 
years. He was a Democrat in his political views. 
Our subject and his wife have been prominent 
figures in both social and church circles in Brigh- 
ton. Mrs. Merrill being connected with the Metho- 
dist Church. Mr. Merrill is a member of the Blue 
Lodge No. 249, at Brighton. He is a Democrat in 
his political views as was his father before him, and 
belongs to the old Jacksonian school. Three chil- 
dren still live of tlie number born to this worthy 
couple. Herbert F. now lives at Ph(enix, Ariz., 
and is engaged in mining interests. He took to 
wife lone Winton; Almedia is at home and is the 
local editor of tlie Brighton Tiiiifs, for her brother 
Frank whose biography will be found elsewhere in 
this Rkcokd. They iiave all been educated in the 
schools of Brighton and the daughter is a graduate 
of the Jacksonville Female College. 



"fYJ AMES WIRT, one of the most public-spir- 
ited and intelligent citizens of section 2, 
^_^^ I Virden Township, was born in Delaware 
^|/ County, Ind., July 23, 1849. When still 
quite a child he was bereaved by death of a fatii- 
er's care and love, and soon after this sad event his 
mother removed to Clark County, where the boy 
passed some ten years of his life, working upon a 
farm and attending the district school. After this 
he came with the family to Sangamon County, 111., 
and settled about five miles northeast of Virden, 
where he grew up to a vigorous and useful young 
manhood. 

It was near Girard, HI., that Mr. Wirt found the 
lovely and attractive young woman whom he chose 
as his companion through life, and to her he was 
married June 4, 1878. She bore the maiden name 
of Hannah Gibson and is a daughter of C. C. 
Gibson, a more full account of whom will be 
found upon another page of this Record. Mrs. 
Wirt was born near Franklin, Morgan County, 



III., January 23, 1854. After marriage the 3'oung 
cou[)le made their home on section 2, Virden 
Township, where they now reside, and where they 
own a beautiful tract of one hundred and fifty- 
eight acres, upon which are excellent improve- 
ments. On another page will be found a view of 
the comfortable residence. Their beautiful and 
inviting home is more than ordinarily cheerful 
and pleasant, and is a fit index to the lives of 
the occupants. They are most highly esteemed 
and beloved by their neigiibors, and Mr. Wirt 
stands well in commercial circles, as he is a man 
of integrity, reliability, and public spirit. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Wirt have been granted four 
beautiful children, all of whom are living and 
are not only the care but the joy of tiieir faithful 
and devoted parents. To them have been given 
tht following names: Virgil I., Viola Lee, Lela 
G., and Chalmer C. These children have all been 
trained in the Christian faith and doctrine by tiieir 
parents, who are members of the German Baptist 
Church. In this harmonious household the con- 
stant effort of all is to promote tlie happiness and 
prosperity of everyone, and as is always tlie case 
when such noble efforts are made, a good degree 
of success follows the occupants of this home. 

The father of our subject was James Wirt, who 
was a son of Israel F. Wirt. The grandfather died 
in Randolpli County, Ind., as did also the father, 
who passed away in March, 1849. The mother of 
our subject was L^'dia Studebakcr, and her life 
ended in Sangamon County, this State in 18C9. 

<* felLLIAM C. ALDERSON, one of the pros- 
\/\/ll P'^'O"* '^f'' enterprising agriculturists of 
^^^ this count}', lives on section 16, North 
Otter Township, where he has an attractive and 
arable tract of land. He is the son of Robert Al- 
derson, a native of Sumner County, Tenn., where 
he was born in 1810. His vvorthy mother bore the 
maiden name of Elizabeth C. Clack, she being a 
native of Kentucky, and born in 1812. This 
couple were married in Kentucky and thinking 
they could better their fortunes liy emigrating 







RESIDENCE OF W. C. ALDERSON , 5EC.16.,N0RTH OTTER TP., MACOUPIN CO. .ILL 



-» i tcrt w w p wwu^ ' l i^r 




1 ^.-ff 




RESIDENCE OF JAMES WIRT, SEC.2.,VIRDEN TP., MACOUPIN CO., ILL. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



333 



westward, deeideil upon Illinois wlionce they came 
early in the '30s. After their arrival here they 
settled in Morgan Connty, where they remained 
nearly three years. Thence they came to this 
county and took up land in North Otter Township 
on what is known as Khn Grove. They continued 
to reside in this township most of the time until 
they removed to Kansas during the latter part of 
the '70s and spent their last d.ays in Cherokee 
County. 

The worthy parents of our subject had horn un- 
to them an interesting family of eleven children, 
of whom our subject was the second in the 
order of birth. lie first saw the ligiit of life in 
Morgan County, February' 12, 1834, and when he 
was still an infant of less than one year his parents 
came to North Otter Township, tliis county. Here 
he received the rudiments of his education in the 
district schools and as soon as old enough began 
the occupation of agriculture which he has fol- 
lowed all his life. He has alwa3's made a good 
success of his work, having a great deal of i)ush, 
plu''k and perseverance, and ho has added at 
times to his tract until he now has nine hundred 
and two broad and fertile acres, one hundred and 
sixty of which are located in Sangamon County, 
this State. It is necessary that everything should 
be in a line with the land, which is liighly culti- 
vated and under the best of supervision, and hence 
Mr. Alderson has erected on his place a good set 
of farm buildings for the accommodation of his 
stock, tools, and all necessary outbuildings. But 
besides these the residence in which the family re- 
sides is one of great attractiveness, p. f.act which a 
glance at the view presented in this connection 
will at once prove to the reader. 

The lady who presides over the home of Mr. 
Alderson with so much grace and dignity was 
united in marriage with him March 2.5, 1858. In 
her maiden days she bore the name of Miss Lucre- 
tia A. RafFety, and is the daughter of Thomas H. 
and Mary (Wriston) Raffety. The father is a na- 
tive of Kentucky where he was born in 1812, and 
the mother was born in 1810, in Tennessee. Tliej' 
emigrated to Greene County, III., with their par- 
ents and were united in marriage in that county 
where the}- have since made their home. They 



became the parents of ten children, of whom 
the wife of our subject was the fourth born. 

The genial union of Mr. and Mrs. Alderson ha.s 
l)een blest by the birth of ten children who are 
named as follows: Robert T. -who died in infancy; 
John H., who married Miss Dora Woodman and 
is a liveryman; Worner J., who took to wife Nora 
Nivins and is a farmer in North Otter Township; 
William E., who married Carrie Kaljle and is a 
farmer in North Otter Township; Etta A., who 
married William Riffey; Mary E.. who is the 
wife of Charles M. Brennan; Ella M., Krancis 15., 
Iva M., and one child who died in infancy un- 
named. 

Mr. Alderson, though not an office seeker has 
held the responsible position of School Director of 
his district and not only did so with credit to him- 
self but with great advantage to the community. 
In politics he casts his vote with the Democratic 
parfj-. Religiously he and his amiable wife are 
active and consistent members of the Methodist 
pjpiscopal Church and are held in the highest es- 
teem b}' all witli vvhom they come in contact. 



\Jl^-^ ENRY ETTER occupies an honorable posi- 

Ji) tion among the farmers and stock-raisers of 
this county, who have made it a great agri- 
'^J cultural centre, developing it from the 
wilderness to a highl3' improved condition, with 
many fine farms and beautiful homes within its 
borders. The homestead of our subject is pleas- 
antly located in South Palmyra Township, and here 
he has been engaged :it his vocation many years. 

Mr. Etter was born in Anderson Count}-, Tenn., 
May 14, 1820. His father, who was also named 
Henry Etter, was born in Wythe Count}', Va., in 
1783. The paternal grandfather of our subject 
was born of German parentage either in Germany 
or A^irginia. He spent his last years in the Old 
Dominion, where he carried on the occupation of a 
farmer. 

The father of our subject was young when his 
father died. He was bound out to a hatter in 
Wythe County to learn the trade, and after serv- 



334 



I'DKTKAIT AND HKK? UAPHKAL KKCORD. 



injl his !«p|iiontioeslii|> ho mailo a quantity of hats, 
anil «onl to I'l-iiiiossoo lo soil tlu>ni. ThiMv ho mot 
and niai-iiod Muss Klizaboth I'arks, a nalivo of Aii- 
dorson County, tlial Sljito. and lio sottlod in that 
oounly. following his trado Ihoio sonio voars. lie 
boujiMl a homo oijjhl milos from Clinton, and lo- 
sidod thoiv until ISSC whon ho sold his pioportv 
and oamo lo Illinois, aooompaniod by his wife and 
nino ohiMion, laakinj; Iho removal with a team of 
four horses and a wajjon, oampinj; and oookinij- by 
Iho way at niiriit fall, llo looalod in t^ioene County, 
oight miles oast of Canolllon. whore ho ontoretl 
eighty aores of l^overnment land, at *l,i>.) per 
aore. whioh took all his money, lie eieelo.l n 
eabin of hiokory U)a:s. riving the boards to oover 
the roof, whioh was hold in place by poles, the 
Moor was made of punoheon, and the door m.nde of 
boanls rivod by hand. No nails wore used in the 
oonslruetion of the oabin, the door was hung with 
wooden hinges, and its wooden latoh was raised by 
a string. 

In l.s.U! Mr. Ktlorsold his tHJSSossions intireono 
County, and ooming lo iM.uoupin County, bought 
u traol of land in Western Mound ■row"nship,^,>n 
whieh he proeeeded to buibi a homo. A lo>; eabin 
stood on tho pinoe.and that with a few aores of the 
lanil under tillage oonstitutiil tho only improve- 
ment's, lie orwted good frame buildings, and in 
time had a valu.iblo farm, upon whieh he spout his 
dtiysin oomfort and happiness until ho departed 
this life in i853. He was twice married, his siv- 
ond marriage being with lieUy tiriswold. His 
twelve ohildron wore tho fruit of his lirst niarriayo. 
t)nr subject was tive years old whon he came "to 
Illinois, and he remenibors well the incidents of 
pion.vr life here in tluKsc early davs of the settle- 
ment of the State. He made his homo with his 
father until his marriage. Heforo that time he had 
bought a tract of land in Western iMound Town- 
ship, upon which there w.as a log cabin, and in that 
iHunble abotlc ho an,l his t.ride began life together 
Ills moans wore very limited, and as a oonsequencJ ' 
they had to begin housekeeping on a moa-ro scale 
The house had but little furniture, anil all the ' 
ohairs wore made by his hand. The voung couple 
had no stove, and Mrs. Etler did her oookin- be- ' 
fore the tire in the tireplsice for a number of voars | 



I'horo wore no railways here an.l tlic people h.ad lo 
go to Alton to sell their product.^, and i,> obl^iin 
such sn|.plies as wore .absolutely nocossary, t\.r 
many articles now consi.lorod indispensable were 
unknown luxuries to the settlers, who were home- 
livers, subsisting on what thoy oould raise on their 
farms, and on the wild game that was abun.laul. 
Mrs. Kttcr w;.s an export in tho use of tho spinning 
wheel and loom, and made all Iho cloth noc.lo.l bv 
her family. 

Mr. Kttcr resido.l on tho farm in Western .Moun.i 
Township a few months after man i:.go. ami ihon 
sobi and bought one liundrod and twentv acres of 
land in .South Palmyra Township, going into debt 
tor it to the sum of *,S00. l|c ha.l been reared to 
habits of industry, was woll-oiulowod with a oapac- 
ity for hard and well-directed labor, had an exool- 
lenl knowledge of agriculture, and ho h.ad no dilH- 
onlty in paying his indoblc.lness in duo time. He 
bought other land, and besides owninij valuable 
property has assisted his I'liildron in securing 
homes. 

November 11, 18 11, Mr. Kttcr was married to 
Miss .Vsbei con Kli/.aboih 1 )avid.son. and in her he 
lias had a true helpmate. To them have boon born 
four sons: George, who married .Marv C. .McCoy, 
and has four chihlren; .lames, who m.uried Julia 
K. Richie, and has four children; Smith, who mar- 
ried .lull:, H. Range, and has one child; and Klijah 
who married Kale Hulsc, and has one son. 

•Mrs. Kttor w.-is born in Harren County. Ky 
May l->. 18-24, Her father. KIlis Davi.lson." is sup' 
posod to have been a native of the same Slate, lie 
was a son of Iho Rev, .lohn Oavi.lson. who was 
a preaehei in the Baptist Church, ami was a pioneer 
of Croene County, 111,; besides pursuing his sacreii 
oalling. he farmed in Greene County, until his 
morlxHl career was elosed in death. 

Mrs. Kttor's father w.as reared and married in 
Kentueky. Ho learned the tr.ado of a gunsmith. 
and Ciirriod it on in his native State until I82S," 
when he came to Illinois with his wife and two 
ehildren, making the journey overland. He located 
in Greene County, of which ho thus booame a pio- 
neer, an.l he bought a tract of laiul live miles west 
of Greenfield. He built a camp of rails, in which 
the family lived a few months until he orecte,! a 



I'OIITRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL KKCORU. 



335 



cabin. Wolves were plenty, and usecl to come 
cUma U> the catnp and make night hideous with 
Uieir liowlo. Mr, David*r;n bought otlif-r land. ar;ri 
fiirnithcd all hiii »on» with Uoriiisn. He s[X'nt hi« 
l:Mt y(;artt in Christian County, and he and bis wife 
now lie side by side in Orove City Cemetery. The 
maiden name of .Mrs. Kller's mother was Marjjaret 
Wright. She was a native of Barren County, Ky., 
an<l a daughter of Thomas Wright. 




I-,\I-, l-,II.KI{S, one of the successful and 
well-to-do farmers and sU^jck-raisers of this 
county, owns and oiwrates a fine farm of 
yj three hundred and twentj' acres on section 
'■in, (iiliokia 'I'ownship. He there has a pleasant 
and comfortable home, good farm buijrlings, the 
latest improved machinery and also raises fine 
grades of stxK;k. His weji-lijled fields present a 
neat appearance and there is not a neglected look- 
ing corner upon the whole place; everything will 
lii'ar the closest inspection wlilch is excellent evi- 
<l(Mice of the thrift, industry and enterprise of the 
owticr. He also owns one hundred and twenty 
acres of land in Gillespie Township, which is like- 
wise under a high stale of cultivation. His entire 
|)0»sessions have been acquired since his arrival in 
tills county, lie first set foot on this soil Novem- 
ber 2H, IW.Oy, and having no capital had to begin 
life here as a farm laborer, but per-everance and 
economy .soon di<l for liirn what inheritance does 
for many others and he has worked his way up- 
ward to an enviable [josition. 

.Mr. Kilers was born in East P'riesland, iu tiie 
province of Hanover, Germany, February 2.'J, 
1 SIJG, and spent the days of his boyhood and youth 
upon the farm of his father, Kgge Kilers, who died 
when the son was a youth, his death ocjtirring .lune 
'J, 181'J, at the age of fifty-eight years. He had mar- 
ried in Hanover, Mi.ss Kkhoflf Taitze, who lived and 
died in her native kingdom, departing this life at 
the age of sixty-one years. ISoth were members of 
the Liillieran Church. Ilcye Kilers remained at 
home until the IJJtIi of .Septeinb(;r, IH.OI), when on 
board the sailing vessel "Albert" he waved an 



adieu to bis native land and was en route for 
America. On the 18th of Novemljcr, the vessel 
drop|K;d anchor in the harbor of New Orleans after 
a pleasant ocean vo^'age of eight weeks, and he 
went up the Mississippi to St. Louis, where he 
spent one day. Coming on to Alton and across 
the country to Gillespie, he has since made his 
home io Macoupin County. 

Mr. Kilers was united in marriage in this county 
with MissTrientje Goesmann, a native of Han- 
over, Germany, born June 24, 1842. In 1864 she 
came to this country landing in New York. By 
their union have been born nine children, eight of 
whom are still living — Tette is now deceased; John 
resides in St. Louis, Mo.; Edward, William. .Jo- 
hanna, Jurgen, He3'e, Anna andTillieare at home. 
Mr. Eilers, his wife and children are members of 
the Luthefan Church. In politics he is indei>endent, 
voting for the man whom he thinks will best fill 
the office, regardless of party affiliations. One of 
his chief characteristics is shown by the fact that 
during the four years he was working as a farm 
hand for M. W. Dorsey, he never lost but half a 
day. The same perseverance and fidelity to dut3' 
has marked his entire career, proving important 
factors in his success. 



-^.ab^^ 



t^HOMAS W. TIIACKER is a gentleman 
v^-\ who has attained much prominence in the 
»^ township in which he resides, because of his 
broad intelligence, liberal views, public-spirited 
measures and from the fact that in himself he is a 
dynamic force stirring others to profitable actions, 
lie is the owner and resident on a fine farm located 
on section 7, Nilwood Township and the thorough- 
ness that characterizes his dealings with mankind 
in every -day life is also seen in every feature of his 
well-iniproved and finely-cultivated farm. 

Our subject is a son of '/.. Thacker of whom a 
sketch appears on another page of this volume. 
He was born in Noith Palmyra Township, Novem- 
ber 29, 1844, and was reared to manhood in Ma- 
coupin County, there receiving a good common- 
school education, after which he attended Earlham 



336 



rORTKA IT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



College aL Richmon,!, Ind. He is also a graduate 
of Jones Commercial College of St. Louis, Mo. 
Mr. Th.acker absorbed all the benefits tliat could 
be derived from college life and to-day his in- 
telleetualif.y and the advantages that he gained from 
his college life are felt in his intercourse with his 
less favored brother farmers. 

The young man's sense of patriotism was fired 
when the call was made for volunteers fo fight for 
the old flag. He entered the array August 10^ 1 862. 
joining Company H, of the One Hundred and 
Twenty-second Regiment. He served from that 
time until August 4, 1865 when he was discharcred 
at .Springfield, III. That bloody period was hn- 
pressed upon his mind indelibly by participation in 
some of the desperate engagements of the war He 
was at Parker's Roads, Tenn., and atPaducah, Ky 
also at Town Creek, Ala., Tupelo, Miss., Nashville' 
Tenn., and at Ft. Blakely, Ala. After the war was' 
over and our subject had received his discharge he 
returned to his father's home his health beina 
greatly impaired by the privations suffered in the 
war. 

On March 24, 1867 Mr. Thacker was married 
JicarGirard, III., to Miss Julia A. Lynch. adau-IXer 
of the late Alfred an.l Elizabeth (Bristow) Lynch 
The lady's family were among the first settlers in 
this section of the country, coming to this State at 
a very early day. They died in Girard Township 
Mrs. Jnlia Thacker was born in Macoupin Countx- 
November 2, 1847 and here passed the early days' 
of her childhood. After the marriage of the you n<. 
<'ouplc they settle.! a little east of Girard and lived 
there for about live years after which they located 
on a faim where our subject now lives. " He has 
Muproved his place greatly since his advent hither 
and has erected good buildings, having a ulcasant 
home that is delightfully presided over by "his cul 
tured and amiable wife. For two years Mr'. Thacker 
l.ved .„ Kansas, this change being made on ac- 
count of his health. He returned however to his 
f.u-,n where he has ever since lived. He now owns 
three hundred and eighty acres of good laud to 
winch he unreservedly gives his attention. He en- 
gages Ml general farming and stock-raisin <r 

The original oi this sketch and h.s wife\,e the 
parents of six children, they are: Nola E. who is 



the wife of Joseph D. Francis; William W. Jennie, 
Julia B., Thomas and John A. Logan. In the fall 
of 1890 Mr. Thacker was a candidate for County 
Treasurer on the Ke|.ublican ticket. He was de- 
feated by his Democratic opponent, A. Frey He has 
WIed the office of Assessor, Collector and School 
liustee. His symathies and vote is with the Re- 
publican party. He takes a great deal of interest 
>n all local affairs, especially in those that promise 
material advancement to the locality. Socially 
Mr. Thacker is a member of Luke Mayfield Post 
No. 516, G. A. R., of Girard. He is also a mem- 
ber of the Masonic frateruify. Ou,- subject and his 
wife are attendants and members of the Baptist 
Church, of which body he is Superintendent of the 
Sunday-school. 



■•o»o-^e?^<;^>o»o. 



fU ON. JAMES B. WILSON, a sketch of 
jr whose parents appears on another page 
-^ of this volume, is a resident farmer and 
stock breeder of this county, living in Carl- 
inville Township on section 20. He was" born in 
New York City on the 25th of Ajnil, 1«40, and 
was the second son of a faniily of ten children 
When six years old he moved with his parents to 
Philadelphia, Pa., and three years later he accom- 
panied them to Southeastern Iowa, where the fol- 
lowing eleven years of his life were ,,assed. When 
..eanng his majority hi. father gave hiin the choice 
of one huii.lred and sixty acres of land or a class 
ical education. To a brilliant young man of twen- 
ty who had already seen something of the woild a 
collegiate course was extremely attr.nctive and wi'ih 
judgment rare in one of his age, he preferred to 
complete his studies, going to Aurora, III., where 
he spent two years in a preparatory school and 
entered upon and completed a commercial course 
at Wyoming College, Pennsylvania. His thirst 
for knowledge led him to Hillsdale College, Mich- 
igan, where he consecrated all his energies to his 
studies for a period of two years. He wished then 
to study law, that with a honorable profession he 
might be able to obtain an indepen.Ient support 
^V ith this object in view he entered the law office 




^t-CA^ t^ J^^^ tOC^^^^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



339 



of Jolin E. Rosette in Springfield, this State, 
at that lime United States District AUorney. In 
the meantime, liis father, had changed his residence 
to Macoui>in County and settled in Honey Point 
Township, whither after his sojourn in tlie capital 
city Mr. Wilson rested from his arduous studies. 
After spending a few months at homo, heimi)roved 
a farm of eiglity acres in the same township, living 
there some five years. His next move was the 
purchase of a tract of two linndred acres wliere 
he now resides. He is thoroughly familiar with 
all classes of high-grade stock, the breeding of 
such occui)ying the greater part of his time and 

care. 

Mr. Wilson was married in St. Louis to Miss 
Mary M. Eastliam, a lady of culture and re- 
finement and a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Their children were three in number: Vir- 
gil D., Alice E., and Blattie L. Mrs. Wilson's 
death occurred in March, 1884. Mr. Wilson mar- 
ried in October, 1887, Miss Martha J. Eastham, 
a sister of his former wife. 

Mr. Wilson was selected to represent the consti- 
tuents in the district in which he lives, in the 
State legislature of Illinois, in the fall of 1886. 
He was the first clerk of Honey Point Township 
after its organization. He is identified with the 
interests of the Democratic party and has taken an 
active part in political questions of the day. 



i—WC*- 



-si^gK- 



-^^»- 




r;RANCIS LANCASTER. Among the Brit- 
ish-American citizens of Macoupin County, 
we are pleased to present to our readers the 
portrait and a sketch of the life of that genial and 
prominent resident of Bunker Hill Township, who 
is so well known in the county as Francis Lancas- 
ter. He is a successful and practical farmer and 
progressive stock-raiser, and lives on a fine farm 
locrted on sections 1, 2, and 12, of Bunker Hill 
Township. This tract comprises eight hundred 
acres, most of which is in a fine state of improve- 
ment. His handsome, two-story brick residence 
and his barns and other farm buildings, are located 
on section 1, and have been placed there by Mr. 



Lancaster. He has owned and lived on the home- 
stead since 1848, and procured most of the land 
when it was in its unbroken state. 

Mr. Lancaster did not have a dollar of capital 
when he entered this county in 1844, and has made 
his fortune out of the soil by the help of his pluck, 
push and perseverance. He came to the United 
States in 1841, voyaging on a three mast sailor, the 
"Ontario," being on the ocean seven weeks and two 
days, and landing in New York City, March 7. It 
was three years later before he was able to send 
back for his wife and children whom he had left at 
the old home. He had, in the meanwhile, earned 
the money for their transportation, and to give 
them a suitable welcome in the new home. His 
wife has ever been a faithful and efficient helpmate 
in his struggle for the attainment of a comfortable 

fortune. 

Our subject was born August 7, 1813, in Buck- 
inghamshire, England, and came of a good, old 
yeoman family, who were for generations residents 
in that shire. It was there that the father and 
mother of our subject lived and died, passing away 
after they had both completed the limit of three- 
score years and ten. The father, Joseph Lancaster, 
was abrickmaker and fruit dealer by occupation, 
and the mother, Harriet (Downey) Lancaster, was 
also of an old English family. She became the 
mother of fourteen childien, and four of her sons 
came to the United States, two of them now hav- 
ing died. 

Our subject learned the trade of a brickmaker, 
and after he became of age, married a wife in his 
native shire. She was Miss Elizabeth Collins, who 
was born in 1812 in the same shire; she was reared 
there by her parents who came of good old English 
stock, and who lived and died in their native home. 
She followed her husbaml to this country, heli)ed 
him to gain the splendid property which he owns 
today, and died at her home May 12, 1883. She 
was a woman of unusual intelligence and a lively 
Christian faith, which vvas shown forth in a life of 
unpretentious goodness. She was brought up in 
the church of England, and was always strongly 
attached to the Episcopal service. 

She was the mother of ten children, four of whom 
have passed to the other world. Frank died after 



340 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



liis marriage, and the birth of his six children. His 
wife bore the maiden name of Caroline Hooker, 
and is now living in Kansas City, Mo. Tlie others' 
who died passed away when young. One was an 
infant unnamed, and tiie others were Harriet and 
Albert. Those who are living are as follows: Will- 
iam, who took to wife Mary Ilovey, and lives at 
Girard, where he is a farmer and stock- raiser; 
Elizabeth the wife of Henry Wise, a miller at 
Hunker Hill; Mary, the wife of Esop Barnes, a 
dentist of Girard; .John, a farmer in Bunker Hill 
Township, who married Hannah Parmeter; Matilda 
the wife of Josei.h Barnes, a farmer of bumner '■ 
County. Kan.: the second son, Joseph, is a heavy 
slock dealer in St. Joseph, Mo., and married Miss 
Mary Parmeter. This v.iluable family stands high 
in the social and industrial circles of Macoupin 
County, and its members have done much to de- 
velop the resources of this section of the country. 




M NDREW J. CRFM. Among the attractive 
^fm farms and homes of North Palmyra Town- 
(J ship, the traveler is sure to notice those 
belonging to the gentleman whose name 
appears at the he.ad of this sketch. His property is 
located on section 20, and bears every mark of Uie 
liand of a thorough and .systematic farmer, who 
takes pride not only in making his acres yield a 
|)iohtable income but also in providing 'for his 
family and his stock, suitable and comfortable ac- 
commodations. 

The father of our subject, Joseph Crum, was 
born in Clark County, Ind., and his mother, Maria 
L. Burnett, was a Kentuckian. Their marriage 
took place in Macoupin County and they settled 
■ n North Palmyra Township at first but afterward 
removed to South Palmyra where they spent the 
remainder of their days. Their son Andrew was 
one of the older in a large family of children and 
was born in South Palmyra Township July 13 
1846, and there was reared to manhood 

September 9, 1873, was the happy wedding day 
of Andrew J. Crnm and Ph«be E. Allmond, i 
daughter of Dr. R. J. and Ann G. (Talley) All- \ 



mond. For further historical facts in regard to the 
family of this well-known physician we recom- 
mend our readers to peruse the sketch of Dr. All- 
mond to be found upon another page of this 
volume. His daughter Pha^be ha,] her nativity in 
Ohio, M.ay 5, 1851. 

The young married couple settled at once in 
North Palmyra Township, and engaged in farming 
which they made their life business. They owned 
j one hundred and eighty acres upo.i which they 
I had erected a good house and made various sub- 
stantia! improvements. They have been the par- 
i ents of nine children, namely: Nellie M., Edwin 
W., Lee B., Joseph R., Robert R., Golda T., Ola 
B., Carl C, and a bal.y whose name is Glen P. 
Two of the sons, Lee and Joseph, died in earlv 
childhood. 

The olHces of Collector and School Director have 
been bestowe.! upon Mr. Crum. He takes an active 
part in political matters, his sympathies and vote 
being with the Democratic party. Religious move- 
ments find in this couple hearty support, and al- 
though they are not united in their churcii connec- 
tion they are in their sympathies in all good works, 
Mr. Crum being an .active and eflicient member of 
the Church of CInisL and his wife a devoted worker 
in the Methodist Episcopal Chuich. This inter- 
esting family make a bright spot in the social and 
business life of the community in which they re- 
side, as they are universdly esteemed and justly so 




~i^ *■ >/ 



-^^^il^^^t^^^-^^ 



OHN GELDER. One of the most successful 
farmers in Macoupin County and the owner 
of one of the most delightful homes in \h: 
den, is the gentleman whose name heads this 
sketch. He is the possessor of thirteen hundred 
and ninety-five acres of splendid farming lands 
located in the counties of M.acoupin, San<^amon 
Montgomery and Christian. This propcrt3"is di- 
vided into nine farms which are pl.ace.i in the hands 
of responsible .and efficient tenants. He was born 
in Chesterfield Township, this county, August II 
1837. His f.ather, Thomas S. Gelder, w.as born on' 
a farm near Suaiih, Yorkshire, England, and was 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



341 



the son of John Gelder, who was engaged in farm- 
ing in his native iiome until 1831, when accompan- 
ied by his wife and three of his five cliiUlren, he 
emigrated to America and located in Cliesterfield 
Township on a farm adjoining his son's, where he 
died at a riije old age. His son Thomas had pre- 
ceded him to this country. John Gelder, Sr., pro- 
ceded at once to build a home and his log cabin 
was at the time of its eonstructio n the largest log 
buiding in the county with the exception of the 
court house. He died, December 20, 1851, having 
passed his three-score years and ten. His wife, 
and the grandmother of our subject, bore the mai- 
den name of Elizabeth Shearburn. She was born 
in England, and died in Chesterfield Township 
March 24, 1847. Both she and her husband were 
members of the Church of England, and after com- 
ing to this country assisted in organizing the Epis- 
copal church at Chesterfield, of whicli John Gelder 
was Warden from its oiganization to the ilate of 
his death. 

The father of our subject secured his early edu- 
cation in his native shire in England, attending 
the common parish schools and also a boarding 
school at Whiston. He emigrated to America in 
1830, landing at Baltimore July 16. He reached 
Greene County, 111., in November of that ye.ar and 
the following summer he enlisted in the army for 
service in the Black Hawk AVar. Soon after his re- 
turn, to CarrolUon.Captain Gelder had the pleasure 
of welcoming his parents and the other members of 
his family. He was shortly afterward naturalized 
and was the first person of foreign birth to make 
application for citizenship after the organization of 
of Macoupin County. 

The first wife of Thomas S. Gelder was Ann 
Quarton, a daughter of Thomas and Lydia (^uar- 
ton, of Yorkshire, England. By this marriage 
there were nine children, five of whom are living. 
Our subject, Elizabeth Ann, the wife of Lewis Ter- 
rel, of Jersey County; Mary Frances, wife of 
Charles Lewis; Sarah Ellen, now Mrs. F. W. Shear- 
burn, and Clara, who married Peter J. Randolph, 
of Morrisonville, Christian County. The mother 
of these children died, December 12, 1855, at the 
age of forty years. Mr. Gelder's second marriage 
occured May 14, 1857, to Ruth Louisa Chapin, 



daughter of Daniel Chapin. She was born at 
Newport, N. H., and was a lady of more than ordi- 
nary culture and refinement. She was a mem- 
ber of the first class which graduated from Monti- 
cello Seminary, and was for seven years a teacher 
in that institution. Capt. Gelder had the honor 
of voting twice for Abraham Lincoln, with whom 
he w.as on terms of personal .acquaintance, and 
with whon. he served in the Black Hawk War. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Gelder have passed away, his death 
occurring November 25, 1881. 

John Gelder commenced when very young to 
assist upon the farm but was also given the best 
advantages for obtaining an education. He first 
attended the pioneer schools which were taught in 
a log school house, the benches upon which he sat 
being slabs with pin legs. At one end a board was 
[(laced against the wall, and served as a desk for 
the larger scholars. He advanced his education by 
attendance at Chesterfield Seminary and enjoyed 
for two 3'e.ars, the privileges of Shurtleff College. 
After leaving college he spent fourteen months in 
Europe, traveling in England, Holland, Belgium 
and France, visiting during 1862 and 1863 all the 
principal places of interest in these countries. Re- 
turning home in 1863 he went to farming in Ches- 
terfield Township. 

The marriage of John Gelder and Clara Tolman. 
daughter of James Tolman of Macoupin County, 
took place September 11, 1866. The mother of 
Mrs. Gelder bore the maiden name of Nancy B. Lor- 
ton. After marriage the young couple moved to 
the farm which they now occupy, which is a fine 
tract of one hundred and forty acres. Five chil- 
dren have blessed their union, namely, Tolman T., 
Charles C, StellaJ., Edgar E. and Edith. Tolman 
is a graduate of Virden High School, and further 
carried on his education at the Illinois State Uni- 
versity at Champaign. After this, he entered the 
Law Department of the State University at Ann 
Arbor, and was admitted to the bar at the age of 
twenty-one years .at Lansing, Mich. He is now 
associated with ex-Gov. Hamilton of Chicago. 
Charles C. is a clerk in the wholesale house of Wil- 
son Bros., of Chicago, in the line of gentlemen's 
furnishing goods. The three younger children are 
still carrying on their education. Tliey, with their 



342 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



parents, spent several months in Europe in 1890. 

They visited Antwori), Brussels, Cologne, Wcisl.a 

flen, Fianivfort on-the-Main, Heidelburg, Straus 

Inircr, Paris; and in England. Brighton, London, 

Vorlv, Liverpool; and crossing into Scotland, the 

cities of Glasgow and Edinburg. Mr. Gelder is a 

Republican in politics and always takes an interest 

in public affiiirs. He has served for twelve years 

as School Trustee, and for two terms as a member 

of the County Board of Supervisors. His lands in 

Sangamon, Montgomery and Christian Counties, 

he bought unimproved, and they now form fine 

and valuable farms. Those in Christian are situated 

near Ilarvel, on the Wabash railway. His home 

has recently been re-built and is now in the best 

modern style of architecture and adornment. 

•^•' S ' ^ ' I ' t ' !" -* 

ylLLIAM G. BARTELS, President of the 
CarlinviUe Coal and Mining Company, is 
a native of CarlinviUe and has from his 
early manhood been engaged in business here. He 
was born March 20, 1858, and received his early 
education in the public schools. At the age of 
sixteen he entered Blackburn University at clrlin- 
ville. where he carried on an advanced course 
of study. After leaving school he worked at the 
carpenter's trade with his father until 1874, then 
assumed supervision of the work at the South Car- 
linviUe coal shaft, of which his father was propri 
etor. Since 1883 he has had full charge of the 
business. 

As the patronymic indicates, the paternal a-ices- 
tors of our subject came from Germany His 
father and grandfather each bore the name of 
Henry and were born in Brunswick. The <^rand 
father served in the army of the Empire" ei-ht 
years and with that exception devoted his malur^ 
life to the carpenter's trade. The father of our sub- 
ject was the only member of the family who .-ame 
to America. He attended school steadily until he 
was fourteen years old and then began to learn the 
trade with his father. In 1854 he decided to seek ' 
a home in the New World and in October set sail 
from Bremen, landing at New Orleans six weeks 



later. He came up to St. Louis, spent a month 
there, and then came to CarlinviUe and began work 
at his trade. 

Mr. Bartels liad left his family in Germany in- 
tOM.ling if he did not like America to return to 
that country. But being pleased wilh the pros- 
pects here he sent for them and was joined by his 
wife and four children about a twelvemonth after 
his own arrival. He bought a residence and has 
continued to live in CarlinviUe. He followed his 
trade some time and during those years bought 
thirty acres of land in the city limits and in 1870 
opened a coal mine, which he personally superin- 
tended some years. For a few years past he has 
been living in retirement, enjoying the fruits of a 
well-spent life. He is advanced in years, havin^^ 
been born April 18, 1816. The lady who became 
I his wife in 1847 was born February 7, 1820, in the 
same locality as he, and bore the maiden name of 
Minnie Larke. 

AVilliam G. Bartels and Emma Singelraan were 
united in marriage September 13, 1883. The bride's 
parents, Henry and Louisa Singelman, are natives 
of Germany, and were early settlers in CarlinviUe. 
Mrs. Bartels was born here, received a good educa- 
tion and careful attention from her parents. To 
her and her husband throe children have come 
who are named respectively; E.la, Leonora an.l 
Leila. Mr. Bartels has served as Collector of Car- 
linsville Township and represented the Second 
Ward in the City Council two years. Politically 
lie is a Republican. The family, including his par- 
ents, belong to the Evangelical Chuicii. They are 
classed among U.e best cilizens and have many 
friends. 



t iflLLIAM M. JONES, who represents one of 
\m ^'^'^ "'^«^^ f^ni'l'es in Illinois and now of 
V/"^ Honey Point Township, was born in Ma-l- 
ison County, February 6, 1818, at which time Ill- 
inois was but a territory. His father, Martin Jones, 
was a Virginian l)y l)irth, the son of the Rev. Wil- 
liam Jones, who, it is thought, was born in Giles 
County, Virginia. The father of the latter, great- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



343 



grandfather of our subject, John Jones, was of Eng- 
lish ancestry, and coming from Ireland to America 
in Colonial times, he settled in Virginia, where he 
passed the remainder of his life. The maiden 
name of his wife was Lovina Pruitt. 

William ' Jones, his son, was reared in the 
Old Dominion, where he married and went thence 
to Tennessee, and from there came to the Nortli- 
west Territory-, locating in what is now Illinois. 
For a short time he resided in that part of the Ter- 
ritory now known as Bond County, und thence 
went to Madison County and settled on land now 
included in Wood River Township, where he 
erected a fort known as Jones' Fort. In that early 
day Indians were vastly more numerous than 
whites and had full sway, ofLtiraes being hostile to 
the settlers. For a few years he resided at the fort 
and then built a dwelling which continued to be 
his home until his death. 

Tiie father of our subject was about twelve years 
old when iiis parenU brougiit him to Illinois. 
During the time of tlie trouble with the Indians he 
joined tiie Rangers and he was also an active par- 
ticipant in the Black Hawk War. Upon settling 
down he procured a tract of land near the old home 
and lived upon it until death closed his earthly ca- 
reer. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mar- 
garet Wright, was also born in Virginia, and was 
the daughter of Toliver Wright, who was, so far as 
known, a native of tlie same State. He located in 
what is now Wood River Township in 1806, being 
one of its first settlers. In 1814, on the 10th of 
July, Mrs. Reagan, accompanied by six children, 
visited his home. Just before night she started 
for her home and the mother of our subject set out 
with her. As Mrs. Jones afterward expressed it. 
Divine Providence seemed to have interposed in 
her behalf, for all at once she was prompted to re- 
turn home. In less than five minutes she heard 
gun shots, which told only too plainly of the mas 
sacre of Mrs. Reagan and her children, not one of 
whom was left to tell the terrible tale of that cruel 
slaughter. Mrs. Jones had escaped miraculously 
from one of the most brutal massacres in the his- 
tory of the Northwestern Territory. Her mar- 
riage to Mr. Jones was contracted in 1814 and of 
their union there were nine children. She was a 



devoted member of the United Baptist Church, in 
which faith she reared her family. Mrs. Jones 
died August 11, 1861, at the ripe age of eighth- 
three years. 

The early life of our subject was passed in his 
native count}'. In his 3^outhful daj'S tlie schools 
were taught on the subscription plan, each family 
paying for tuition according to the number of chil- 
dren sent. The people lived principally from the 
products of the farm and by hunting and fishing. 
There was no scarcity of game, deer, wild turkeys, 
bears and wolves abounding and having free range 
of the countr}'. St. Louis was then a small place, 
in f.act, at the time of our subject's birth was but a 
trading post. In common with the other women 
of that day, Mrs. Jones used to card, spin and 
Weave all the cloth used by the famil}'. Mr. 
Jones continued to live in Madison County the 
greater part of the time until 1866, when he came 
to tills county and bought his present desirable 
farm in Honey Point To.vnship, where he has ever 
since lived in comfort and prosperitj'. He has one 
hundred and three acres. 

Mr. Jones was first married in Bond County, to 
Elizabeth P. Jones, a native of that county. She 
died in Honey Point Township, July 28, 1882, 
leaving two children, Emanuel and Melinda A. 
Emanuel is the father of two children, Mary A. 
and Robert L. Melinda is the wife of G. B. Ash- 
ton and has four children: Janetta, Magnolia, Car- 
rie A. and Lena Belle. 

Mr. Jones' second marriage took place in Maj^, 
188;j, at which time he was wedded to Mrs. Julia 
Pauline (Powers) Karnes. Siie was born in Greene 
County, Tenn., October 1, 1839, a daughter of 
Benjamin and Cynthiana (Gower) Powers. .She 
was reared in her native county and when eighteen 
years old accompanied her parents to their new 
home in this county. ,She was married in 1860 to 
William Karnes. He was a native of this county, 
born May 30, 1832, son of Peter and Sarah A. (Proc- 
tor) Karnes, v.-ho were natives of Kentucky. From 
that .State they went to Indiana and thence coming 
to Illinois, were pioneers of Macoupin County. 
Tiiey settled in Cahokia Township, where the 
fatlier took up Government laud, improved a farm 
and made his home as long as he lived. His son 



344 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, 




William \v:is brouglit up on that farm. He learnert 
llie trade of a house-painter, which he followetl in 
this couny until 1878, when he went to South- 
western Missouri, where he remained four 3^ears. 
Returning to this county at the expiration of that 
time, he soon after died at his father's home. By 
her first marriage Mrs. Jones h.as two children liv- 
ing, Oscar A. and Thomas Frederick. 

In Mr. Jones Honey Point Township finds a 
worthy citizen, who lives an upright life and is ac- 
corded full respect by all who know him. He is an 
earnest worker in the I'nited Baptist Church, of 
which he has been a mem her forty years, and ev- 
ery project tending to uplift the people and ad- 
vance the cause of Christianity has in him a liberal 
supporter. 

ANIEL E. WITT, a well-known citizen 
residing upon section 28, Polk Township, 
is the son of the late James S. Witt who 
was born in Teimessee. Mrs. James 8. 
Wilt bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Wagner, 
who is a native of Madison County, 111. They 
fli-st settled in Hilyani Township, and afterward 
removed to Polk Township, where they ended 
their days, Mrs. Witt dying in 1877 and her hus- 
band in July, 1888. They had two children, Dan- 
iel E. and James T. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Polk 
Township, this county, July 12, 1857. Here he 
grew to manhood and received thorough training 
in farm duties and the benefit of a common. school 
education. His native township lias been his resi- 
dence through life an<l he h.as followed farming as 
a vocation and now owns two hundred and forty 
acres of fine land. 

Mr. Witt was married at Carlinville, III., Octo- 
ber 11, 1877, to Miss Martha E. Stewart, daughter 
of Robert and Sarah (Barnes) Stewart. The father 
was born in Tennessee and tlie mother is a native 
of the Prairie State. She died in Honey Point 
Township in April, 1884. Mrs. Witt who was the 
fourth in a family of seven children, w.is born in 
Morgan County, III.. Novemter 20, 1858. 



Three children have come to bless the home of our 
subject. James R.. William E. and tirover C. The 
name of the youngest son of this family tells the 
story of the father's political preferences, as can 
easily be seen his convictions have led him into 
the Democratic party with which he votes and 
works. His fellow-citizens have placed him in the 
position of Supervisor of Polk Township, in which 
office he began to serve in the spring of 1890. 



-m- 



JAMES TUCKER, who is engaged in gen- 
eral farming and stock-raising on section 
, 1(3, Brighton Township, is a native of Eng- 
_ land, born in .Somersclshire, on the 15th of 
March, 1846. and the only son of James and Betsy 
(Browning) Tucker, who were also natives of 
Somersetshire, and came of pure English stock, 
their ancestors having for generations resided in 
that locality, hi the county of their nativity they 
were reared and James Tucker became a mason, 
following that occupation until his death. He died 
when a young man only a few months after his 
marriage and before the birth of their only child, 
our subject. His widow was afterward again mar- 
ried in her native county to William Edd.iigton 
who was also born and grew to manhood in Somer- 
setshire. Soon after their nuptials were celebrated 
and when our subject was only a year old, Mr. and 
Mrs. Eddington crossed the Atlantic to the United 
States and came on at once to 3Iacoupin County, 
111., locating in Brighton Townsliii), where the death 
of Mr. Eddington occurred when in the prime of 
life. Mrs. Eddington was a third time married to 
a brother of her second husband, Samuel Edding- 
ton, who after some years also passed away. She 
survived him until she had attained the age of 
fifty-eight years. By her second marri.age slPe had 
three children and unto the List union were born 
five children. The mother and her family were 
all Methodists and she was a lady of many excel- 
lencies of char.acter. 

James Tucker, whose name heads this sketch, 
has practically spent his entire life in this county 
where his education was acquired in the public 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



345 



schools which lie atleiuled during the winter 
montiis, working upon the farm during the remain- 
der of the year. After he had attained to years of 
maturity lie was united in mariiage with Miss Anna 
Lee, who was born in this county in 1857, and 
here passed the days of her girlhood, while she too 
was educated in the common schools. She is the 
second daughter and third child of Joseph Lee, 
whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. 
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Tucker has been given an inter- 
esting family, numbering six children, three sons 
and three daughters, as follows: Allen E., .lames. 
Betsy, Mary, Em ma and Joseph F. The family circle 
still remains unbroken and all are yet under the 
parental roof. 

The farm upon which Mr. Tucker now resides 
has been his home for two years. It comprises one 
hundred and fifty-nine acres of valuable land, the 
greater pan of which is under a high state of 
cultivation. It is well supplied with good build- 
ings for the care and shelter of his stock. The 
fields are well tilled and the place presents a neat 
appearance which indicates the thrift and enterprise 
of the owner. The stock which he raises is all of 
good giades, no inferior animals being seen upon 
the farm and he may well be numbered among the 
leading agriculturists of the community. In poli- 
tics he is a stalwart Republican anl is a stai!ch ad- 
vocate of the principles which he h.as long support- 
ed and upheld by his ballot. Mr. Tucker and his 
wife attend the Episcopal Church. 



\f? OIIN B. MASTERS is a descendant of some 
of the earliest pioneer families of Illinois, 
and is one of the native-born citizens of this 
State who lias materially assisted in its agri- 
cultural development. For many years he was 
actively identified with the farmers of this county, 
owning and managing very profitably a large and 
well-improved farm. January 8, 1825, is the date 
of the birth of our subject in the pioneer home of 
his parents, fifteen miles northeast of the city of 
Jacksonville, in Morgan County. His fallicr was 
William I. Masters, a native of South Carolina 



whose father is thought to have been born in Wales 
or to have been a native of this country, but of 
AVelsh parentage. He spent his last years in the 
Palmetto State, afver having served faithfully as a 
soldier during the Revolution. 

William I. Masters grew to manhood in his na- 
tive State, and when about twenty-five years of 
age emigrated to Illinois in 1817 in the Territorial 
dajs of the State, accompanying a neighboring fam- 
ily hither, the removal being made with a team. 
He first settled for a time in Sangamon County, 
but after marriage took up his abode on a forty- 
acre tract of Government land in Morgan Count}'. 
Someone unknown to him entered the land, and 
being thus deprived of his claim in 1827 he lo- 
cated on Government land that lay on both sides 
of the line between Morgan and Macoupin Counties. 
That part of his homestead in this county was situ- 
ated in what is now North Palmyra Township and 
he was one of the pioneer settlers of this section, 
building a log house on tiie Morgan County side 
of the line. Not a nail entered into the construc- 
tion of that dwelling, and he rived the shingles by 
hand for the roof, hewed puncheon for a tioor, split 
boards for the door, which was provided with 
wooden hinges, and the chimney was made with 
sticks and mud. At that time the people were 
home-livers, subsisting on the products of their 
farms. The father of our subject raised sheep and 
also planted flax and hemp, and the mother used to 
card, spin and weave the wool and the fibre of the 
ttax and hemp to make cloth for garments for her 
children. There were no railways in this part of 
the country for years, and for some time the father 
of our subject used to market his grain at St. Louis 
with ox-teams. His busy life was terminated by 
his death on his homestead in 1840. 

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name 
of Nancy Jones, and she was a native of Kentucky. 
Her father, Clayborn Jones, was also a native of 
that State and was of Welsh descent. In the year 
1800 he emigrated from his old honie to the wilds 
of that part of the Northwestern Territory now 
embraced in Illinois, and was one of the first perm- 
I anent settlers of the commonwealth. He secured 
a iract of timber land fifteen miles west of Spring- 
field and resided upon it until his demise in 1840, 



346 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



his wife also dying tlieie. Tiie motljer of our sub- 
ject died on the home farm on the county line, 1838. 
The parents of our subject reared four children, 
named as follows: Betsy, John B., Melissa and 
I'hebe Ann. They were young when their parents 
died, and as Jolin w.is the only son the care of his 
sisters devolved upon him and nobly did he 
shoulder his burden, supporting himself and them 
by working out by the month. In the fall of 184;) 
he went to Southwestern Missouri and renting laud 
put in a crop in the spring of 1846. He soon sold 
his crop and returning to Illinois worked for a time 
near Carlinville. We next hear of him at Shaw's 
Point Township, where he was employed by the 
month for two j'ears, and during that time saved 
money enough to buy a team. After that he was 
enabled to enter eighty acres of land on section 2, 
Honey Point Township. He built a small frame 
house thereon, and resided there three years. 
Meanwhile he bought other land adjoining his first 
purchase and erected a dwelling on the line be- 
tween Honey Point and Shaw's Point, the house 
h'ing in both townships. As there were not people 
enough between his residence and Litchfield to or- 
ganize a school district he decided to declare Honey 
Point Township his residence instead of Shaw's 
Point Township on account of its superior educa- 
tional facilities. He has been \evy successful as a 
farmer and at one time owned five hundred iwves 
of fine land, a part of which he has since deeded to 
ills ehildren. In 1891 he bought a residence at 
Carlinville, and now lives retired from active labor, 
enjoying an income ample for all his wants. 

May 3, 1846, our subject took unto himself a 
wife in the person of Miss Nancy Sims, a daughter 
of James and Margaret (Robinson) Sims, and a 
native of this county, born April 3, 1826. The 
following are the children that have been born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Masters: James and John, now de- 
ceased; Melissa A., wife of Andrew Robinson, of 
Honey Point; Telilha M. and Margaret, both of 
whom are deceased; Charles, a resident of Shaw's 
Point Township; Km ma, deceased; Kattie and 
Myrta who are at home; Pliilui Jane, wife of Dr. 
Buftington, of Atwater, and Henry I. who lives in 
Honey Point Township. 

Mr. Masters is a man of self-respecting character. 



is well dowered wiili those qualities necessary to 
success in life and to secure the confidence of others 
and no one is more deserving of trust and esteem 
than he. His fellow-citizens have recognized his 
worth and capability, and have called him to im ■ 
portant offices. He served manj- 3ears as School 
Director and Highwa}' Commissioner and repre- 
sented Honey Point Township on the County 
Board of Supervisors at the time the county debt 
was funded. His political sentiments are in accorti 
with the polic}' of the Democratic party. 



^^ IIARLES TOWSE, a resident of Bird Town- 
(l( ^1 ship and a brother of tlie Hon. W. A. Towse, 
^^^ is a son of Simpson Towse, an Englishman 
from Yorkshire. The mother of these gentlemen 
was Ann Kettlewood, who was also a native of the 
same shire, where she was born in 1799. When 
they emigrated to America in 18.50 tiiey first made 
their home in Oriskany, N. Y., where they lived 
about two years and in 1853 came to Illinois and 
settled in Macoupin County. They lived in Ches- 
terfield and Bird Townships. Mrs. Towse was 
bereaved of her husband in the fall of 1865 and 
she lived until January 14, 188G, -when her days 
ended in Western Mound Township. They had a 
fine family of nine children who were born in Eng- 
land, seven sons and two daughters. The subject 
of this sketch was the sixth in order of age. His 
birth took place in Yorksliire, England, February 
24, 1834. 

Charles Towse passed his boyhood days on a 
farm in Yorkshire, and came with his parents to 
America. He continued with them until he mar- 
ried in Macoupin County, when he made his home 
in this count}- and resided here from that day to 
this. He has always followed agricultural pursuits 
and now owns three hundred and ninety acres. 
I'pon this property is erected an attractive and 
commodious home and good farm liuildings, in- 
cluding large barns. 

February 22, 1859, was the wedding day of 
Mr. Towse and Miss Louisa Dews, a daughter of 



1' 





W^^^f^-^t^ 




^^^^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RFXORD. 



349 



Jolin and Sylvia (Moriis) Dews. The marriage 
lool< place in Western Mound Townsliip wiiere tlie 
l)ri(le resided. The father was born in Yoriishire, 
England, and the motlier was also a native of that 
Island. They both came to this countrj' when 
young and were married in Alton, III. Tliej' made 
their home in Western Mound Townsliii) for many 
years and there Mr. Dews passed away from earth. 
His widow who survives is making her home with 
her children by whom she is truly honored and 
cherished. 

Of a large family of nine cliildien, Mrs. Towse 
was the second. She was born in Western Mound 
Townshii), December 9, 1840. The first home of 
this young wedded couple was in that township. 
After a rcsi<lcnce there of seven years they came to 
Bird Township, where they have since resided. 
Seven children crown this union, namely: Selina 
A., Albert W., John D., Annette, Lillie M., Abiah 
S. and Annie E. Selina is now the wife of Wil- 
man K. Haley, and Annette is Mrs. Leonard E. 
Leach, while Albert has married Jliss Ella M. Hun- 
ter. The father of this family- has ever taken a 
deep interest in educational matters and is now 
serving on the School Board. He has always act- 
ively promoted all efforts to improve the district 
schools. His i)olitical views .and his vole are with 
the Republican part}-. Both he and his good wife 
are earnest and efficient members of the Methodist 
Ei)iscopal C'liureli and they have ever contributed 
liberally in all church affairs. 




^>,ETER F. AHRENS, senior member of the 
! firm of Ahrens Bros., lumber dealers of 



^' Staunton, and a representative of one of the 
early faniilics of the county, was born in 
the city which is yet his home January 2.5, 1S(J4, 
he is a son of John ^L Ahrens, a pioneer merchant 
and |)rt)minent citizen, who is now living a retired 
life. He was carefully reared, and in the common 
schools began his education, which was completed 
in the commercial department of the college of 
Warrentown, Mo. He was graduated in the Class 



of '80. when sixteen years of age and carried oflF 
second honors. 

Since that time Mr. Ahrens has been activel}' en- 
gaged in biisiness and is now at the head of the 
oldest and largest lumber interest of .Staunton. His 
father established a luralter yard in 1867, the first 
in the place and operated it on his own account un- 
til 188.3, when he associated with him his sons, J. C. 
and P. F. Together the}' carried on operations un- 
der the firm name of John M. .Vhrens <fe Sons for a 
short time, when the father and J. C. established a 
yard in Worden, Madison County, of which the lat- 
ter had the management and soon became sole pro- 
prietor. He sold out in 1887. and is now doing a 
good business in the same line in RIverdale III. 

From 1884, until October, 1887. the father and 
our subject was associated in the management of the 
yard at Staunton, but at the last-named date John 
Ahrens withdrew and a partnership was formed be- 
tween the brothers P. F. an<l A. E. which has con- 
tinued to the present. This yard has cverj' little 
opposition. One firm which established business 
was bought in 1881, and another in 1885, each 
having existed only a short time. The [iresent 
business of Ahrens Bros, is located on the half block 
of which the}- became owners nt the time of their 
first purchase in 1881. They are dealers in all 
kinds of pine lumber for house-building |)urposes 
and all other building materials. 

In St. Louis, Mo., May IC, 1890, Mr. Ahrens was 
married to Miss Gertrude Jacobs, who w.is born 
in La Grange, Mo., in 18G9. W^hen quite 3'oung 
she removed to .St. Louis with her parents who are 
still living in that city, and there she was educated 
and giew to womanhood, remaining under the p.ir- 
ental roof until her marriage. The young couple 
take a prominent part in social and religious inter- 
ests. They are both active members of the Pres- 
byterian Church, in which Mr. Ahrens now holds 
the office of Elder and Sunday-school Superinten- 
dent, having filled the latter position for eight 
years. He is one of the leading business men of 
Staunton and in connection with the interests be- 
fore mentioned he is the present Secretary of the 
Retail Lumber Association which was organized in 
Springfield in June, 1890, he being one of the prime 
movers of the affair. For two jears previous he 



350 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



bad been a Director of tlie National Association of 
Lumber Dealers. One of the public spirited and 
progressive young men of tliis comaiunily, lie man- 
ifests a commendable interest in all things pertain- 
ing to its good, and is a worthy and valued citizen 
The attention of the reader is invited to a litho- 
graphic portrait of Mr. Alirens, presented in con- 
nection with his biographical sketch. 




RS. ELIZABETH SIILTT, one of the most 
prominent, wealthy and influential women 
of Virden Township, resides on section 2, 
where her excellent farm and pleasant 
Lome are an attractive spot to every passer- bj'. Her 
business ability and true womanliness, added to her 
neighborly kindness and hospitality, give to her a 
popularity which is broad and enduring. Her 
father was the late Thomas Baldwin, a native of 
Ohio, and her mother bore the maiden name of 
Anna Stonebraker, and was also a native of Ohio, 
where she was united in marriage to Mr. Baldwin. 
After marriage this couple settled in Montgomery 
County, Ind., but early in the '50s they left that 
State and emigrated to Illinois, where they settled 
in Greene County, for four years. They then re- 
moved to Sangamon County, where they spent the 
remainder of their earthly career. 

Elizabeth Baldwin was the third child in a fam- 
ily of five sons and five daughters, and was born in 
Montgomery County, Ind., July 21, 1834. She 
came to Illinois with her parents and here met the 
gentleman to whom she was afterward united in 
marriage. She was married in Carlinville, 111., 
April 10, 18.i6, to John H. Shutt, a son of Jacob 
and Elizabeth (^Wagner) Shutt, who were married 
in Kentucky, and emigrated to Illinois, settling in 
Sangamon County. They made their home in San- 
gamon County until the death of Jacob Shut!, and 
somewhat later his bereaved widow passed away 
while visiting a daughter in Virden. 

John H. Shutt was born in Kentuckj', January 
29, 1822, and w.as seven years old when his j)arents 
emigrated to Illinois. Being so young at that time 
he called himself a thorough lUinoisian, as he here 



received his education and training for life's du- 
ties. After his marriage he resided for several 
months in Sangamon County, and then removed 
to Macoupin County, making his home where his 
widow now resides, on section 2. Virden Township. 
Here he was actively engaged in farming until his 
death, which occurred April 1, 1872. 

Mrs. Shutt is the mother of seven children, all of 
whom are living and have taken their pl.ices wiili 
credit in the community. Thej' are as follows: 
Eliza A., who is the wife of John A. Lorton ; Will- 
iam A.; George W., who took to wife Ettie Huston; 
Elizabeth J., who is the wife of Calvin E. Stowe: 
John F., who married Miss Martha J. Woodman; 
Sarah F., who is the wife of Henry Knoll, and 
Thomas J. 

This estimable lady, is, with the assistance 
of her unmarried sons, carrying on the farm 
to the best advantage, and she has kept it in 
excellent condition since it has come into her 
hands. Upon it she has a fine set of farm build- 
ings. Her home is delightful, and within its walls 
she exercises the graces of hospitality. The barns 
and outbuildings are finely adapted to farm pur- 
poses and her stock is in a good condition and 
well cared for. Her sons are carrying out well the 
fine reputation which was left them as a heritage by 
their father, a reputation for integrity, fair dealing, 
and reliability. 

-i^m 



\i-^ ON. WATSON A. TOWSE, who resides^on 
|i section 2, Polk Township, is one of the 
prominent and honored residents of Macou- 
pin County. For the historj' of his parents 
and ancestry the reader will kindly Qonsult the 
sketch of his brother. Charles Towse, which ap- 
pears in this Record. This soii was the youngest 
of his father's family and was born in Yorkshire, 
England, November 2, 1843. He was hut a little 
lad of seven years when his parents emigrated to 
America and he was nine years old when he made 
his entrance into this country. Here he grew to 
manhood and became one of the favorite sons of 
that section. 

Like many another .adapted son of America, 



PORTRAIT AND IJJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



351 



young Towse sprang to the lielp of the Union flag 
when it was assaile'.l. and enliste<K)etobt'r 27, 1861, 
ill Company C, Thirty-second Illinois Infantry. 
He served tiiree years under the stars and stripes, 
and look active part in the following engagements: 
Pittsburg Landing, siege of Corinlii, siege of 
Vicksburg and A'.lanta. At Pittsburg Landing he 
was severely wounded in the left knee. At \'icks- 
burg he received in his left arm a bullet which 
still remains. At Nickajaek, Ga., he was wounded 
by a shell in the left hip. He was detailed for 
(juite a long time as Ward Master in the Overton 
Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. When he was mus- 
tered out of the service he returned to his old 
home in Hird Township. 

Ex[)erionce in the field of war, only made this 
young hero appreciate more keenly the joys of 
home life, and he now decided to establish a home 
of his own. He chose as his wife Miss Ann 
Morfoot, daughter of Richard and Isabella Mor- 
foot, botii natives of Yorkshire, England, in which 
section of the British Isles the lady herself was 
born. The marriage took place on May 27, 1867. 
After marriage the young couple made their home 
on section 2, Polk Township, where they have since 
continued in liic [lursuit of agriculture, making 
permanent and valuable iinprovcments on the 
farm. 

Mr. Towse had always been truly interested in 
State as well as local political movements and lias 
cultiv.iied a broad outlook upon the affairs of 
the State and Nation. He .had often been called to 
serve in local offices of trust and in the fall of 
188H he was elected to the Illinois State Legisla- 
ture, where he served for the full terra. He has 
held the office of Supervisor of Polk Township, for 
several years, being Cliairmap. of the County Hoard 
of Supervisors (or two terms; also .lustice of the 
Peace, wliich oflice he still holds. He lias also acted 
as Assessor and Collector, and ever since leaving the 
army has taken an active [lart in i)olilic\l affairs, 
being a member of the Republican [larty and having 
for some lime belonged to the County Cenlial 
Committee of that party. He is identifled with the 
Orand Army of the Republic and is also a iiiein- 
ber of the Kariuers' Mutual Benefit Association. 
He is wide awake to the necessity of promoting the 



interests of the farming community and takes great 
pride in his farm of one hundred and sixty acres. 
Take him all in all he is one of the mo.st thor- 
oughly* representative men of Macoupin Count}- 
and with his intelligent and amiable wife is a power 
in the community. They are earnest and active 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 
which he has filled important oHJces. 



APT. JO.SEPH F. BALLINGER, now 

li _ deceased, was born January 14, 1812. Gar- 
^i^^7 rard County, Ky., and died at his home in 
Brighton, on the 16th of Februar}', 1882. He was 
one of the leading citizens of the community' and a 
man held in high esteem b^- all who knew him. In 
the State of his nativity- he was reared to manhood, 
the days of his boyhood and youth being passed in 
the usual manner of farmer lads. During the 
summer season he worked upon the farm and in 
the winter he attended school. When twenty- 
seven years of age he left Kentucky and came to 
Illinois, being accompanied by his father, Henry 
Ballinger. They resided in Fayette, III., where 
the death of the father later occurred. The Cap- 
tain went to Greene County. III., where he became 
acquainted with and wedded Miss Mary F. Peter, 
who was born in Newcastle, Ky.. .lune 28, 1823. 
For mention of her family see the sketch of Daniel 
Blodgett on another page of this work. When a 
child of eight summers she wjis brought by her 
parents to Illiuois, the fatcily locating in Godfrey, 
Madison County, where they resided for ten years 
and then removed to a farm in Greene County. 

Captain and Mrs. Ballinger began their domestic 
life on a farm near Dover, Greene County, where 
they resided for many years, so developing and 
improving their one hundred and sixty acres until 
it was called one of the finest farms in that county. 
At length, having acqui.-ed through his individual 
efforts and the assistance of his estimable wife a 
comfortable competence, Capt. Ballinger resolved 
to lay aside business cares and in the fall of 1875 
they went to Brighton, where he lived in quiet 
retirement, enjoying the fruits of his labors until 



352 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



called to the home beyond. Man)' friends inoiirned 
his loss and in iiis death the county lost one of its 
best citizens, the church a faithful member and his 
wife a loving and tender husband. He was prom- 
inent in public affairs and in politics supported the 
Whig party until its dissolution, when he became 
an advocate of Deraociatlc principles. He was a 
consistent and faithful member of the Christian 
Church and it was his daily endeavor to follow in 
the footsteps of the Master. He won his title 
while serving in the home militia in Kentucky, 
being commissioned Captain by Gov. French and 
his rank was afterward recognized on account of 
his iiroficient skill and faithful service as one of 
the Home Militia in Illinois. 

Mrs. Ballinger still survives her husband and 
yet resides in Brighton in the pleasant home left 
her b)' the Captain. The property which he ac- 
quired in former years is amply sufficient to supply 
all her wants. She too is a member of the Chris- 
tian Church and is a noble woman whom all esteem 
for her many excellencies of character. Generous 
and free-hearted, charital)le and benevolent, she 
has won many friends. 



^^^ 



-V-- 



DERRIN KENT, an old settler of Macoupin 
) County who is well and favorably known 
throughout Virden Township, had his na- 
tivity in Stock Township, Harrison County, 
Ohio, February' 3, 1835. His father, so far as is 
known, was a native of the same State, and the 
grandfather, Absalom, (a native of Pennsylvania) 
was one of the pioneers of Ohio, who resided upon 
a farm in that State for many years. From there 
he came to Illinois about the year 1830, and set- 
tling in Macoupin County, bought land west of 
Carlinville. He was very successful in the conduct 
of his affairs and eventually owned large tracts of 
land in different parts of the county. After the 
death of his beloved and faithful wife he made his 
residence with his children and his last days were 
passed in Chesterfield. 

The father of our subject received his early ed- 
ucation and training in Ohio, and resided there 



for several years after his marriage. It was in 
1838, when accompanied bj^liis wife and five child- 
ren, he came to Illinois, traveling by way of the 
Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. He located first in 
Knox Countj', 111., and lived there for two years 
before coming to Macoupin County. He became 
one of the first settlers of Virden Township, mak- 
ing his home upon a tract of land given him by 
his father on section 18. 

At the time of this settlement the country was 
sparsely settled and deer and other kinds of wild 
game abounded, and where Girard and Virden now 
stand the land was owned by the Government. He 
improved his farm and reside<l upon it until about 
the year 1863, when he sold this property and 
bought land in North Otter 'I'ownship, where he 
resided until called hence by death. His wife's 
maiden name was Diana Hevlin. She was of Ohio 
parentage and birth, her father being Isaac Hevlin. 
She died on the home farm in Virden Township, ■ 
leaving her family to greatly mourn her loss as her 
fiiithful devotion and loveliness of character had 
greatly impressed her life upon theirs. 

When three years old Perrin Kent first came to 
Illinois with his parents and although he was only 
five years of age when he first saw Macoupin 
County he remembers well the incidents of pioneer 
life here. He received the education granted in 
the pioneer schools and the faithful home training ■ 
of the ilomestic circles, and resided under the par- 
ental roof until he reached the age of eighteen 
after which ho traveled for awhile. In 1863 he 
settled upon the farm which he now owns upon 
section 18, Virden Township. 

In 18G0 Mr. Kent was happily united in marriage 
with Martha A. AVpllers who was born in Jessa- 
mine County, Ky., and is a daughter of Noble B. 
and Klizabeth (Davis) Walters, natives of Ohio 
and Mrginia respectively, who came to Illinois 
about the year 1815. They settled in Sangan)on 
County, making their residence there for some 
j'ears. The father died while on business in Mc- 
Lean County, Illinois. The mother passed away 
after coming to Virden Township. Of the child- 
ren who came to share the love and care of Mr. 
and Mrs. Kent two onl}' are living. Noble A. and 
Willie. Our subject is trulj' interested in national 







RESIDE:NCE or JOHN G. HAGLER, SEC.IG, north otter TR, MACOUPIN CO., ILL. 




f ^'^^ 



RESIDENCE OF PERRIN KENT , SEC.18. ,VI RDEN TR , IVl ACOU PI N CO.. ILL. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



. 355 



affairs and keeps himself well informed in regard 
to political movements. His convictions liave led 
him to ally himself with the Republican party 
with whom he casts his vote and influence. 

A view of Mr. Kent's attractive home is shown 
in connection with his biogra[)hicaI sketch. 

f/OHN G. HAGLER. One of the most hos- 
pitable homes in North Otter Township is 
the beautiful one presided over by the wife 
of the gentleman whose name appears at the 
head of this sketch. They are jjeople of more than 
ordinary qualities, intelligent and willi a rich fund 
of information on all sulijects of interest. The su- 
perior abilities of Jlr. Hagler make him a man of 
note in the county, and his long residence here 
has put him in the way of making a broad ac- 
quaintance which gives him extensive influence. 
His father, Benjamin J. Hagler, was born in North 
Carolina in 1791, and his mother, Elizabeth Gra- 
ham, a native of the same Slate, was born in 1788. 
When Benjamin was but thirteen years old his 
father, John Hagler, Sr., removed from North Car- 
olina to Tennessee, settling in Stewart Count}'. 
Here the boy grew to manhooil and in Todd 
Counv.y, K>'., he found the lady whom he made his 
wife. It was there the}' settled and made their 
home until 1817, when the}' emigrated to JIadison 
County, HI., which remained their place of resi- 
dence until they were called hence by death. His 
wife died about 1861, and he followed her to the 
better world some five years later. 

He of whom we write was among the older ones 
in a large famil}' of children, seven sons and seven 
daughters, and his birthplace was Todd County, 
Ky. Here he made his advent, November 26, 1816, 
and was therefore about a year and a half old 
wiien his parents removed to Illinois. In the Prai- 
rie State he received his education and his practical 
training uj)on the farm, both of which he fully 
improved and thus obtained a foundation for the 
noble and intelligent manhood, which is his to-da}'. 
He remained in Ma<]ison County until he was about 
twenty-two years old when he made the removal 



which proved permanent and settled on section 16, 
North Otter Township, Macoupin County. Agri- 
cultural pursuits was his early choice for a life 
work and he has carried on farming and stock- 
raising most successfully and prudently through- 
out life. 

The marriage of John G. Hagler and Miss Eliza- 
beth Steveson took place in North Otter 'lown- 
ship November 1.5, 1838, and thus began a life of 
more than ordinary domestic happiness and pros- 
perity'. This lady was also a native of 'I'odd 
County, Ky., being born there in 1818. To her 
were born six children, all but one of whom grew 
to years of maturit\-. Little Martha, the youngest, 
was snatched from the arms of her parents at the 
age of four years and Elizabeth, the third child, 
died when a beautiful young lady of twenty years 
old. James G. lived to be thirty-six jears old, 
and John F.. who was a member of the One Hun- 
dred and Twenty-second Illinois Infantry, died at 
Jackson, Tenn., from wounds received at the bat- 
tle of Parker's Cross Roads. Two useful and 
prosperous sons now survive, and have established 
homes for themselves in North Otter Townshiii, 
namely: Benjamin, wlio married Miss Sarah Al- 
derson, and Harvey T., who took to wife Miss Mi- 
nerva Young. Mrs. Elizabeth Hagler died August 
15, 1854. 

The second marriage of Mr. Hagler took place 
in North Otter Township November 23, 1854, .-jud 
at that time Sarah J. AVilson became his wife. She 
was the mother of three children: William B. ; 
who married Miss Susan Gunn and resides in Ne- 
braska. Sarah Emelice, who is the wife of Will- 
iam Good), and Hiram, who died in infancy. The 
mother of these children was Cfl.lled awa}- from her 
family by death, March 10, 1863. 

Our subject was again married in North Palmyra 
Township, November, 19, 1864, to Miss Sarah T. 
Young, who was born in Morgan County, this 
State, November 7, 1827. They have had two chil- 
dren, one of whom has died. The surviving son, 
Wallace C, is a farmer at home and has married 
Miss Julia E. Steele. The high esteem in which 
Mr. Hagler is held by his friends and neighbors is 
shown by the lesponsible position in which he has 
been i)laced. For a term of sixteen years he has 



356 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



held the onerous post of School Treasurer and has 
perforiiied the duties incident to that oHiee in such 
a way as to still furtiicr enhance his reputation for 
integrity and lionorable deaiino'. He has also been 
School Director for a long term of years and in this 
way has done mucli to advance the educational in- 
terest of the township, and to place the schools 
upon a substantial and progressive basis. As Su- 
pervisor of North Otter Township for four terms 
he has done excellent service and given genuine 
satisf.action to those who have ])laced him in office. 
He has ever taken an active part in political affairs 
and is a strong .lacksonian Democrat, faithfully 
ujiholding the jirinciples of that part}'. 

Mr. Ilagler has been a member of the Methodist 
Church for fifty years and in its service and ordi- 
nances he has been faithful and consistent. Mrs. 
Hagleris also an earnest and active member of the 
same church. Upon his beautiful farm of two hun- 
dred and five acres, this progressive farmer has 
erected a fine set of liuildings. On another page 
of this volume a|)pears a view of his delightful 
home. His barns are well arranged and thoroughlv 
constructed, and the outbuildings in general, as 
well as the fences and fields show the hand of a 
systematic and painstaking agriculturist. 



'^-'/OSEPH ¥. CLARK. Among the repre- 
sentative fanners of Macoupin County is 
[ this gentleman, who is the owner of a fine, 

1^ large farm on section 36, Brushy Mound 
Township. He has erected a commodious brick 
house, frame barn and other outbuildings, replete 
witli modern improvements, and surrounded with 
well-kept grounds, beautiful shade and fruit trees, 
the place presents a most pleasing ap|)earance indi- 
cative of the enteri)rise and [)rogressi ve spirit of the 
proprietor. 

A native of Logan County, Ivy., Mr. Clark was 
born December 4, 1825. His father, Samuel B. 
Clark, was, it is thought, a native of the same State, 
and his father was a pioneer of Logan County, 
where he resided many years, coming thence to 
Illinois, where he spent his last years with his chil- j 



dren. His son .Samuel was reared and married in 
KenUicky, and lived there until 1828, when, ac- 
companied by his wife and eight children, ho 
started for Illinois. Their mode of conveyance 
was by wagons, one being drawn by oxen, and the 
other by one lionse. They brought all their house- 
hold goods with them, and camped by the way at 
nightfall. Mr. Clark first lociited one and one-half 
miles from Edwardsville, where he rented land for 
one year, then removed into that town and engaged 
in teaming, residing there until 18.52, when he re- 
moved to a farm a mile and a half west of Brighton, 
which he rented for a 3 ear. He then bought a 
tract of wild land in the same locality, and built a 
hewn log house, splitting shakes for the roof. In 
1835 he sold that and renioved to a farm near Car- 
linvilleon which he lived one year, and in 1836 
settled in Brushy Mound Township. 

At that early day wild game was to be had in 
abundance, deer and turkeys being very plentiful. 
There was then no railway here and Alton and St. 
Louis were the nc.-.rest markets for supplies. In 
this section the gristmills were mostly operated by 
oxen. The wives and mothers did their full share 
towards lightening the labors of the sterner sex 
and the spinning wheel and loom were in constant 
requisition. The mother of our subject (Jressed 
her children in homespun cloth that w.as the pro- 
duct of her own deft hand. 

In Brushy M(nind Township the father purchased 
one hundred and twenty m-vqs of land on section 
26, forty acres of which were under improvement, 
and a log house was standing thereon. On this 
lilace be resided the remairder of his life, passing 
away in 1840, leaving a worthy record as a useful 
pioneer and a good citizen in every way. His wife, 
who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Flovd, 
survived him only one year. She was born in 
Pennsylvania, and is thought to have been of Ger- 
man ancestry. She was the mother of eight chil- 
dren, of whom these are the names: Mary Mar- 
garet, James II., Robert B., John J., Benjamin F., 
Joseph F., Samuel N. and Susan B. 

Joseph Clark was but two years old when his 
parents brought him to Illinois, and he was reared 
in this State under pioneer influences to be self- 
reliant, manly and capable of doing any and all 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



357 



kinds of work that fell to his share as a farmer's 
boy. His education was received in the primitive 
schools of the earlj' years of the settlement uf 
Illinois that were taught in lof^ houses, and pro- 
vided with nide, home-made furniture, the seats 
heing made by splitting saplings and hewing one 
side smooth, and inserting wooden pins for legs. 
Each family i)aid for tuition according to the num- 
ber of scholars that it sent, there being no public 
money to expend for educational purposes at that 
time, and the teacher usually boarded "around." 

At an early age Joseph was left an orphan, and 
then worked out by the month, in the winter work- 
ing for his board and attending school. When 
twenty-one years old he received his inheritance 
from his father's estate, the home farm having been 
sold for $8 per acre, his share being *130. This, 
with what he had saved, was his entire capital with 
which to face the world. He first purchased thirty 
acres of prairie land on section 25, also ten acres 
of timber on section 24. He erected a frame 
house, 14x16 feet in size, with a lean-to 10x16 feet 
in dimensions. He rived and shaved the shingles 
by hand, and also the weather boards. 

In 1«46 our subject laid aside his work to enlist 
in the army to take part in the Mexican War, and 
he served with credit until ho was honorably dis- 
charged, when he returned lion)e and quietly re- 
sumed faiming. In 1855 he removed to (iillespie 
Township, where he was engaged in the grain busi- 
ness until 1860. During ihat time he sold his farm 
and bought the |)lace where he now resides. As 
before stated he has improved the land, and added 
all modern conveniences until it is now regarcied 
as a model farm and an ornament to the township. 
He has been remarkably successful in his o|ierations, 
and altogether he is the owner of six hundred and 
forty acres of fine land, all included in Hrushy 
Mound Township. 

March 4, 1850, Mr. Clark was united in marriage 
with Miss Melinda Huddleston. She is a native of 
this county, Caliokia Townsldp her birthplace, 
where she was born to .lohn and Nancy Huddle- 
ston. For her parental history see sketch of R. W. 
Huddleston. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are the parents 
of eight children— Mary J., Albert F., Charles W., 
Emma Elnora, Nancy E., May, Hettie, Minnie O. 



and Harvey W. Mary is the wife of Charles 
Boosinger, and has Bve chddren livinj,'. Albert 
married Mary Reed, and has four children. Charles 
married Minnie Williams, and has one chihl. 
Nancy is the wife of Thomas Hargess, and has five 
children. May married Arthur Loveless, and has 
one child. Hettie is the wife of Frank Iloehn, and 
has two children. 

M.-. Clark is a man of sound mental calibre, 
whose judgment in regard to business matters is 
keen, and thrift, energy and foresight are also 
among his characteristics, and have gained him the 
important place that he occupies among the pros- 
perous men of his community. He is just, lilieral 
and sagacious in his views on all social and religious 
subjects, and though not identified with any church, 
he is a generous supporter of all enterprises which 
tend to uplift and purify the people regardless of 
denominations. 



ooo 




,.ILLIAM E. SANDERS. Among the pnb- 
'I lie-spirited and prosperous business men 



and genial, and hospitable gentlemen of 
Macoupin, we are pleased to rank high the name 
which appears at the beginning of this biographical 
sketch. This merchant who occupies the position 
of Postmaster at Macoupin has made a success of 
life by his natural ability, supplemented by a thor- 
ough-going honesty and a desire to accommodate 
those with whom he deals in life. 

The father of our subject was the late Brantley 
N. Sanders, who was a native of North Carolina, 
and his mother was the late Sarah (Sandera) San- 
ders, also of North Carolina. They had resided in 
Missouri previous to their coming to Macoupin 
County, 111 , and they settled in Polk Township in 
i86.3 and there spent the remainder of their days. 
Their lives were harmonious and truly united and 
tiiey were not long separated by death as the 
mother passed away in February, 1866, and her 
devoted husband followed her about one month 
later. Twelve children had gathered about their 
hearthstone and they h ul given them thorough 
and practical training in life. 

The gentleman of whom WP write was one of the 



358 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



eldest in a large family of eliildieii and early felt 
the responsibilities of life. He was born in Jack- 
son County, Ala., January 7. 1848, and was about 
eleven years old when his parents removed to Mis- 
souri and he accompanied tliem when they made 
their linal removal to Macoupin County in 1863. 
Here he grew to manhood, receiving the best in- 
struction which his parents could find for him in 
the district schools of that day and upon the farm. 
For .several years his time was devoted to wood- 
chopping. 

It was in the sining of 1869 that young Sanders 
first engaged in mercantile business at Macoupin, 
then known as Macoupin Station, and this initial 
eflfort was so successful tiiat he h.^s continued in 
that line from that day to this witli the exception 
of about two years. He carries a general stock of 
merchandise and enjoys a good share of trade. In 
the year 1890 he erected a fine brick store and res- 
idence, which is an ornament to the town and in 
which his business has prospered even more than 
before. For about fifteen years he was station agent 
at M.ac^oupin and with the exception of about four 
years he has been Postni.aster since 1869. 

The fellow citizens of Mr. Sanders have placed 
him in the office Township Clerk for some fifteen 
years, ami he w.as elected Supervisor of Polk Town- 
ship and served for one term and is the present 
Supervisor. He has filled the office of Justice of 
the Peace for two years and h,as for many years 
held the office of Township Tre.asurer. While sta- 
tion agent he was also the United States Express 
Company's .agent. 

The event of greatest importance in the life of 
Mr. Sanders was his marriage November 11, 1869 
in Polk Township, to Miss Cynthia Ritchey, d.iugh- 
ter of J.ames and Mclvina (Fowler) Ritchey. The 
father was a Tennesscean and the mother a native 
of Kentucky. Mr. Ritchie died in this township in 
February, 1866. The daughter Cynthia was born 
in Arkans,as February 15, 1851. Her maternal 
affection and care have been shared by five chil- 
dren, namely: Famey, Emma, Nellie, Melvina and 
• Jesse W. E. Jldvina died when about four years 
old. Mr. Sanders is the owner of seventy. five 
acres in Polk Township, of which he takes a per- 
sonal oversight. He is a Republican in his political 



views and always takes an active and intelligent 
interest in political movements. Both he and his 
interesting and capable wife are earnest and effi- 
cient meral)ers of the Church of Christ. 



^y; AMES TAYLOR, now deceased, was a mem- 
ber of the banking houoic of Wall et Taylor, 
of Staunton. He died at his home in Staun- 
^^ ton, III., May G, 1881, having ju.st retired 
from active business in connection with the bank. 
After his deiiartnre the business was carried on 
successfully for years when the partners concluded 
to sell out and close up the business. When Mr. 
Taylor came to Macoupin County, in .about 1851, 
he w.as a poor man. He began life in the West by 
renting laud. When he had gained sufficient means 
to do so he purchased and farmed for a number of 
years. Later he sold out and put his money into 
a general merchandise business in Staunton. He 
was thus cng.aged for several years before entering 
upon the banking business with Mr. Wall. After 
retiring from the bank on account of ill health, 
Mr. Taylor invested his means in real-estate in 
Staunton Township. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Jefferson 
County, W. Va., September 21, 1828. His father, 
Joseph Taylor was a West Virginia farmer, and he 
married a West Mrgiuia lady, Margaret Bowers by 
name. They resided in their native State for sev- 
eral years after marriage, and then removed to 
Maryland, where Joseph Taylor died. His wife 
was married a second time to George Gill, an<l 
they came early in the '50s to Macoupin County, 
and settle.l on a farm in Bunker Hill Township. 
Both Mr. and Jlrs. Gill were respected members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and they lived 
lives of Christian purity and repute until a green 
old age. They are both laid to rest in the ceme- 
tery near their home. 

James Taylor was the youngest of his father's 
eight children, and as he was quite young at the 
time of his father's death he was reared mostly l)y 
his mother and step-father. He came with them 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



361 



to Macoupin County, and spent his school flays oij 
tiie farm and in the district schools. Having ar- 
rived at manhood he chose for himself a wife, and 
was married in Carlinviiie, to Sarah O'Neal, who 
was born September 7, 1830, in IJonrbon County, 
Ky. Mrs. Taylor was left an orphan at a very early 
age, too young in fact to have interested herself in 
the early history of her family, which she now 
trreatly rcrets. She came with kinsmen to Illinois 
when only eight years old, and resided for some 
years in Coles and Moultrie Counties. In 1848 she 
came to INIacoupin County, within the borders of 
which she has since resided. Although now some- 
what advanced in years she maintains lier mental 
.-,nd physical activity, and enjoys life in her retired 
home on North Franklin Street, at Hunker Hill. 
She has a fine income left her by her iuisband, to 
whom she had been a most devoted and hel[)ful 
wife. She was the mother of two children: Joseph 
and Emma, both of whom died in infancy. She 
has been the foster mother of one child, Lucretia 
Price, who became the wife of Louis Powers, and 
died after becoming the mother of Tive cliildrcn. 
Mr. Taylor was a quiet and retired man in his na- 
ture, and never was an office-seeker or willing lo 
be put in prominence by his fellow-citizens. After 
the war he consistently voted the Republican ticket 
and was interested in public affairs. Mrs. Taylor 
is a life-long member of the Baptist Church, in 
which she is a quiet but effective worker. She is 
highly esteemed by all her friends and neighbors. 



'^^^^^^^^^i^r^'^^^^^ 



'SjOHN H. LOVELESS. The Central Slates 
are so productive of grain that it is not 
surprising that a large number of people 
have reaped from the bountiful harvests of 
Mother Earth, a reasonable amount of this world's 
goods. Among the number who are successfully 
engaged in tilling the soil is the gentleman whose 
name introduces this biographical notice, and 
whose portrait appears on the opposite page. His 
fine farm is located in Bird Township and is em- 
bellished with a good set of buildings, the most 
important of which is the residence of the family. 



Near it are such structures as the practical devel- 
opment of a model farm calls for, while through 
the proper rotation of crops and fertilizing the 
soil, the land is brought to a high slate of improve- 
ment. 

Our subject is the son of William Loveless, who 
was born in Blount County, Tenn., in 1808. His 
mother was Jane Bell in her maidenhood, and her 
native home was in Knox County, Tenn. In that 
State they were married and resided until 1841, 
when they removed to Illinois and made their home 
on section 8, Bird Township, this county. Here 
they lived in happiness until the death of the 
mother, December 1, 1881, when seventy -one 
years old. The father still survives at an advanced 
age and makes his home with his children. Twelve 
children clustered around this worthy pioneer 
couple.who were named as follows: John H., Matil 
da, Elizabeth, Samuel L., Zeddock, William J., 
George W., Hugh F., Mary A., Marion F., Martha 
and Charles M. Matilda is the widow of Mathias 
Underwood; Elizabeth and Martha are deceased; 
Mary A., is Mrs. William Bumgardner. 

John H , the eldest of this family and the sub- 
ject of this biographical sketch, was born in Eastern 
Tennessee, December 30, 1825. He was therefore 
sixteen years of age when he accompanied the pa- 
rental family to Macoupin County, this State, and 
here passed the remaining days of his youth. 
He reniaiiied at home with his pa-ents until his 
marriage,since which he has made a permanent home 
upon another tract of land not far from the old 
homestead, with the exception of two years when 
he resided in Champaign County, this State. He 
h.as always been engaged in the pursuit of agri- 
culture. 

The marriage of Mr. Loveless to Miss Rhuhama 
Brown took place in Bird Township, December 23, 
1847. This lady was the (laughter of John M. and 
Christina (Etter) Brown who came from Virginia 
to Indiana, and thence to this county, making their 
home, in Western Mound Township in 1842. 
Here they resided until Mrs. Etter was called 
away from earth about the year 1850. After her 
death her husband removed to Montgomery 
County, where he died about two years later. 
They were blessed with thirteen children, twelve 



362 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RFXORD. 



daughters and one son. Mrs. Loveless was the 
seventh daughter in this family, and was born 
near Indianapolis, Ind.. January 1,1826. Eleven 
children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. 
Loveless, namely: William R., James M., Eliza- 
beth J., Emanuel, Matilda, George, Sarah E., Mary 
v., Robert A., Cyrus O. and John B. William R. 
married Anna Crowder; James M.. who married 
Mary Clark, died in November, 1876: Elizabeth 
J. died in infancy; Matilda is the wife of Lewis 
Keorner; George married Alano Hoover; Sarah is 
the wife of Jasper W. Wheeler; Mary V. died 
in childhood; Robert A. married Hannah Ward. 
Mr. Loveless is wide-awake to the educational 
interests of the community and for many years 
has been School Director. He is a member of 
the Democratic party, and always takes an active 
I)art in political affairs. Both he and his wife 
have been active members of the Baptist Church 
for about forty years. The event in his life the 
most tragic and heart-breaking, was the distressing 
death of his mother. Her clothes took (ire from 
a fireplace near which she was sitting, and the in- 
juries resulted in her death. The pain she endured 
was agonizing, and she was conscious throughout 
the whole period of suffering, and met her death 
with remarkable fortitude and cheerfulness. Mr. 
Loveless owns and occupies one hundred and twenty 
acres of the old homestead, which was his father's. 
He is a public-spirited citizen and a man of uncom- 
luon energy. His wife who is a woman of great 
cai)abilities and of sound Christian charactei^ is a 
worthy mate for her husband, and is honored and 
respected by all who know her. 



,AV18 AMES. The owner of the farm on 
section 27, North Otter Township, is t!ic 
gentleman whose name heads this sketch. 
The farm comprises one hundred and sixty acres 
of fertile land in the most desirable part of the 
county. An air of prosperity is felt to rest over 
the place and is explained by the good class of 
buildings and high state of cultivation under 
which the place is kept. While our subject makes 



farming his business, it is not so much the work 

of life as to provide the comforts that home should 

bring to every family. The house is pleasantly 

located on a slight eminence, from which there is 

a charming vista of trees and misty clouds with a 

glimpse of water in the distance. That |)art of 

life which is so frequently neglected by farmers— 

the social side— is here recognized at its full 

worth, and the friends who have the privilege of 

coming to the home find it a meeting-place from 

which they go away more thoughtful, happier and 

better in every way. Books and papers are the 

companions of I he inmates and the current topics 

are here intelligently discussed. 

Mr. Ames' father was John Ames, a native of 
Lancaster County, Pa. His mother was Sarah 
■(Slaufer) Ames, also a native of the same county. 
The father died in Wayne County, Ohio, and tlie 
mother passed away in Elkhart County, Ind. Our 
subject was brought up to a farmer's life, that hav- 
ing been his father's calling. John Ames and his 
wife had six children, of whom our subject w::s the 
third child. His birth took place in Lancaster 
County, Pa., on February 13, 1835. He was but 
eighteen months old when his parents removed to 
Wayne County, Ohio, and there grew to manhood. 
After reaching years of maturity Mr. Ames de- 
termined to take unto himself a wife, and he was 
married early in February, 1858, to Miss Mary 
Weaver, a daughter of Joseph and Martha Weaver. 
Their first home was in W.ayne County, Ohio, and 
there they enjoyed together the first four years of 
marital life. They then removed to Elkhart County, 
Ind., living there six years, and in March, 1869, 
they came to Macoupin County, settling on the 
farm where they now live in August. He has ever 
since been a resident of North Otter Township. 
They were the parents of six children— Leander, 
who married Nettie M. Smith; Sarah, who became' 
the wife of Christian Koesch; Lydia, who died at 
the early age of seventeen; Eli W., Elmer and 
Delia M. Mrs. Mary Ames died in North Otter 
Township February 5, 1883. 

Our subject was again married , Miss Mary A. 
Bechtold becoming his wife in Sangamon County, 
June 15, 1881. The lady is a daughter of William 
and Elizabeth L. (Brubaker) Bechtold, both of Lan- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



363 



caster County, Pa. The mother died in Macoupin 
County, 111.; the father still survives. Mrs. Ames 
was born in Lancaster County, Pa., July 9, 18.il. 
One child has been the fruit of this marriage, a 
daughter, who was christened Dora E. 

Mr. Ames has always been engaged in farming, 
and is thoroughly conversant, not only with the 
best ways and means in use in agriculture, but of 
tlie most direct way the object he desires may be 
obtained. In politics he is an adherent of the 
Republican party. He has been elected .School 
Director in his township, having discharged the 
duties incident to that office to the satisfaction 
of his constituents. Our subject has taken an act- 
ive part in religious work and is a member of the 
German Baptist Church, as is also his wife and as 
was the companion of his early life. 



-^^ 



-4- 



\T;0HN M. SCHMIDT. One of the largest 
farmers in Gillespie Township is the man 
whose name heads this sketch. He lives on 
section 35, and owns in his homestead one 
hundred and twenty acres, but in all the land that 
he has accumulated aggregates nine hundred and 
seventy acres, the whole of which property is well 
improved and stocked. The fact that Mr. Schmidt 
came to this land a poor man only thirty-six years 
ago, and that he has amassed what is a comforlablo 
fortune, is a commentary upon the possibilities that 
are to be found in the United States. 

Our subject was born in Hanover, Germany, Oc- 
tober 22, 1828. For a history of his parents, see 
biography of Weye Schmidt on another page. 
Our subject's parents were farmers and he grew up 
with a knowledge of all the duties incident to agri- 
cultural life. He wasasingle man when he deter- 
mined to come to America, and took passage at 
Bremen, Hanover, on a sailing vessel, August 31, 
1855. He landed in New Orleans where he spent 
seven weeks in becoming somewhat familiar with 
the English tongue and American ways; thence he 
came to St. Louis and then to Alton and from here 
he proceeded to Macoupin County, Gillespie Town 
ship, where he settled November 18, of that year. 



He has ever since made this i)lace his home, iiaving 
heie accumulated his fortune and being determined 
that it shall be the shelter for his last days. For 
the first three years of Mr. Schmidt's life in Amer- 
ica he worked as a lal)orer for M. W. Dorsey and 
then he rented a farm for live years, after which 
he purchased his first one hundred and twenty 
acres on section 35, to which he has since added 
his large increase of land. He is one of the thrift- 
iest farmers among the German settlers in llie 
county. 

Our subject was married in this township to 
Miss Meta E. Milfs. She was born and reared in 
Hanover, and in 1.S58 came to this country with 
iier future husband, whcj had gone on a trip to his 
native home and on ids return to this country he 
brought the young lady with him who was soon to 
be his bride. Tliey were married in tiie spring of 
1859, and they have since lived and labored to- 
gether, the wife being a true and good woman and 
a great help to him iu every way. Slie is the 
mother of thirteen children, only one of whom is 
deceased. The living children are as follows: 
Charles, who took to wife Wei)tka Schmidt, and 
they live on a farm in liiis township; Etta, who is 
the wife of Fritz Harines; they are also farmers in 
this township; John, who took to wife Gepta Gosh- 
raann, also lives on a farm in this township ;Weptka, 
the wife of Louis Kartuni; they are farmers in this 
township; Milf is proprietor of a farm with his 
brother; he is unmarried. Weye, Weert, Jacob, 
Minnie, Zena, John and AdolpU all live at home. 
Mr. Schmidt, wife and family are all members of 
the Lutheran Church. The father and sons are 
Democrats in politics. 



<W} AMES W. rORK, one of the oldest settlers 
of Honey Point Township, is a native of 
of Tennessee, being born in Murray County, 
}j that State, August 28, 1813. His ancestors 
v^-eof English and Irish origin; his paternal grand- 
father, James, emigrated from England to North 
Carolina, and married a young lady named Whit- 
taker. Here his father, Joel, was born iu Surrey 



364 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



County IP tlie3-ear 1784, and moved when a young 
man to ilie State of Tennessee, where lie married 
Talitba Jackson, who was of Irish descent, and 
whose family had come from North Carolina to 
Tennessee. Our subject's grandmother on his moth- 
er's side was Charitj' Boyd, who was born in North 
Carolina, and was living there during the Revolu- 
tionai}- War, and who always enjoyed recounting 
how she heard in her home, the sound of musketry 
during the IJattic of Cowpeus. 

When James W. York was quite a small child, 
his father removed from Murray to Bedford County, 
Tenn. where the family lived until 1828. While 
living in this State he bought timber land and 
built a log house for the family home. The next 
removal of the family was to Morgan County, 111 , 
and this son was fifteen years old at that time. 
The county was thinly settled and Jacksonville 
w.ns then such a place as Gillespie now is. The 
farmers had no market for their produce but every- 
body lived in a rough and primitive w.ny ; all were 
sociable, good-hearted and neighborly, and had 
many good times together. The journey from Ten- 
nessee to Illinois occupied thirty days and was ac- 
complished by the help of a four-horse team which 
had been hired at the rate of ^2.50 a day. After 
a seven years' residence near Jacksonville, the fam- 
ily removed to Macoupin County and entered land 
near Carlinville which is the farm now owned by 
James McClurc. The father <lieo in 1847 upon a 
farm a mile further east. The mother died two 
months later. 

After coming to Illinois, our subject had only 
six weeks of schooling, but he had attended good 
private schools in Tennessee. As he was the oldest 
son his course of study was cut short by the family 
necessities. After his father's removal to Macou- 
pin County, he stayed in Morgan Country for two 
years and worked on a farm at 5ilo a month, and 
from his earnings he accumulated sufficient money 
to enter eighty acres of land, which have been in his 
possession ever since and on which now sUands his 
pleasant home. Upon this he moved in the spring 
of 1838, bought an ox-team and began breaking 
prairie. He had prepared for this new venture by 
engaging a life partner to help him in establishing 
a home upon the new farm. an<l he w.is married in 



February, 1838. to Mary E. Keplinger. daughter 
of John and Elizabeth Keplinger, and a sister of 
Peter Keplinger, whose biography will be foun<l 
elsewhere in this volume. This lady was born in 
Washington County, Tenn. and came to Murynn 
County in 1830. 

It was in the fall after his mairi.age that .lames 
York built a log cabin. For a long time he had to 
haul his wheat to Alton and St. Louis and ^o to 
mill at Alton and Edwardsvillc; but later a mill 
was built at Woodburn, and also in Montgomery 
County. In those early times a pioneer's life was 
by no means an easy one, and hard labor and un- 
tiring energy were necessary to the accumulation 
of property. But these our subject was willing to 
give and he finally gained a position where he could 
enjoy a comfortable com petonce. Atone time he 
was the owner of six hundred and tiventy .acres of 
laud, nearly half of which he has now given to his 
older children. A part of his present residence is 
the original old log house, built in the fall of 1838, 
which has been remodeled and improved, and in 
1875 was finally changed into a neat and attr,aclive 
dwelling. 

By his first marriage Mv. York had len cliildron, 
all of whom died when quite young, except three: 
Maria is the wife of John II. Shears, Sophronia E. 
married John Saunders, and Elbert is farmini> in 
Honey Point Township. Their mother died Novem- 
ber 24, 1873. The second wife bore the maiden 
name of Hester Hamilton, and their marri.aso took 
place in January 1875. Her five children are all 
living and they bear the names of Minnie Viola, 
James W., Vesta L., Nancy Almira, and Herbert 
A. Mrs. York is a daughter of Frederick A. and 
Nancy (Hampton) Hamilton, n.atives of Virginia 
and Kentucky, respectively, and now residents of 
Carlinville. Mr. York has commanded through 
life the warm respect and esteem of his fellow-cit- 
zens. He is a man of decided convictions, but 
concedes to others the same freedom of opinion 
which he has claimed for himself. His first Presi- 
idential vote was it; 183G. for Maitin Van Burcn, 
and he has ever been attached to the |)arty of Jeflfer- 
son and Jackson, yet in local elections he has al- 
ways claimed the privilege of su|)porting the best 
man for the ollicc. He has had opportunities to 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



365 



occiiiw |)ul)lie posiiions and upon the first organ- 
ization of Hone.y Point Township, served for one 
term as Supervisor, and was twice re-elected, but 
declined to serve. In the days of the old militia 
organization, he was first Lieutenant of his com- 
pany and was always on hand at the annual mus- 
ters. In .January, 1857, he became connected with 
the United Baptist Church, and two years later was 
made a Deacon. 

Like most men in Illinois who have reached a 
position of influence and competence, he began al- 
most entirely without means, and what he has ac- 
complished has bee.i the result of his own industry 
and energy. lie is a man of liberal and generous 
disposition and has provided comfortably for his 
children. He is one of the best known of the old 
pioneers in Macoupin Couniy, and has done his 
full share to change it from a wilderness to a pros- 
perous, thriving and populous community. He 
has lived a life of usefulness and integrity and now 
at the close of a long and inilustrious career, he 
can look back over a life which has been a benefit 
to himself, to his family, and his fellow-men. 



OHN LYONS, a practical farmer of HilyanI 
Township, residing on section 5, is a native 
of the Emerald Isle. He was born m the 
North of Ireland on the 29th of April, 1829, 
and he is a grandson of Robert and Fannie (Ful- 
ton) Lyons, who were also born in the North of 
Ireland, of Scotch-Irish parentage and of the Pres- 
byterian faith. His father, Thomas Lyons, was 
also born in that locality and was one of a large 
family. He grew to manhood in the usual manner 
of farmer lads and then wedded Miss Mary A. 
Taggert. of the North of Ireland, who likewise 
came of Protestant Irish parentage. She was a 
daughter of John and Jane Taggert, who were born 
and reared in the North of Ireland and there spent 
their entire lives, dying when well advanced in 
years. Thomas Lyons and his wife began their 
domestic life upon a small farm on the Green Isle 
of Erin and there three children wm-e born unto 



them. In the spring of 1836 they sailed from 
Belfast to this country, landing in Philadelphia 
after a long voyage of eight weeks. The summer 
after their arrival tliey spent in Montgomery 
County, Pa.,!ind in the succeeding autumn started 
for Peoria, III., but the Illinois River was frozen 
up and they had to stop at what is now Coon Creek, 
Jersey County, where they decided to make their 
home. They settled upon a new farm five miles 
west of Jerseyville, where the parents continued 
to spend the remainder of their lives, both dying 
when past seventy years of age. They were classed 
among the pioneer settlers of Jersey County and 
were people of worth and ability. Their family 
numbered five children who grew to manhood and 
womanhood, while three are yet living. One son 
died from a wound received at the battle of Shiloh 
during the late war. He had only been in the ser- 
vice a few months when pierced by an enemy's 
bullet, he gave up his life for his country. 

The subject of this sketch was only seven years 
of age when he bade good-by to the land of his 
birth and accompanied his parenis to America. 
Under the parental roof he was reared to manhood 
in Jersey County, wheft he was the first time mar- 
ried, the lady of his choice being Miss Nancy 
Campbell, a native of North Carolina, who when a 
child went to Jersey County, 111., with her parents, 
William and Mary Campbell, both of whom are 
now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Lyons were marrietl 
in February, 1853, and in September, 1855, the 
lady was called to her final home when thirty-five 
years of age. Mr. Lyons was again married in 
Greene County, his second union being with Mrs. 
Alvira A. (Tunnell) Parker, who was born on the 
22(1 of August, 1839, in Greene Count}', and is a 
daughter of Calvin and Jane Tunnell. natives of 
^'irginia, who on enngrating to Illinois located in 
Madison County, and later removed to Greene 
County, where Mr. Tunnell procured land and de- 
veloped a good farm near Carrollton, where they 
spent their last days. In Greene County, Alvira 
Tunnell became the wife of Daniel L. Parker, who 
died in Ililyard Township, leaving two children: 
Mary E., wife of John Cay wood, of Ililyard Town- 
ship; and Henry L., a farmer of Greene County, 
who married Carrie Corriell. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 



366 



PORTRAIT AND BiOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Lyons have been ))orn sis cliildien but three died 
in c'hihlhood: Thomas C, Luther and Jolin. The 
Jiving are Robert N., who married Jessie B. Cor- 
nell and lives on a farm in Hijyard Township; and 
James T. and Alvira A., at home. 

Mr. and Mrs. I-yons are members of tlie Presby- 
terian Ciiiirch in which he is now serving as Deacon 
and Trustee, and in politics he is a Democrat. They 
reside upon a pleasantly situated farm of two hun- 
dred and sixty .icres which is now under a high 
state of cultivation. Mr. Lyons located there on 
the 13th of March, 18G.5, and has since made all 
the improvements seen upon the place. He is re- 
garded as one of the enterprising and successful 
farmers of the community and well deserves a rep- 
resentation in the history of his adopted county. 



^^EORGE M. KILLAM. This section of the 
l( (=» country has always proved very attractive 
^i! to citizens of foreign birth, who have come 
lo America with a desire to give their children the 
benefils of a home in the land of liberty and an op- 
portunity for independence. The fertility of Illi- 
nois was early m.ade a matter of comment and con- 
versation among the yeomanry of England, and 
their attention was called to the advantages which 
were offered here. In consequence of this many of 
them emigrated to this counMy and among tlieni we 
find Samuel Killam, the father of our subject. His 
wife bore the maiden name of Mary M. Morris. 
They were married in England and coming to 
America, made their first home in Morgan County. 
This worthy and intelligent couple finally re- 
moved to Macoupin County anil settled in South 
Palmyra Township, where they ended their days 
in peace and hapi)iness. Ten children had gath- 
ered about theii home, of whom our subject was 
the seventh. He was born in South Palmyra 
Township, August 28, 1840. Here ' he grew to 
manhood and has always remained a resident of 
this county. He remained at home most of the 
time till his marriage, after which he lived for two 
years in Carlinville Township and then settled in 
Bird 'I'ownship, where he owns two hundred and 



nine acres. He has erected good buildings on his 
farm, which is finely improved. He h.as always 
been engaged in stock-raising and agricultural pur- 
suits. 

The marriage of Mr. Killam with Emily Baker 
took place on March 15, 1866, in Souih Otter 
Township. The lady whom he made his wife was 
a .taughter of Robert Baker, of South Otter Town- 
ship. They set up their home in Carlinville Town- 
ship and four children crowned their union: Mary 
F., George A., Charles W. and Emily J. The 
mother of these children was snatched from the 
companionship of her husband and children Au- 
gust -23, 1878. 

The second marriage of this gentleman took 
place in St. Louis, Mo., on April 22, 1880. His 
bride was Miss Rosalie, a daughter of William and 
Rachael Standiford. Mr. Standiford was a soldier 
in the Civil War and met his death while in the 
service. His wife has also passed to the other 
world. Their daughter Rosalie was born in Frank- 
lin County, Mo., June 20, 1855. She has become 
the mother of three children, namely: John A.. 
Samuel C. and Nellie R. 

Mr. Killam is an earnest and efficient member of 
the Republican party and his advocacy of his po- 
litical principles is intelligent and convincing. 
He is a man of influence in the community and has 
held a number of township offices in the county. 
His farm is in excellent condition ^nd the build- 
ings upon it are worthy of note. His estimable 
wife is a devoted and active member of the Meth- 
odist Episcoi)al Church, in which she finds a broad 
field of usefulness. 



^'RANK A. GELDER, dental surgeon, has 
fr^ an extensive and lucrative practice at Pal- 
It, myra, where he bears a high reputation for 

skill and a thorough knowledge of his profession. 
He is a native born citizen of this county. Burr 
Township the place of his birth, and September 11, 
1854, the date thereof. His father, Thomas Gelder, 
was .t native of Yorkshire, England, and his par- 
ents were life-long residents of that country. The 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



367 



ftillier of our subject and Lis cousin, Capt. Tiiomas 
Gelder, wlio settled in Cliesterfleld Townsliip, were 
tlic only male members of the family Ihat ever came 
to America. Tbe former was a youth of eighteen 
years when he landed on these shores. He at first 
lived in Chesterfield Township, where several Eng- 
lish families had previously' located. He had no 
means at that time and sougiit employment on a 
farm. He worked by the monlli a few years, and 
during that time wisely saved his earnings so that 
he might invest in land and become independent. 
He final!>' gathered together enough to piircliase a 
quarter-section of timbered land in Barr Township, 
on which was a small frame house built entirely of 
oak and black walnut lumber. Mr. Gelder com- 
menced at once the pioneer work that lay before 
him of evolving a farm from the wilderness, but 
while he was thus busily engaged death cut short 
his career in 1864, and a loyal and useful citizen 
was lost to his township. 

By the untimely death of the father the mother 
cf our subject v/as left in limited circumstances 
with five children to care for, as follows: William 
II., Frank A., Mary A., Clara E. and Ada F. The 
maiden name of the mother was Mary Shearburn, 
and she was born in Yorkshire, England. Her 
father was Thomas Sliearburn, and he was also a 
native of Yorkshire. He emigrated to this coun- 
try with his family, and was a [lioneer of Barr 
Township, where he improved a good farm, upon 
which he resided nntil his decease. When a young 
man living in the old countiy he married Ann 
Bell, the daughter of an Episcopalian clergyman. 
Some years after the death of Mr. Gelder his widow 
married Henry Br.acewell, and now lives in Wayne 
County, Iowa. 

As soon as he was large enough our subject be 
gan to work for various parties to earn money to 
assist his mother in the support of the family. The 
little lad was but eight years old when he first 
sought and found employment, and was given $4 
a month for his services. Until he was eighteen 
years old he continued to work by the month, ex- 
ce[)t for a short time eai'h winter season, when he 
attended school. During that time he was a student 
in a school at I'ana, 111., two years. At the age 
mentioned he rented the home farm, and ilevoted 



himself to agricultural pursuits the following two 
years. At the age of twent}- he acce|)ted a position 
as clerk at Taylorville, in which cap.tcity he was 
engaged one year. 

At the expiration of that time deciding to adopt 
the profession of dentistry, Mr. Gelder began to 
l)repare himself for that vocation at Pana, under 
Dr. T. U. McCoy. He served an apprenticeship of 
two years without any remuneration so as to gain a 
thorough mastery of the details of the calling. He 
proved to be such a bright, apt pupil, that when 
his jireceptor went to Europe at the end of that 
time he placed such confidence in his ability that 
he left him in charge of his olHce. He remained 
in I'ana three years, and then came to P.almyra, 
which at that time was a small village of about 
three hundreil inhabitants, and he has since been in 
active practice here, and is meeting with merited 
success, as he applies himself closely to his profes- 
sion. He has a neat and well-fitted up oflice, amply 
supplied with all the modern appliances of dental 
surgery, and he keeps well abreast of the times in 
his methods of work. He possesses many frank 
and prepossessing qualities, is courteous and affable 
in his intercourse willi others, and with his amiable 
wife occupies a high social position among our best 
peojile. 

Dr. Gelder was married in 1882 to Miss Flora E. 
Gardner, a native of this county, and a daughter 
of John T. and Hester A. (Edwards) Gardner. 
Five children complete the ple.asant home circle of 
our subject and his wife: Frank G., Wilbur Max, 
Ola Rell, Isla, and an infant as yet unnamed. 

Our subject is now President of the Town Board, 
also of the School Board. 

(^ AVID STEAD. England has sent so many 
of her sons to this country', and they are 
almost alw.ays of so good a class of people, 
that we have come to look upon them as 
most desirable acquisitions in every community. 
To say that a man is an Englishman, is usually a 
pledge for his standing as a loyal American in all 
questions of equity and right. Our subject is not 




368 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRiiPHlCAL RECORD. 



only of English parentage bu( lie himself was born 
in the quaint portion of P^ugland, in which the dia- 
lect is so broad as to remind one of tlie variety in 
origin of its people. He was born in Yorkshire, 
November 22, 1829. Mr. Stead now is the owner 
of a fine farm located On section 10, of Nilwood 
Township. 

The parents of our subject were Benjamin and 
Martha (Taylor) Stead. Tliey were both natives 
of Yorkshire. The paternal grandfather of the 
original of our sketch was also Benjamin Stead. He 
lived and died in Yorkshire, England, having fol- 
lowed the calling of a f.irmer for the greater por 
tion of his life. David Stead's fatlicr emigrated to 
America early in the '40s, and at once settled in 
Nilwood Township, Macoupin County, where one 
year afterward his decease took place. His wife 
followed him in 1858. 

Of a family of eight children our subject was the 
fourth; his early education was received in his na- 
tive country, and he came to America with his 
father and settled with the family in Nilwood 
Township, July G, 1851. The next important event 
in his history was his marriage to Miss Mary A. 
Boston. She was born in Harrison Count}-, Ind., 
June 4, 1829. Her parents were Beverly and Eliza- 
beth (Boston) Boston. The former was a native 
of Virginia, and tlie latter of Kontuck}'. After 
their marriage they settled in Floyd County, ]nd. 
The father came to Macoupin County, in 18.33, the 
family following him a short time after. They 
settled in what is now Nilwood Township, where 
the mother died, September 7, 1851. The father 
died in September, 1853. They had ten children, of 
whom Mrs. Stead was the ninth. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of five 
children. They are Benjamin A., who is a farmer 
in Montgomcr}- County, this State; George N., who 
follows his father's calling in Nilwood Township; 
John H., who is an agriculturist, also of Nilwood 
Township; James D., who is also a farmer. The 
second chilil. William E. died in childhood. All 
of Mr. Stead'e life has been engaged in devotion to 
his agricultural pursuits. His farm of three hun- 
dred and twenty acres located most favorably is 
well improved and in a high st.«.te of cultivation. 
His residence i8 especially noticable, proclaiming 



its builder a man of taste as well as judgment. All 
the comforts and conveniences that give the people 
of the present day so much the advantage of those 
of years ago are to be found about the house. His 
townsmen have siiown their confidence in Mr. 
Stead's ability in executive matters, b}- appointing 
him a School Trustee. Both he and his wife are 
members of the Christian Church, in which the 
former has been an Elder for man}' years. Mrs. 
Stead is a woman whose amiability and charm of 
manner endear her to friends and commend her to 
acquaintances. A woman whose realm is in her 
f.araily life, but who always has a kind and encour- 
aging word for any one in trouble. She and her 
husband are generous and open hearted, and are 
counted among the progressive people of the town- 
ship. 

SSR^. 



'«! MLLIAM H. DEWS. One of the substan- 
\/-J// tial farmers of English origin is he who 
V^^ I'esides on section 34, Western Mound 
Township. The farm, which was originally that 
of his father, comprised six hundred acres of fine 
land and the present pro|)rietor cultivates it to the 
highest possible degree. Our subject's father was 
John Dews, who was born in Yorkshire, England. 
The mother was Sylvia (Morris) Dews, also a na- 
tive of Yorkshire. They, however, met and mar- 
ried in this country, Alton. Til., being the scene of 
their courtship and union. After their marriage 
they came to Macoupin County and settled in 
Western Mound Township, upon the farm which 
our subject at present occupies. Here the father 
died, December 18, 1888. 

Her gracious Majesty, Queen Victoria, has set 
licrsealof approval upon the rearing of large fam- 
ilies by offering a prize to the mother of the larg- 
est family of living children. This is not an 
individual opinion but rather shows the sentiment 
of the nation, for English families are, as a rule, 
larger than the families of American parents. Our 
subject's parents showed themselves to be true to 
the English idea by rearing a farail}' of ten chil- 
dren, of whom our subject was one of the junior 
members. His present home was his birthplace, 



#■' 






^^- 




1 



j" 5Att' 




y^'/'^- 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



371 



his natal day being March 20, 1852. Here lie wus 
re.Treil to manhood and has ever been a resident at 
tlie jilace wliere he is now owner. 

Our subject's father, John Dews, erected a Sne 
series of buildings upon his farm and at one tirac 
was the proud proi)rietor of one thousand acres of 
as good land as there was in the county. At pres- 
ent everything about the place indicates the careful 
and progressive farmer. The buildings are in beau- 
tiful order and meadows, paddocks and wood lots 
arc rieli with their respective productions. 

Our sul)ject is very popular among the people of 
his locality and has a turn for political life. His 
interest in the affairs pertaining to liis calling is 
shown by tiie prominent part that he takes in the 
Farmers' Alliance of this section. He h.as held the 
office of Justice of the Peace for four years and was 
Census Enumerator for Western Mound Township 
in 1890. Our subject's father was a member of the 
Kpisco|ial Ciiurch and tlic religious prcferenc'C of 
William Dews is in the same direction. 



'-->9-r>4{^- 



l->.1H^' 




^^^ R. J. P. BINNEY, who is now living a re- 
tired life, lesides on a fine farm of one liun- 
dred and sixty acres on section 3(j, Staun- 
ton Township. He is of English birlli 
and a native of Slieflield, Yorkshire, where he was 
born on the 3d of July, 1819. His parents were 
also Yorkshire people. At the early age of fifteen 
years, lie entered upon the study of medicine and 
surgery in Lancaster, England, under Dr. William 
I'rcscott, witii whom lie remained until his emigra- 
tion to America in the year 184 "2. 

Hearing very favorable reports of tiiis country 
anil the advantages it afforded young men. Dr. 
Binney determined to seek a iiome across tiie wat- 
ers and in the month of December of the year 
previously nicntioned, sailed from Liveipool. in 
one of the vessels of the Nortli Sea line, vvhicii was 
commanded by Capt. W3nn. After a long tedious 
voyage of nine weeks, anchor was di-opped in the 
harbor of New Orleans and the Doctor made his 
way ui) the Mississii)pi River to .St. Louis, proceed- 



ing to Macoupin County the same year. Here ho 
has resided continuously since and from the be- 
ginning has been numbered among the prominent 
and leading men in the count3'. 

Soon after his arrival Dr. Binney embarked in 
the practice of medicine and iiis skill and ability 
at once won him an excellent practice and lie was 
ranked high by his professional brethren. His 
patronage came from all over tiie country for miles 
around and he successfully and profitably engaged 
in the prosecution of his chosen profession until 
1888, when he retired to private life. He also de- 
voted a part of his time and attention to farming, 
and in this branch of his business also met with 
pros|)erity. His iiome farm now comprises a quar- 
ter section of valuable land, upon which are sub- 
stantial buildings and man}' excellent improve- 
ments. His residence is one of the finest and 
largest brick dwellings in the county and every- 
thing about the place is in keeping with his home. 
He also owns eigiit improved lots in New Douglas, 
III. 

In Madison Count}-, Dr. P.inney kil to tlie mar- 
riage altar Miss Martha L. Martin, one of the fair 
daughters of that county, where her parents, David 
and Mai tlia Martin, were early settlers. They came 
to Illinois from Kentucky in a very early day and 
located in Madison County, where the}' improved 
a farm upon which they spent the remainder of 
tlieir lives. Mrs. Binney received good educational 
advantages for tliat day and is an intelligent and 
cultured lady who has won many friends. She re- 
mained under the parental roof until she gave her 
hand in marriage to the Doctor, to wliom she has 
proved a true helpmate. Tliey have traveled life's 
journey togetiser for moie than forty years, labor- 
ing for their t'nutual good and tiieir lives have 
been blessed in man}' ways. Tiie greatest adver- 
sit}' wliich has come upon them is tlic loss of their 
tiiree children, John, Tliom.as and Bessie, all of 
whom died in cliildhood. In political sentiment, 
the Doctor is a Republican, but iiis business duties 
in former years were so manifold that he 
could not, if lie had desired, lake an active part 
in political affairs. He and liis wife are iuiml)ered 
among the most highly esteemed citizens of the 
county, where for almost half a century they have 



372 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



made their homo, and the confidence and good 
wishes of tlie coinmnnity are accorded them. 

In connection wi'h Ihis brief biographical review 
the reader will notice a litliographic portrait of Dr. 
Binney, whose lineaments will be thus perpetuated 
for coming generations. 



^- 




EVVIS F. BKCKER, of the firm of J. G. 
Becker & Son, contractors and Ijuilders, 
^, was born in .St. Louis, Mo., July 1, 1854. 
He is the eldest son of J. G. and Catherine Becker, 
of whom we read more in the father's sketch which 
precedes this. He was only seven years old when 
he came to ^'irden with his parents and here he 
attended the public school steadil3- untU he reached 
the age of fifteen. He then commenced work with 
his father at the carpenter's trade and when he 
reached his majority became a partner with his 
father in the firm. 

The marriage of Lewis Becker, and Miss Caro- 
line Bijor was solemnized February 1, 1877. The 
bride was born in Jcrseyville, 111., and is the 
daughter of Bernard and Martha .Bijor, both na- 
tives of Germany. Six children have come to the 
home of Mr. and Mrs. Becker, namely: Fred, Ota, 
Ada, Oscar, Annie and Carrie. Mr. Becker is a 
member of Virden Lodge No. 161, A. F. & A. M., 
in which he officiates as Past Master. He is a man 
of public spirit and ever read3' to promote the best 
interests of the community. He is a member of the 
Virden School Board and is now serving his second 
term as a member of the City Council. 



<jf] O H N Q. A D A M S . The gentleman of 
whom this sketch is written is one of the 
prominent residents of Bird Township, re- 
siding on section 16, where he has a fine 
farm adorned with handsome buildings. He is the 
youngest in a family of ten children. His father, 
Horatio Adams, and his mother, Siopha Muier, 
were natives of Kentuck3'. He was born in 



Bird Township, January- 13, 1842, and here he grew 
to manhood, receiving an ordinary district-school 
education and being trained in all the duties of a 
truly manly character. 

Devotion to country was not one of tlie least of 
the virtues which were instilled by his parents and 
when the time came that our nation was in peril, 
this brave bo}' responded to her call and enlisted 
August 9, 1862, in Company A, One Hundred and 
Twentj' second Illinois Infantry. He was about 
twenty-one j'ears old when he enlisted and he 
served until .Tuly, 1865, being mustered out of the 
service August 4 of that year. He took part in 
the condicts of Nashville, Tenn., Parker's Cross 
Roads, Tupelo, Miss., Town Creek, Ala., and the 
siege and capture of Mobile, and many smaller 
engagements. 

Notwithstanding his willingness to fight for his 
nation's honor, this young hero hailed with delight 
a return to the joys of home and the delights of 
peace. After his discharge he returned to Bird 
Township, which he has always made his homo, 
and where he has engaged in agricultural pursuits 
and stock-raising. Two hundred and thirty-seven 
acres sre comprised within the boundaries of Mr. 
Adams' farm, and upon it he has erected excellent 
and commodious farm buildings. 

The marriage of John t^. Adams with Par- 
thena Comer, a daughter of Aaron Comer, took 
place in Bird Township, September 27, 1867. This 
lady was born in this township, September 17, 1848. 
Ten children came to call her mother, namely : 
Eva M., who is the wife of Thomas Chiles; Etta 
L., who married Albert Loveless, and eight little 
ones who died in infancy. Mrs. Parthena Adams 
was called away from earth November 15, 1885. 
She was a devout member of the Baptist Church 
and a faithful wife and mother. The second mar- 
riage of Mr. Adams was solemnized in McLean 
Countj', September 5, 1889, and he was then united 
with Mrs. Amanda (Purvis) Hoblit, a daughter of 
Allen and Angeline Purvis, and the widow of 
Francis M. Hoblit, who died in Florida, January 
' 28, 1883. Mrs. Amanda Adams was born in Ten- 
nessee, March 24, 1843, and she became the mother 
of six children by Mr. Hoblit: Dora A., William 
A., Aurilla M, John E., Kate and James A. The 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHiCAL RECORD. 



373 



citizens of tiiis lownsliip liave twice shown their 
appreciation of >Ir. Adains and Ih'jir confidence in 
his educational views, by placing him upon the 
Koaid of vSchool Directors and he has been serving 
in that capacity for nine j'ears. The fanning inter- 
ests arc dear to him and lie lias identified himself 
as a member of the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Asso- 
ciation, believing that this is the best organization 
for protecting the rights of the agricultural [leople. 
The Baptist Churcli receives the lo^'al allegiance 
of our subject and in it he is a power for good. 



Z -' > 'l' f% '-'- 

^ JOSEPH LINK, M. D., is a young pliysician 
of undoubted talent and liberal education 
who lias already acquired a high reputation 
among his patients in C'arlinville, where he 
is locatcil, and elsewhere, for his skill and success 
in comliating the various diseases to which man- 
kind is heir. He is a native of this countj', son of 
John Joseph Link, a well-known resident of this 
citj-, who was for many 3ears actively engaged 
in agricultural pursuits in this county, but is now 
living in retirement, though he still retains his 
faun. 

The father of our subject was born in Baden, 
Germany, May 3, 1824, a son of John Lorenz 
Link, who was a native of the same country as 
himself. His father, the great-grandfather of our 
subject, was a farmer and spent his entire life in 
tlie Fatherland. The grandfather of our subject ' 
was reared on a farm. At tlie age of seventeen he 
was pressed into the army, and served under Napo- 
leon I. He also passed his whole life in Ger- 
many, giving his attention to fanning after he 
left the army. The maiden name of his wife was 
Annie Mary Mussig, and she was also a life-long 
resident of Germanj'. She was the mother of 
five children — Frank, John J., RLaggie, Ann Mary 
and Lorenz. 

The father of our subject and his sister Mary 
were the only members of the family to come to 
America. The former was reared in the land of 
his nativity and in the German schools received 
an excellent education. After he left school he 



devoted his time to farm labor. He was ambitions 
to see something of the world, and desirous to 
avail himself of the many superior advantages of- 
fered to capable, eiieigetic, self-reliant young men 
by the fertile s:iil and genial climate of the AVest- 
ern prairies of the United States, he therefore 
set sail in May, 18')4, from Havre for this land 
of promise, and landed at New York on our Na- 
tional holiday, fort^'-four days later. He immedi- 
ately made his way to Illinois, and after staying 
two weeks in Chicago, he came to this count}'. 
When he arrived he found himself a stranger in a 
strange land with no money in his pockets. But 
he was willing and able to work, and he at once 
procured employment on a farm at ?'1.25 a day 
during the harvest season. After that he had to 
content himself with ^12 a month, but even with 
those small wages he managed to save mone}- 
enough to become indeiiendent. as he was frugal 
and prudent, and in time he was able to buy one 
hundred acres of good land in Honey Point Town- 
ship at $25 an acre. There was a small house and 
stable on the place and fifty acres of land were 
under tillage. Busy years of persi.-tent and well- 
directed toil followed, in which he made many 
valuable improvements, so that his farm became 
a fine piece of property. He made it his dwelliug- 
pl.ace until 1889, when he rciited it on good terms, 
and coming to Carlinville, has lived in retirement 
in this city ever since. He bought a home, pleas- 
antly located on the corner of Pine and Plum 
Streets. It is a coJimodious brick house, and here 
he enjoys all the comforts of life, free from care 
and labor. 

The parents of our subject were married in 
1859. His mother bore the maiden name of Kate 
Roether. She was born in Itavaria, and was a 
young lady when she came to America. She is 
the mother of the following children: Adam, a 
resident of Litchfield; John, who lives at Carlin- 
ville; August J., a resident of Chicago; Frank J., 
who carries on the drug business in Chicago; 
Laurenz, a resident of Carlinville; William, a resi- 
dent of St. Louis; Alois and Clara, twins, living at 
home with their parents; Albert and Antlion}-, also 
at home, the four latter attending school; and 
Maggie, who died at the age of one year. 



374 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Dr. Link was given fine advantages for a sound 
education and received his early instruction in 
the public schools of his mtive township. He 
subsequently pursued a thorough course of study 
at the Wesleyan Seminary at Bloomington, where 
he laid a solid foundation for his professional 
studies. He began to read medicine at the age of 
eighteen, with Dr. Long as his preceptor. He 
made a rapid advance in his pui'suit of knowledge 
and in due time entered the Cliicago Medical Col- 
lege, from which institution he was graduated 
with a good rank for scholarship in 1890. After 
graduation he opened an otlice at Carlinville, and 
is steadily gaining a lucrative practice, applying 
himself closely to his professional duties, still find- 
ing opportunity to keep himself vvell informed on 
current medical topics, keeping abreast of tlie 
times as to new methods of treatment, and win- 
ing golden opinions from his older medical breth- 
ren. On the lOlh of June, 1891, Dr. Link was 
married to Miss Lina M. Michel, of St. Louis. 




!)HOMAS J. TURNER. It is a truism that 
early oliservatiun and discipline make so 
indelible an impression on the after life as 
to give it its whole tone. Our subject, who is a 
farmer, owning and residing on one hundred and 
twenty acres on section 1 1, North Otter Township, 
was born and reared on a farm in England, where 
agriculture is carried on as a science, and llie earth 
is made to yield the fullest possible amount. Al- 
though he left his native land while yet a lad, the 
aspect of the iiome farms and their methods of cul- 
tivation he brought with him to this couuti'Vi and 
his own farm bears evidence of his early impres- 
sion. 

Our subject's father was Thomas Turner, who 
was born in Yorkshire, Klngland. His mother was 
Mar^' Ann (Sampson) Turner, born in the town of 
Hull, Yorkshire, England. Mrs. Turner, our sub- 
ject's mother, died in her native shire about 1851, 
and her husband afierward married a sister of his 
first wife, by name Charlotte Sampson. The father 
with his family emigrated to America in June, 



1865, with the intention of remaining, but he either 
experienced unusual difficulty in becoming acclima- 
ted or was suffering from some incipient disease, 
and because of illness he returned with his wife the 
following October to his native land, where they 
remained until their death, he passing away in July, 
1884. His wife, Charlotte Tu-ner, died July 9, 
about 1875. 

Our subject's father w.as a farmer by occupation 
and his children were brought up wiih a knowledge 
of that calling. There were five children by the 
first marriage. Our sul)ject was the youngest child, 
being born in Yorkshire, England, July 22, 1849, 
and remaining there until fourteen years of age, at 
which time he came to this country with his par- 
ents. He remained in this count}' after his par. 
ents returned to England, making his home with 
the late Capt. Gelder, in Chesterfield Township for 
a period of two years. At that time he came to 
Virden Township and lived for one year with John 
Gel.ler. 

In the spring of 1868 Mr. Turner rented some 
land in Sangamon County. Here he remained for 
one year and then in company with his brother 
William Turner, rented some land three miles from 
his present location. After this he paid a visit to 
his parents and friends in England, remaining dur- 
ing the winter of 1871-72. He returned in the 
spring of 1872, and has ever since been a resident 
of North Otter Townshif) with the exception of 
about two years s|)cnt in California. He made a 
trip to the Pacific Coast in October, 1882, and re- 
turned in July, 1884. While there he was engaged 
in farming and in the mercantile business, and buy- 
ing and selling grain. Farming, however, has been 
his chief business in life, and the tract of land 
whereon he is at present located bears evidence of 
incessant v/ork and intelligent improvement. 

Mr. Turner was married in North Otter Town- 
ship. February 11, 1873, his wife's maiden name 
being Anna J. Chamberlin, a daughter of Nathan 
and Lorette (Twitchell) Chamberlin. Mi-s. Turner 
was born in the county in which. she was married 
April 11, 1853. She and her husband are the par- 
ents of three children — Mary L., George N. and 
Lena L. Mr. and Mrs. Turner are progressive peo- 
ple, having great faith in the possibilities of the 



^lli^iis 




RESIDENCE OF PHILIP 5CH EU RER _, SEC. 14. , BR I GHTOt-l TP., MACOUPIN CO,, ILL. 




RESIDENCE OF THOMAS J. TURNER SEC. 11., NORTH OTTER TR, MACOUPIN CO., ILL. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



377 



future. lie has been appointed School Director of 
iiis (listiict, ill vviiich capacity he has (lone ellicient 
service. Both are uienibers of the iMethodist Epis- 
copal Ciiurch. 

Elsewhere in this volume may be found a view 
of the commodious residence wiiere Mr. and JMrs. 
Turner are comfortably domiciled. 



-^^-^^t^i^^ik^tiff^^^^ 




lULlV SCHEURER, who is engaged in 
general farming on sections 14 and 15, 
Brighton Township, is one of the woilliy 
German citizens of the count}'. He was 
born in Nassau, August 25, 1836, and is a son of 
Christian and Catherine (Meichael) Soheurer.' Un- 
der the parental roof Philip was reared to man- 
hood and in his native tongue acquired a good 
education, such as fits one for the practical duties 
of life. On attaining his majority when he felt it 
time to begin life for himself, he decided to make 
America the scene of his future labors and in .Sep- 
tember, 1857, sailed from Havre, France, reaching 
New Orleans in December following. Boarding a 
river vessel he came up the Mississippi to Alton, 
and thence to Brighton, where he h.as since ii ade 
his home. He had no capital, in fact had borrowed 
$40 with which to pay the expenses of the journey 
but he possessed a resolute will, a strong right arm 
and a determination to succeed. He began as a 
farm hand and as soon as he had acquired some 
capital m.ade purchase of land and developing a 
good farm has since been numbei'ed among the 
leading agriculturists of the county. 

After ten jears Mr. Scheurer went back to his 
native land on a visit and on his return to his 
home brought with him his |)arents who cont'nued 
to reside with their son until their deaths. The 
father, who was born in 17i)8, died in 1883, and 
the mother who was born in 1811, died in 1885. 
They were members of the German Lutheran 
Church and held in high esteem by all who knew 
them. Mr. Scheurer at once resumed his farming 
operations and developed the wild i)rairie into rich 
and fertile flelds. He now has one hundred and 



sixt}' acres of arable land under a high state of 
cultivation besides considerable tiudjer land. 

Mr. Scheurer has been twice married. In Brigh- 
ton 'I'ownship he was joined in wedlock with Emma 
Did, who was born in (Jermany and when a child 
came to this country with her (larents, where she 
was reared. She died in 18C5, when not quite 
twenty years of age, in the faith of the Catholic 
Church of which she was a member. One child 
was born of her marriage, who died before his 
second birthday'. Mr. Scheurer was afterward 
united in marriage in Madison County with Miss 
Margaret Fiinfer, also a native of Germany, who 
came alone to this country in 18G7. Her parents 
spent their entire lives in the Fatherland. By this 
union have been born seven (children and tlie fam- 
ily circle yet remains unbroken. They are as fol- 
lows: Henry, Frank, Anna, Mary, Philip, Louisa 
and Rosa. The parents are both members of the 
Lutheran Church and in the social world thej' hold 
an enviable position, while throughout this com- 
munity their friends are many. In politics, Mr. 
•Scheurer is a Democrat, having voted with that 
party for man}' years. 

On another pnge a|)pears a view of the home- 
stead of Mr. .Scheurer, which is ju.-^tly considered 
one of the linest in the community, the im|)rove- 
ments on it speaking volumes for the thrift and en- 
terprise of the owner. 

ILF L. SCHMIDT. The successful gen- 
eral farmer who is located on section 27, 
Gillespie Township, is the gentleman whose 
name heads this sketch. He has lived on 
his farm in the above-mentioned township for the 
past three j'ears, and he also owns a line farm of 
two hundred and thirt3-one acres, most of wliicli 
is well improved and well stocked; it also has very 
good farm buildings. He formerly owned and lived 
on another farm in this townsliip. 

Mr. Schmidt came to this county in 186;), and 
has ever since lived in Gilles|)ie Township, hav- 
ing improved tlie [)ropcrty which he has owned to 
a very great degree. Twenty years ago our sub- 




378 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ject was a poor, laboring man. He was born in tlie 
rrovince of llaiiovei, Germany, April 18, 1853. 
He grew up and was educated in his native coun- 
try and prides himself that he comes from a good 
long-lived race of pco|)le. His father w.as born 
and reared in Hanover, where he operated a small 
farm, and there lived until the fall of the year 1890, 
when he came to the United States and at once to 
Illinois, joining his sous in theii home. The father 
is no^ seventy-nine years of age, having nearly 
reached that age when he crossed the ocean. He is 
still hale and hearty and anticipates with great pleas- 
ure the return voyage in a few months. He likes 
the new country, but feels that he is too far 
advanced in life to learn the language and ways 
of the land. He is a member of the lyiitheran 
Churcii and all his life has been char.acterized by 
a simi)licity of action, justness of purpose and the 
greatest kindness of heart. Our subject's mother 
was a Hanover lady, her maiden name being Han- 
nah Meyer. She lived all her life in her native 
province, where she died in 1871, being at the 
time three score years of age. She also was a 
member of the Lutheran Church. She was the 
mother of six children, of whom oursul)ject is the 
fourth in order of birth ; two sous and one daughter 
are still living. Our subject and two brothers, 
Mona G. and Henry H., came to this country, the 
former of whom now lives in Sheridan County, 
Neb., at Hayes S|)rings, where he is a farmer; the 
latter died after his arrival in this country. His 
decease took place in Gillespie Township and 
count}'. 

Our subject was the first of his family to leave 
the Fatherland. He took passage from Bremen on 
the steamer "Bremen," leaving the harbor May 
2G, 1869. After his landing in New York City 
he came on immediately to this county and town- 
ship. Mr. Schmidt was soon afterward married 
in this place to Miss Joanna D. Heien, who was 
born in Hanover, Germany, April 4, 1851, being 
only a few months old when her parents, William 
and Doratere (Schoeling) Helen, came to this 
country, leaving Bremen in the latter part of the 
j-ear 1851, and landing in New Orleans. Li coming 
North they ascended the Mississippi River to Al- 
ton, where they lived for some time and then 



came on to Macoupin County, where they settled 
in Gillespie Townshii). The father procured one 
hundred and sixty acres, upon which he made 
many improvements, and upon which both par- 
ents died, being comparatively joung people at 
the time of their deaths. The mother died five 
years after coming to this country and the father 
some years later. Like most of their countrymen, 
they were members of the Lutheran Church. 

Mrs. Schmidt, the wife of our subject, is the sec- 
ond of five children and the onl}' one now living 
of the children born to her mother, the father 
having had other children by another marriage. 
Mrs. Schmidt was reared and educated in this 
country. She is the mother of seven children, 
two of whom died at an earl}' age, namely : 
William and Jessie. Her living children are: 
Anna, Dora T.. Fiiiz M., Wickie L. and Minnie, all 
of whom are living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt 
and the members of their family arc attendants 
upon and members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. 
Schmidt is a Democrat in politics and a member 
of the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association. 



^ ^r^'^' 



TTO F HINTZ. A member of the firm of 
Hiulz Bros., dealers in fresh and salt meats 
and buyers and shippers of live stock, whose 
place of business is located on Warren Street, is the 
gentleman of whom we give a brief history. He 
has been doing business at his present location for 
many years. It was formerly known as the old 
meat market, first established by an older brother, 
Ernest, now deceased, who opened it in 1870, and 
was therewith connected until 1889. The business 
has since been conducted by our subject and his 
brother Charles, the latter 0|)erates in another shop 
on the same street. Mr. Ilintz has been an active 
partner in the business since 1882, and had, prior 
to that time, been connected with the work of the 
business since 1871. He is an expert carver of 
meats, and is well acquainted with his trade, hav- 
ing grown up in it and owning a perfectly-equipped 
shop. 

As his name would indicate, he is of German 



rORTRAlT AND BlOGllArHlCAL RECORD. 



37'J 



parentage, being born in Ilolslein, German}', Octo- 
ber 6, 1855. Here lie grew up aod reeeiveil his 
education, while uiuler liie roof of his father and 
mother. Like many other foreigners, America 
seeming to offer gohlen promises, the fatiier and 
mother willi other members of the family set out 
on the long journey across the "three thousand 
miles of wet" and in the spring of 1871, taking 
[lassage on a German steamer at Hamburg, after 
a stormy passage of near!}' three weeks, they landed 
in New York fit)-, and came thence to Bunker 
Hill, where he lias ever since resided. During this 
time he has made one trip back to Europe to his 
native home. He is a ^oung man and possesses all 
the sterling qualities that make the people of his 
nation so successful and respected wherever they 
may go. For a full history of his family see bio- 
graphical sketch of Charles H. A. Hintz. 

Our subject, who is a bachelor, has proved him- 
self a true American citizen by the interest that he 
takes iu affairs municipal and national. No paper 
or petition would be complete without his name. 
He is a member of the German Guttenberg Lodge, 
D. O. II., No. 402, of Bunker Hill, and has tilled 
all the chairs in his lodge. In politics he is a strong 
Republican. 



-^1= 



=M!=^E 



\fp*^i ANSOM L. TWITCHELL. Our subject is 
a substantial farmer in the county, owning 
one hundred and sixty acres on section 5, 
"^p North Otter Township. He is the son of 
Sidney L. Twitchell of Virdeu, whose history will 
be found under the sketch of S. L. Twitchell. The 
original of our sketch is one of a familj- of Ave 
children, he being the second, and w.as born in 
North Otter Township, January 13, 1855. He re- 
mained at home until he reached manhood, receiv- 
ing the advantages common among the farmer 
boys of that district. 

April 17, 1879, gur subject was united in mar- 
riage in North Otter Township to Miss Luora A. 
Kable, a daughter of James Kable, of North Otter 
Township, for whose history see sketch of James 
Kable on another page. Mrs. Twitchell was born 



in Miami County, Ohio. October 15, 185G. Her 
parents removed I) this .State during her early 
maidenhood and settled on a farm here. .She at- 
tracted our subject by her liright winning ways and 
housewifely capabilities and the}' have been very 
liappj- in their union. 

Five children have come to break the stillness of 
the family home. They are Edith S., Raleigh J., 
Eula M., Charles S. and Harry A. All are living 
and are children of whom their parents may well 
be proud. Mr. Twitchell has been School Director 
of the district. In politics he is a Republican. 



-^^ 



jl^~7?REDERICK CHRLSTIAN KEl'NE. Many 
iJr:^ of the best and most reliable citizens of 
X Macoupin County did not have their na- 

tivit}- iu this land, but being of foreign birth and 
parentage and having come to this country to bel- 
ter their fortune* and provide more generouslv for 
their children, they have adopted America fully 
as their home and have aided freely in building 
up our American institutions and promoting the 
prosperity of the community in which they live. 
Among these there are none more industrious, 
more frugal and more enterprising than our Ger- 
man-American citizens, .and Mr. Keune, who is 
residing on section 6, .Shaw's Point Township, is a 
worth}- example of his class. His push, pluck and 
perseverance have earned for him a handsome 
property, including a six hundred-acre farm and 
a fine brick house, and his intelligence leads him to 
thoroughly understand the genius of American in- 
stitutions so as to work in harmony with his fellow- 
citizens. 

Our subject was born in Germany, December 
7, 1816. There he grew to manhood and under- 
took the business of life. Louisa Kasten, to whom 
he was united in marriage in their native home, 
was born in Germany in September, 1818, being 
thus two years younger than her husband. Their 
union was solemnized iu Germany, April, 1842, and 
a few years later, in the fall of 1852. they wer(! con- 
vinced that they might better their fortunes by 
coming to America. They had not been in this 



380 



I'ORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



country longboforc they came to Macoui)in County 
null made a settlement in Shaw's Point Township, 
where their lionie lias lieen from tliat date to tliis. 
Five of the nine ehiiiiren wiio blessed this union 
are still ui)on earth, namely: Louisa, T-ena, Henry, 
Kmnia and Amelia. Tiie other children died when 
quiteyo'ing. Upon the rich prairie lands of Illinois 
Mr. Keune has wrought out a fortune and has ac- 
cumulated a property of which any man may well 
feel proud. His farm consists of between five and 
si.x hundred acres, besides valuable properly in Car- 
linville. He has made a thorough sUi<ly of |)oliti- 
cal matters and his judgment has led him to ally 
himself with the Kepublican party. To the Ger- 
man Lutheran Church bo'li Mr. and Mrs. Keune 
are attachi d. 



■■^■•i-J--#--'— *- 



j^EORGK P. IIOLLIDAV. 'riie genial pro- 
^^^ jirietipr of the farm locateil on section 10, 
North Otter Townshi|), is he whose name 
heads this sketcli. His father is Arthur I), and his 
mother .Vmaiula .1. (Orr) Hollid^iy. A sketch will 
be found of Mrs. HollMay's family in another part 
of tills volume. Our subject was early a half or- 
phan, his mother dying early in the 't'>Os. His 
father had by this marriage seven children, of 
whom our subject is the fifth. 

Mr. Holliday was born in North Otter Township 
March 5, 18o:l He here grew io manhood and has 
.spent the greater portion of his life, being absent 
only three or four years, when he was engaging in 
the stock business. A farmer by inheritance, nat- 
ural aptitude and ability, he has devoted himself 
to this the greater part of his life and has made of 
it a i)oin'ed success. 

Jlr. Holliday finds stock-raising a more lucra- 
tive business than the following of some special 
line in agriculture and that with general farming 
occupies his time and attention. On coming here 
with his father, oui' subject settled on about six 
hundred acres of land and there made the home to 
which he afterward brought his young wife. Oc- 
tober 12, 1876, he was married to Miss RLutha K. 



Crane, daughter of Albert S. and Mary (Armstrong) 
Crane. Mrs. Holliday was born in tJreene County, 
ni., October 15. 1855. 

Mrs. Holliday presides with much grace and 
dignity over the commodious home that her hus- 
baml has built on their beautiful farm. Holh 
hospitable and entertaining, no more desirable place 
can lie found at whicli to spend an agreeable vaca- 
tion than with the pleasant couple whom it is our 
pleasure to chronicle in this sketch. 



^fl^iC 



i- 



Vl 



OHN W. LIND, a general farmer, residing 
on section ;?1. (4illesi)ie Township, owns a 
good farm of one hundred and twenty-five 
acres, all under imi)rovenient. It was in 
August, 1874. that he purchased and :noved upon 
this farm having come here frtim Jersey County, 
this State, to which he had removed with his par- 
ents ten years previously from Macou|)in County. 
Our subject was born in Nassau. (Jermany, Aiiril 
111, 1844, and was eight years old when his parents, 
.lacol) and Catherine (Sawyer) Lind left the 
Fatherlanil. taking (lassage with their family at 
Rotterdam, and setting sail' for New York City, 
which tri|) the}' made in thiec weeks. Ucaching 
New York City, the father, mother and three chil- 
dren, journeyed to Cincinnati. 

About eighteen nmnths later the family I'ame (.)n 
to this county, and settled upon a farm near Hrigh- 
ton. Here they resided for some years and then 
removed to Jersey County, where the father died 
at the age of seventy-four years. The mother, 
who still survives, now lives with her children in 
Madison County, III. .She is now seventy years of 
age and is, as was her husband, an at'tive member 
of the tierman Lutheran Chuich. Our suliject was 
reared u|)on a farm and before he grew to manhood 
accepted the life of a farmer as his vocation. 

Miss Anna Dchue, who was born in the Province 
of Hanover, in Prussia, (iermany. June 18, 185'2, 
became the wife of John ^V. Lind, in Hrighton 
Township, this county. December 1, 1872. She is 
the daughterof Frank and Fredricka (Hauchmann) 
Dehne. natives of the Ivingdom of Bavaria, Tliey 





CriAyr^ 




^^A.^-^.^^C^I^'^y^ 



O4<^o, ^ay,M 



CtA-'(/\X^ 



PORTRAIT AND HJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



383 



livorl in tlieir native home until 1858. and then 
ftnii^ratcfl •»itli tlieir family to the Cnited Stales, 
and settled on a farm in Brigiiton Township, this 
county. ThP3- arc now living on the original farm 
which they took upon reaching this county, and 
while not old people, are beginning to get on in 
years, lieing fifty -eight and si.Kty-three years of age, 
respectively. 'J'he}' are members of the German 
Methodist Church, at Brighton. Mrs. Lind is the 
eldest of eight children of her parental home. Two 
of this number were born in Germany, and six in 
this county, and all of them are now living. Mrs. 
Lind is true hearted and capable, and is .nn excel- 
lent helpmate to her husband, and a faithful and 
nffcctionatt^ mother to her five children. One in- 
fant, Bertha hy name has been called from earth, 
and the children who still brighten this home arc 
George F. E., Fenliiiand K., Lena C. R., and K. C. 
Miranda. This family are faithful attendants upon 
the services of the Lutheran Church, and Mr. Lind's 
political views are expressed in the declarations of 
the Democratic party. 



^f?BRAM B. PARKE is tiie owner of a tine 
iRSO farm of ninety acres sitnated on sections 
111 21 and 28, Staunton Township, where he 
has made his home since 1875. Ail of the 
conveniences of the model farm are there seen and 
tlie neat appearance of the place gives evidence of 
tlic thrift anrl industry of tlie owner. He was born 
in W.ashington, Warren County, N. .1., December 
24, 1819, and is a son of .John Parke, a native of 
Hunterdon County. His grindfathor Ozias Parke, 
was a native of Maryland, where he grew to man- 
hood upon a farm, removing thence to Hunterdon 
County, N. J. There he spent the remainder of 
his life, dying at the very advanced age of nlnet}'- 
five years. He served for a short time in the Rev- 
olutionary War. 

The father of our subject w.as a member of the 
militia organized for home protection during the 
AVar of 1812. He married a New Jersey lady, 
Charlotte Bryan, and they lived in that State until 
1852, when with their children they crossed the 



mountains with teams and located in Ohio. Some 
3'cars later they came to HIinois but after two years 
John Parke returned to the Buckeye State, where 
he passed away at the age of seventy-flve years. 
His wife, however, remained in Illinois with her 
children and died at the home of her son Abram in 
Moultonville, Madison County, at a ripe old age. 
She was a member of the Presb3-terian Chcrcli and 
an excellent lady whom all loved. 
I Of the parental family one sister now resides in 
I Brooklyn, N. Y., the other in Chicago. In the 
I county- of his nativity*. Abram Parke spent the 
days of his boyhood and youth but was married in 
Morris Countj-, N. J., the lady of his choice being 
Miss .Sarah A. Hoffman, who was born in that 
county, October 31, 1816. She is of German de- 
scent and is a daughter of Nicholas and Anna 
(Youngs) Hoffman, n.itives of New Jerse3', who 
lived upon a farm in that State from their marriage 
until death. Both passed awa3' when about sevent3'- 
five 3'ears of age. The maternal grandfather of 
Mrs. Parke, William Youngs, was a soldier of the 
Revolutionar3- War and participated in man3- hard 
fought battles. . 

On leaving New Jersey Abram Parke removed 
with his famil3- to Ohio, where he spent eight vears. 
He then came to Illinois and for fourteen years re- 
sided u|)on a farm in Olive Township. Mailison 
Count3', near Moultonville. The 3'ear 1875 wit- 
nes.sed his arrival in Macoupin Count3- and since 
that time he has resided upon his present farm, 
being owner at one time of one hundred and twenty 
acres, but he has since disposed of thirt3' acres. He 
is industrious and lias led a busy and useful life, 
paying little atieiiliuii to public or political affairs, 
but laboring uiitiringi3' for the interests of his 
famil3'. 

For almost lialf a centuiy Abram and Anna 
Parkes have traveled life's journey together and to 
their lot have fallen both adversity and prosperity, 
but in the main their efforts have been blessed with 
success. The3' have reared a family of seven chil- 
dren but three are now deceased, namel3': Mar3' J. 
became the wife of William Crook, and died 
, leaving one daughter, Alice, now Mrs. Bumgartner 
I of Sedalia, Mo.; E. Maria who wedded William F. 
I Pell and ni her death left four children — Ruby M., 



384 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAFHICAL RKCORD. 



Lillie G., Katie J. and James A.; Elias died wlien 
about twenty-one years of age. Four cbildren 
survive; Cliailotte M. is now the wife of Georsje 
W. Hamel, auctioneer and cleric of Lebanon, Mo., 
and they have five children — Lizzie, Jessie, Lula 
H., Georgia and Charles. John who is engaged in 
farming in Olive Township, Madison County, 
married Elizabeth Tabor, who died leaving four 
children, Stella M., C. M., George H. and Albert. 
Wesley, who is living on a farm in Staunton Town- 
ship, wedded Amanda Coalson, by whom he has 
three children — Grace B., Myrtle and Clarence. 
Louisa is the wife of Albert Davis, and they reside 
on the old homestead farm. Three children grace 
their union — Harry A., Arthur G. and Ethel A. 

Mr. and Mrs. Parke are members of the Presby- 
terian Church of Staunton. He is a member of the 
Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association and in politi- 
cal sentiment alliliates with the Prohibition party. 
His portrait is presented elsewhere in this volume. 



i^E 




It.^ ENRV BRINKMAN. Among the promi- 
nent .and leading citizens of Shaw's Point 
Township, our rer.ders will be pleased to 
peruse a sketch of Mr. Brinknian, who made 
liis mark in JIacoupin County, and has been an ef- 
ficent factor in promoting its interests. He is of 
German birth and his earlier education was taken 
in his native land, but he came to America before 
he had grown to manhood. 

Mr. Brinkman's natal day was January 14, 1842. 
He was ten years old whtu his parents migrated to 
the New World and he accom|)anied them, eager to 
see a new country and to learn new ways. Ma- 
coupin County was the scene of his youth and 
early manhood and here he has made his home 
since 1853, and here he has engaged in farmin^j- 
with success. He owns one hundred and eighty 
acres upon which he has made good improve- 
ments. 

The subject of our sketch was married in Carlin- 
ville, ni., March 29, 1869, his bride being Kather- 
ine C. Kasten. This lady was born in St. Louis, 
Mo., November 26, 1851. She brought to her 



husband eight children, six of wjiom are living and 
are a joy and a comfort to their parents. Their 
names are August, Mary, Mena, Frederick, Lolla 
and Otto. Two little ones passed away in infancy. 
Upon March 20, 1890. Mrs. Brinkman was sud- 
denly stricken with heart disease and drupped 
dead. She was a useful woman and an active 
member of the German Lutheran Church to which 
Mr. Brinkman is .also attached. His political views 
have led liim to affiliate witli the Democratic party 
:mi\ he believes that its platform embodies the prin- 
eiijles which will carry this country to a successful 
issue of its jicrplexitics and problems. 



^^ 




GEORGE E. GOODHEAD. No men have a 
greater opportunity to wield a broad and 
permanent influence over the minds and 
lives of their fellow-citizens, nor a grander oppor- 
tunity to exercise an educative power in the com- 
munity than the uewspai)er men of our country 
towns and small cities. The preacher of the press 
is more sure of an audience than the pi'eacher of the 
pulpit and if his efforts are in the right line he has 
an opportunity to do great good and to acquire a 
genuine ascendancy over the minds of his hearers. 
Among the newspaper men of Southern HIinois, 
who are doing genuine goo<l work in the line of 
publishing a first-class newspaper, we are pleased 
to mention the name which appears at the head of 
this paragraph. 

Our subject was born M.ay 5, 1856, in the then 
very sparsely settled Northwest, where his fatlier 
was a trader among the Sioux and Pottawattomie 
Indians. His father, Joseph Goodhead, now de- 
ceased, was a native of Vienna, Austria, where from 
the age of six years he w.as educated in a Jesuit 
monastery, being designed by his ijarents for the 
priesthood, which, when he had arrived at the age 
of maturity he renounced. He married Elizabeth 
Auerswald, a native of Prague, Bohemia, who is 
now a resident of Westport, a suburb of Kans.as 
City. 

When George E. Goodhead was eighteen years 
of age he turned his attention in the direction of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



385 



newspaper work, and having removed with his par- 
ents to Griggsville, 111., he started a paper there, 
which he called the Cjommercial Achwi-'iscr, but the 
young man had hardly attained sufficient age and 
experience to make a success of so dubious a pro- 
ject as starting a new paper, and the life of tl:is pa- 
per was brief. He devoted himself to otlier lines 
of business for some time after tuis and waited for 
more age and experience before again putting forth 
an independent venture. In 1880, having made 
his home in Perry, 111.-, he established in June the 
weekly Transcript, waich he carried on for over 
three years with good success, but a great disas- 
ter befell him, as his establisliment was, November 
19, 1883, destroyed by fire. He sustained a total 
loss of the whole business to the amount of $1,600, 
with no insurance. He had thirty-live cents in his 
[Kicket and with this capital he commenced his bus- 
iness anew. Thanks to a good commercial stand- 
in-^, he had a new outfit on the road within ten 
days and at once resumed publication. In June, 
1886, he removed to Franklin, 111., but remained 
there only until the beginning of 1890, when he 
transferred his business to Palmyra, where he is now 
publishing the weekly Transcript., enjoying a lucra- 
tive newspaper and job patronage. 

He was united April 25, 1884, to Miss Mame A. 
LaRuc at Perry. Three children have crowned 
this union: G. Emmet, now seven years old; a 
bal)y who died in infancy; and Retta, who has now 
reached tlie charming age of four years. 



-^1= 






^s=:^ AMUEL L. BOYD. Nature has sometimes 
^^^ been accused of i)artiality in endowing 
lf\^^ some of her childien more richly tlian 
^*=^ others with those qualifications which in- 
sure tliera success in life, but when such provision 
supplements the disailvantages of a lack of educa- 
tion and means, everyone must rejoice at such en- 
dowment. The subject of this sketch was in very 
early life thrown upon his own resources for sup- 
port, and his advantages for an education were ex- 
tremely limited, but he was more fortunate than 
many in being possessed of excellent judgment 



and good sense and more than ordinary business 
ability, which iiave thus aided liim in making a suc- 
cess of life. 

Our subject was born in Garrard County, Ky., 
September 9, 1822. His father. Andrew Boyd, 
was a native of Pittsburg, Pa., and his grandfather, 
Moses Boyd, emigrated from Scotland to America 
and w.as one of the first settlers in Allegheny 
County, Pa. He was one of six brotliers that came 
to America and he died in the service of his 
adopted country during tlie War of American In- 
dependence. 

Andrew Boyd was reared to manhood in Penn- 
sylvania and removed from that State to Kentucky, 
thus becoming one of the [)ioueers of Garrard 
County. He was a blacksmith by trade and a man 
who did honor to liis business, as every conscien- 
tious worker must. He followed tiiis line of busi- 
ness for some years in Garrard County, whicli lie 
made his home until called away from earth in 
August, 1833. His wife's maiden name was Me- 
linda Foi'sythe and her native home was Lincoln 
County, Ky. She accompanied her children to 
Macoupin County, 111., where she died in 1866. 
Her six children are named Moses, Samuel L., 
Priscilla A. Elizabeth, Catherine, and James A. 

Samuel L. Boyd was only in his eleventh year 
when orphaned by tlie deatli of his father, and he 
became one of tlie main stays of his widowed 
mother, who was left in limited circumstances with 
six young children to care for and support. This 
brave boy at once went to work to assist in the 
support of the family and it is almost pitiful to re- 
late that in this brave endeavor he received, for 
for some lime only, the mere pittance of ten cents 
a day. After some years he obtained a situation 
as overseer on a plantation at l>7 a montli. He 
continued in that work until 1851, when he re- 
moved to Illinois where he was employed on a 
farm for eighteen months. He returned in Oc- 
tober, 1853, to Kentucky, and arranged for the re- 
moval of his mother and brothers. 

Our subject and his brother James formed a 
partnership to engage in farming. Their capital 
consisted of a team with wagon and harness, and 
§60 in cash. They rented land for a time in Scott- 
ville Township, and in 1861, were able to pur- 



386 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



chase. The first Iniul they ever owned was a tract 
of ninety acres for wliich tliey paid 12,200. The 
brothers continued in partnership until the death 
of .Tames, since nhicii time Samuel has continued 
alone. He now owns fifteen hundred and fifty 
acres of land, all in Macoui)in County. His happy 
marriage in October, 1885, united him with Caro- 
line Crook, a native of Western Mound Township, 
this county. This l.ady is a daughter of George 
W. and Eliza (Kinkaid) Crook. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Boyd have been granted three children who are at 
once the care and the joy of their parents. Tliev 
bear the names of May. James C, and Caroline. 
Mr. Boyd is one of tlie most successful business 
men of Scottvillc Township, and is a stockholder 
and one of the original movers in founding the 
Bank of Palmyra. 



L. 



LI L. HUPP. There must be a satisfaction 
and serene content to a man who has en- 
dured the privations and haidships of pio- 
neer life in a Western settlement, and who has 
known what it is to take his corn to mill at a dis- 
tance of man}- miles before lie could have flour to 
make his bread, and to take his crops to a distant 
market, where he found a sale for them at a verj' 
low price, to now enjoy the comforts and advan- 
tages of life at the present daj-, with its raiho.ad 
facilities, its com|)aratively liigli prices for farmers' 
jiroduce, and eas_v access to the commodities of life, 
and to know that he h.as been intrumental in 
effecting this change, for, although we m.a}- 
not all be railroad contractors, or even have 
had the means to build up communities, every 
individual effort helps to complete the perfect 
whole. 

Mr. Hupp, who lives on section 34, of -Sliipman 
Township, came into this country at a time when 
Lincoln still had his reputation to make, and be- 
fore there was any great metropolis to wiiich ihe 
products of the agriculturist could be sent and find 
a ready and lucrative market. Mr. Hupp's father 
was Philip Hupp, and his mother Phoebe (Johnson) 
Hupp. They came from Pennsylvania to Illinois, 



about 1842, and settled in Jersey County, where 
the mother died. The father passed away at the 
home of his son, our subject, in Sliipman Town- 
ship. They were the parents of five sons and one 
daughter, of whom Kli L. was the youngest. He 
was born in Washington County, Pa., October 6, 
1826, and came with his father and family to Jer- 
sey' County, and in the spring of 1842 returned 
with his father to Washington Counts', Pa., where 
they staid until the fall of 1845, when our subject 
returned to Jersey County. 

His first efforts at making a livelihood were in 
the direction of farm labor. At first he received 
the modest sum of S8 \)er month for his work. 
He had, however, while 3'et in Pennsylvania, par- 
tially learned the trade of a harnessmaker, which he 
perfected in this State. He was then in the em[)loy 
of G. W. Sidway, of Alton, for nearl)- four j'ears, 
Mr. Sidway being a harnessmaker at that place. 
After working at his trade for a short time in Graf- 
ton, III., he resumed farming on his own account, 
having purchased one hundred and thirty acres in 
Jersey County, which he oporpted for about seven 
years. He then sold out, but in 1855 he settled on 
the farm where he now lives, having purchased it 
three years previous to his settlement there. His 
first purchase comprised one hundred and si.Kty 
acres of unimproved land. I'pon this he erected 
good buildings, and has since devoted himself to 
general agriculture and stock-iaising, having ac- 
quired a wide reputation as being the owner of 
one of the best stock farms in 'his section. He now 
owns about four hu.idred acres of land. 

Aside from his engagement in the harness-mak- 
ing business above spoken of, our subject has en- 
gaged chiefly- in farming. He was married in 
Jersey County. December 31, 1848, to Miss Minerva 
J. Piggolt, a daughter of Joseph and Anna (Spur- 
lock) Piggolt. They were natives of Virgini.a, 
having emigrated thence to St. Clair County, III., 
and from there to Jersey County, where both pa- 
rents died. The}' had a family of six children, of 
whom Mrs. Hupp is the youngest, with one excep- 
tion. She was born in the county in which her 
marriage was celebrated. May 8, 1828. 

Our subject and his estimable wife, who is a had}' 
of many marked personal advantages, culture and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOURAPHICAL RECORD. 



387 



refinement, are tlie parents of seven living chil- 
flren, most of whom have made homes for them- 
selves, and are resi)ected and useful members of 
society. The children arc: Philip M., who mar- 
ried Alice Ryan; Henry N. was united in mat- 
rimony to Miss Alice Whiteside; Alice is the wife 
of Bates Ilamer; Lincoln married Miss Lizzie 
JNliUer; Franklin wooed and won Miss Mattie 
Marshall. The remaining children are William F. 
and Zella H. One son died in infancy. 

He of whom we write is high in the esteem of 
his agricultural co laborers, and has been elected 
by them to several township offces. He lias been 
School Trustee, and takes an active part in political 
affairs, casting his vote with the Repulilican party. 
Mr. Hnpp makes a specialty of bleeding Clydes- 
dale horses that arc sent to the cities to be employed 
in heavy drafting. He also has bred many fine 
roadsters. Our subject is a genial man who com- 
mends himself both to old friends and new ac- 
quaintances. The buildings upon liis farm 
indicate careful management and unreserved at- 
tention. 

-J- — 




^^ 



vOBERT BROWN has been prominently 
connected with the business interests of 
Gillespie since 1871. For two years he 
_ ngaged in merchant tailoring, but for 
eighteen consecutive years has been manager and 
wciglier for the Scale Company. He has also since 
his arrival in this place held the olflcc of Village 
Clerk and Justice of the Peace. Being thus widely 
and favorably known, his sketch will prove of in- 
terest to many of our readers. He was born on the 
8th of November, 1833, in County Monaghan, Ire- 
land and is of Scotch descent. His parents, Thomas 
ami Maria Brown, were also born and reared in the 
same locality. The father was a tailor by trade 
and followed that business on the Emerald Isle un- 
til the latter part of his life, when accompanied by 
his wife he crossed the Atlantic and they spent the 
remainder of their days near Mailahide in the Pro- 
vince of Ontario, Canada. In religious belief they 
were Presbyterians, having been life-long members 
of that church. Their family numiiered ten chil- 



dren, .seven sons and three daughters, of whom nine 
grew to manhood and womanhood and all came to 
this countij'. 

In Mr. Brown we see a self made man, who by 
his own efforts has made of his life a signal success. 
At the early age of ten years he was put upon the 
tailor's trade and followed that occupation in con- 
nection with his father for seven years, when he 
decided that it w^as time to begin business on his 
own account. The New World seemed to furnish 
better opportunities than the old countries, and 
bidding good by to home and friends he crossed 
the channel and .at Liverpool, England, took pas- 
sage upon the sailing-vessel "Ocomoco" in the win- 
ter (jf 1849. After a voyage of eleven weeks and 
five days anchor was dropped in the harbor of New 
Orlear.s in January, 1850. Mr. Brown remained 
in the Crescent City for two years and then went up 
the Mississippi to St. Louis, whence in 1854 he re- 
moved to Bunker Hill in tliis county. On the 5th 
of April, 185f). he arrived in Gillespie after having 
spent two years at journeyman work in the county. 
The same period of time he devoted to his trade iu 
this village and then accepted his present position 
as manager of the Scale Company. His long con- 
tinued service in that capacity well indicates his 
etliciencv and faithfulness and the confidence of his 
employers in an unwonted degree is given him. 

In Macoupin County Mr. Brown was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary Drennan, who w.as born 
in Tennessee, December 4, 1835. When two years 
old she was brought by her parents to Illinois, the 
family settling in Bunker Hill Township, this 
county, where her mother died when she was a 
mere child. She was reared by her father and 
step-mother, both of whom are now deceased. 
Into Mr. .and Mrs. Brown have been born eight 
children, but they have lost three — Thoma, Will- 
iam and Frederick, all of whom died in childhood. 
Those who still survive are M. D., a blacksmith by 
trade; Robert D., a miner; Anna, wife of John 
Kanous, a miner of Gillespie; Emma F. and M.ay 
at home. The children were all afforded good 
educational advantages such as would fit them for 
the practical duties of life an<l are an honor to 
their parents. 

In politics Mr. Brown is a stalwart Democrat, 



388 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



who with vigor supports the principles of his party. 
Since coming to this place he has been prominent 
in public aflfairs and has held several positions of 
honor and Irnsl. Under all the different organi- 
zations of Gillespie he has been officially connected 
with the place and since 1871 has been Village 
Clerk. He was also for a number of j^ears a mera- 
))er of the Board and for a long period has been 
Justice of the Peace. True to every trust reposed 
in him the duties of those offices have been faith- 
fully and conscientiously performed in a manner 
acceptable to all concerned. He manifested his 
loyally to his adopted country during the perilous 
days of the Civil War by enlisting in 1862 as a 
member of the Ninety -seventh Illinois Infantrj', 
commanded by Col. Rutherford and was assigned 
to Company A, under Capt. Willard. The regi- 
ment was organized at Springfield and attached to 
the Thirteenth Army Corps under Gen. McCler- 
nand, while Gens. Sherman and Grant were the 
ciiief commanders. They fought the enemy at 
Arkansas Post and afterward in other engagements, 
but before his term of service had expired Mr. 
Brown was honorably discharged in March, 1863, 
on account of physical disability. In his social re- 
lations he is a Master Mason and for some time has 
been one of the leading officers in the Gillespie 
Lodge, No. 214, A. F. & A. M. His wife is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church and, like 
her husband, has man^' warm friends throughout 
this community'. 



-j-^- 



HRISTOPHER C. ARMSTRONG is classed 
among the business men of Girard who 
'' have been most active in advancing its ma- 
terial interests, as for many j-ears he has success- 
fully conducted a general store here, and he has 
also aided in tlie administration of public affairs. 
He is a fine representative of one of the old pio- 
neer families of Illinois, and is himself a native of 
this State, born on a farm near Fielden, .Icrsey 
County, Januarj' 2, 1837. 

Our subject's father was named Maurice Arm 




strong, and he was a native of Kentucky, a son of 
one of its earh' pioneers, Joshua Armstrong, who 
was a Pennsylvanian b\' birth. He was also a pio- 
neer of this State in territorial days, migrating 
from Kentuck}' with teams in 1810, and one of the 
first to settle in what is now Madison County. At 
that time there were but few "white settlers in Illi- 
nois, and the Indians, who were often hostile, still 
held possession of their ancient hunting grounds. 
'I'he few whites who had boldly ventured within 
their domain to avail themselves of the advantages 
afforded by its rich virgin soil, built block houses 
in which to live when the Indians were on the war 
path, and they always went armed into the fields. 
The grandfather of our subject after spending sev- 
er.ll years in Madison County, removed to Jersey 
County, and there died in the fullness of time. His 
wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Morris, and 
she was born in Virginia, of French ancestry. 

The father of our subject was j-oung when the 
family came to Illinois, and he grew to a stalwari, 
vigorous manhood in the wilds of Madison County. 
When he started out in life on his own account he 
bought a tract of land in that county, with a few 
improvements, and lived upon it until 1833, when 
l.e sold that place, and took up his abode in wh.at 
is now Jersey' County, where he bought a tract of 
timber lat.d and built the log house in which his 
son of whom we write was born. He rived shingles 
for the roof, and made the house in the primitive 
w.ay common in the construction of dwellings in 
those days. After he had his family comfortably 
domiciled, he commenced to evolve a farm from 
the wilderness. He had not the conveniences of 
modern machiner}' to aid him in his work, and 
there were no railways to bring the markets within 
eas3' access, so that whenever he needed supplies, 
or wished to dispose of his produce, he hail to go 
to Alton with a team, that being the nearest cit}'. 
His wife, who was an adept at tlie old fashioned 
arts of carding, spinning and weaving, used to man- 
ufacture the cloth from which she clothed her chil- 
dren, and she cooked their meals before the fire in 
the rude, open fireplace of the olden da3's. 

In 1854 JMr. Armstrong sold his place in Jersey 
County, and going to Montgomery County, settled 
on land that he had entered from the Government. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



389 



He built upon it and resided thereon one year. At 
the expiration of that time he vented it, and com- 
ing to Girard bouglit a home in the village, in 
which he lived quietly until his life was rounded 
oui by death. In early manhood he married Eliza- 
beth Sims, a native of Konlucky. She died at a 
venerable age at Girard. She was the mother of 
twelve children: Aholla. James, Eveline, Mary 
Adeline, William, Thomas, Andrew, .Jane, Christo- 
pher C, Benjamin F.. Maurice. Elizabeth. 

Christopher C. Armstrong was reared under pio- 
neer influences, and obtained his education in the 
primitive schools of Jersey County, that were 
tausht in log schoolhouscs with slab benches, that 
wer^e without backs, and had wooden pins for legs. 
There were no desks in front of the seats. The 
light was admitted by a log being cut out of the 
will, and a row of glass inserted into the aperture 
thus made. Our subject can well remember the 
wild condition of the country in which he passed 
his boyhood, when deer, wolves and other kinds 
of wild game were plentiful. Before he attained 
his majority he left his old home with its familiar 
scenes, and in 185.5, came to (ihard, then a small 
but flourishing village, and he soon became one of 
its most enterprising merchants, opening a general 
store here, and he has been engaged in business 
here continuously since. In 1870 he established 
himself in the drug trade, and is still carrying it 
on very prosperously, having a neat and wcll- 
equii)ped ?tore, fully stocked with everything usu- 
ally found in such an establishment. 

Mr. Armstrong was married in 18G2 to Miss 
Fanny D. Weed, and they have made their home 
the centre of a charming hospitality, a» all find 
who cross its thresliold and are welcomed by the 
kindly host and pleasant hostess. These four chil- 
dren have been born to them: Herl)ert, Paul, 
Byron and Irene. 

Mr. Armstrong is justly held to be one of our 
best citi;^ens, both as regards to his private life, 
which is irreproachable, and iu every public posi- 
tion that he has held, in which he always acted for 
the best interests of city and county. His fellow- 
citizens, a|)preciating his worth, his sound business 
talent, and his genuine integrity of character have 
often called him to fill responsible oHices. He has 



represented Girard as a member of the County 
Board of Supervisors several terms; he has served 
as a member of the City Council, and also on the 
School Board. He belongs to Girard Lodge. No. 
171, A. F. <k A. M.; to Girard Chapter, No. 132, 
R. A. M.; is a member of Macoupin Council, R. & 
S. M.; and of St. Omar Commandery, No. 30, K. 
T. Politically, he is a Democrat, and has always 
stood firmly by his party. Aside from his private 
business our subject is identified with the financial 
interests of this city as Treasurer of the Girard 
Building and Loan Association, and as President of 
the Girard Coal Comp-iny, and he has contributed 
sreally to their success and importance. 



^^EORGE W. ARNETT, who is now living in 
jT retirement in one of the attractive homes 
^S of Carlinville, his handsome residence finely 
located on College Avenue, is still connected with 
the agricultural interests of this county as the pro- 
prietor of one of the many highly improved farms 
found within its bounds. He is a son of one of the 
early pioneers of this section of the State, and 
though a native of Overton County, Tenn., born 
there" June 24, 1829, the most of his life has been 
passed here, and he has lived to see the country 
develop from a wilderness to a well settled and 
flourishing community, with beautiful farms and 
busy towns, and with well-slocked pastures of fine 
horses and cattle where formerly deer, bears, wolves 
and other wild animals roamed at will over wild 
and uncultivated prairies or through the forest 
growths on the banks of the streams. 
" Our subject is of sturdy Scotch descent. His 
father, Thomas Arnett, was born in North Carolina 
in 1804. and w.as a son of John Arnett, who is sup- 
posed to have been born in the same State, whence 
he removed to Tennessee and was a [.ioneerof that 
State. In 1829 he came from there to this State 
and was one of the early settlers of Morgan County, 
' where he dwelt until 1834. .and then came to this 
county where he died in 1876. 

Thomas Arnett was ten years old when his par- 
ents went to Tennessee, crossing the mountains 



390 



PORTKAIT AWD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



with pack liorses and carts. He grew to man's es- 
tate amid pioii'-cr sii noun (lings, and continued to 
live in Tennessee until 1821). In the meantime he 
had taiven unto himself a wife in the piison of 
Elizuheth C... a daughter of Jeplha and Winifred 
(Harrison) Reeder. who was born in Virginia in 
1805. In the year mentioned, ho starteil forth from 
his old home to push forward to the frontier to try 
life in the wilds of the State of Illinois, accom- 
panied on his momentous journey by his wife and 
three children, and iraveling with a yoke of oxen 
and a wagon, in which all their earthly possessions 
were conveyed. Camping and cooking bv the 
wayside at night-fall, the little family proceeded 
slowly to their destination. On their arrival in 
IVIorgan County Mr. Arnctt rented land on Buck 
Horn Prairie, and dwelt there until 1834, when he 
pulled up stakes and coming to Macoupin County, 
became a pioneer of what is now Bird Township. 
At that time this legion had but few white seUlers, 
and the greater part of the land was held by the 
Government and for sale at*1.25 an acre. The 
father of our subject rented land for a time and 
then bought a tract in the same townshii). He 
worked steadily at the pioneer t.ask of preparing 
his land for cultivation and making improvements" 
and on the farm that he developed he spent his re- 
maining d.iys. His wife also died thereon. They 
were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom 
were reared to maturity. 

Our subject was an infant wnen he w.as brought 
to Illinois and as he grew up he was a witness^of 
the gradual change of the country from its primi- 
tive state to its present advanced condition as a 
wealthy .agricultural centre. He can remember 
when the farmers of other days lia.l uo machinery 
to assist them in their hard task of subduing the 
forces of nature; when they were obliged to cut 
their grain by hand with a sickle or cradle, and 
thresh it with a flail, or have it tramped out by 
liorses or oxen. There were no free schools for 
him to attend in his early boyho<.d, as they were 
all conducted on the subscrii>tion plan. They were 
taught in log houses, that h.ad seats made of 
puncheon and supp(,rted by wooden peas, an.l a 
board kid on wooden pegs driven into the wall 
served .is a writing desk for the scholars. 



As soon as large enough to be of assistance, Mr. 
Arnctt had to work on the farm, and he helped his 
father until he was twenty -one. At that age he 
engage,] with liis uncia in farming in Bird Town- 
ship, remaining with him three years. At the ex- 
piration of that time he rented the farm for a pe- 
riod of two years, and then bought land on section 
9, of the same township. A log cabin ami a small 
tract of broken prairie constituted the improve- 
ments at the time of the purch.ase. Our subject 
erected a comfortable frame house, which he later 
replaced by a more modern and commodious res- 
idence, besides making many other substantial im- 
provements, that ni.ade that farm one of the best in 
its vicinity. It comprises two hundred ami ten 
.acres of farming land and forty acres of choice 
I timber. In 1888 he rented his farm and retired to 
I ins piesent |)le.asant home on College Avenue, Car- 
linvillo, where he and his amiable wife can enjoy 
the fruits of their years of industry at their leisure. 
They are among the most worthy members of the 
Baptist Church, as they carry their religion into 
their every-day lives and in all things do .is they 
would be done by. Their pl.ice in the community 
is among our best people, and they are iield in 
universal esteem. 

Mr. and Mrs. Arnett entered upon tlioir wedded 
life in t)ctober 14, 1852, and their marriage has 
been hallowed by the birth of four children, one of 
whom awaits them on the other shore, Horace W., 
their second child, who died at the .age of twenty- 
two years. The children who have been si)ared to 
bless their declining years are Viola, wife of Elery 
P. Deeds; Lillie, wife of Harry Wilhitc; .m.i 
George B. 

Prior to her marri.ige Mrs. Arnetfs name was 
Serena E. Lasater. .She is a native of (Jreene 
County, 111., and a daughter of Enoch Lasater, a 
native of North Carolina. His father, Standford 
L.isater, is also supposed to have been born in that 
■State. His last years were spent in Tennessee, of 
which he was a pioneer. Mrs. Arnett's father went 
to Tennessee with his parents, and came from there 
to Illinois when he w.is a 3 oung man. He was an 
early settler of Greene County, where he bought a 
tract of land sis miles east of Carrolltwi, and in the 
log house that he built upon it his daughter of 




cT^^'^^^^nnM^ (yfi aA-^l^tn^ 



PORTRAIT AND 15J0GRAPHICAL RECORD. 



393 



whom we write was born. He improved a good 
farm. u|)on wliicli be dwelt until liis death. Tbc 
maiden name of bis wife was Charity Hill. She 
was born near Nashville, Tenn., and was a daugh- 
ter of Abner and Annie (Johnsou) Hill. She was 
married a second time, becoming the wife of Joiin 
Courtnei', and she died in Bird Township, this 
county. 



'• ' *^ 



-^ 



bllOMAS MAHAN. One of the most prom- 
lt"(F^' minent men in the township in wbitii lie 
^!^i' lives, both financially and socially, is the 
gentleman whose portrait aiipcars on the opposite 
page, and whose name introduces these paragraphs. 
He st?nds at the head of the solid men in his vicin- 
ity. From bis father, who was a native of Ken- 
tucky, be inherited the geniality and charm of 
manner for which the Kcntuckians are noted, and 
also a fondness for the breeding of fine stock, 
another Kentucky weakness. He is a man of stir- 
ring business ability, as one must be who would 
not be left in the rear among so nuicb compe- 
tition as we have here in every branch of business 
life. 

As Ijefore stated, our subject inherits many of 
the Southern inclinations and tastes from bis pa- 
rents, who were both natives of Kentucky. His 
father was the late .James Mahan, born in Bourbon 
County, Ky. His mother was Elizabeth Ann En- 
dicott, wno was born in Fayette County, of the 
same State. After marriage their first home was 
made in their native State, where they lived for a 
few years and then lured by the inducements that 
llie Central States offer to industry and energy, 
they removed to Rush County, Ind., and lived 
there for several years. 

In the fall of cither 1849 or 1850, Mr. and Mrs. 
Mahan. Sr., came to Morgan County, 111., and lived 
for one winter near "Waverly. They then came to 
Macoupin County, and settled in South Otter 
Township, remaining there for about one year. A 
change was made to the southeast part of North 
Palmyra Township, where they remained until the 
father died, in November, 1868. Tiie mother died 



in South Palmyra Township, in July, 1889. They 
had ten children, of whom our subject w.as the 
third. 

Thomas Malian was born in Rush County, Ind., 
.January 6, 1837. There be passed the early ye.ivs 
of bis life to the age of about eleven years, when 
he came to Illinois with his parents. He enjoyed 
good common-school educational advantages dur- 
ing his boyhood, assisting bis parents with the work 
incident to farm life in the intervals. He remained 
under his father's roof until his marriage. The 
lad^- whom he invited to preside over his home was 
Miss Sarah Ditson, and their marriage was cele- 
brated October 4, 1860, in North Otter Township. 
The lady's iwrenls were .Jesse and Nancy (Tosh) 
Ditson, natives of New York and Ohio respectively. 
Thcj' were married in Sangamon County, and soon 
after moved to North Otter Township, being among 
the earl}- settlers in this place. The father passed 
away here in March, 1863. Tlie mother died in 
North Palmyra Township, .January 17, 1887. 
The)' were the parents of three children, of wliom 
Mrs. Mahan w.as the youngest. Slie was born in 
North Otter Township, April 16, 1843. 

Soon after the marriage of our subject, he with 
his wife settled on section 6, South Otter Township, 
of which he has since been a resident. He has al- 
was been faithful to liis chosen calling, which is that 
of agriculture, but makes a specialty- of dealing in 
stock, and in this particular department has built 
up a fine and lucrative business. He is tiie owner 
of a fine farm of two bnndred and sixty acres. 
The bouse is well appointed and adapted perfect!}- 
to rural life, while all necessary outbutldings are 
conveniently arranged for the storage of grain and 
the shelter of stock. Mr. Mahan and his estimalde 
wife arc the parents of twelve children: Nancy K.; 
Preston G.,wbo married Miss Anna Arnett; Charles 
S.; Carrie B., who is the wife of (ieorge Hays; Ida 
L., who is the wife of Harry Potter; Hattio A.; 
Minnie S.; Thomas M. ; Walter S.; Ethel M.; Cyn- 
thia L. and Cecil. 

Our subject has been Supervisor of South Otter 
Township for two terms, and Collector for the same 
length of time. He lias also satisfactoiily filled the 
l>osilions of School Trustee and School Director, 
and was a candidate for County Sheriff on the Re- 



394 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



l)ublican ticket in Uie fall of 1880, but was defeated 
by liis Democratic opponent, wlio Iiad, however, a 
majority of only two hundred and twenty votes. 
Like all loyal Americans, Mr. Maiian has taken a 
great interest In political affairs as well as an active 
part in local politics. He is also an ardent worker 
in religion, and with his wife is a member of the 
Christian Church, in which he has been Folder for 
nian^' j'ears. 



W 



<J I^ILLIAM DAMS. The farming sections of 
our country are dotted over with settle- 
ments made by English people. Some of 
these colonies are sent out by wealthy landowners, 
others are made by small farmers who have but little 
more than their individual efforts to look forward 
to, but under whatever circumstanes these settle- 
ments are made, Ihoy are invariably characterized 
by an appearance of thrift. Although as Americans 
we cannot but regret that so many of the industries 
and so much of the wheat land in our country is 
owned by English capitalists, the producing class 
are always gratefully welcome in any community. 
Their nationality is a pledge for their usefulness 
as members of societ}'. 

Macoupin County has many residents of English 
birth and parentage who have done much to de- 
velop the resources of the locality in which they 
have settled. Among the many is our subject, who 
owns a farm of two hundred acres on section 3 1, 
"Western Mound Township. Mr. Dams' farm is no 
exception to the well-improved and highly culti- 
vated places of his countrymen and he is besides a 
great addition to the community because of the in- 
terest he takes in local affairs. The original of our 
sketch is a native of Lincolnshire, England. His 
father was John 1^. Dams, who was also born in 
England. His mother was Elizabeth (Stoddard) 
Daii\s, whose early honie and marriage place was 
that of her husband. 

The Dams family emigrated to America in an 
early day. They located in Pennsylvania first, re- 
maining there about one year. They then came to 



Macoui)in County and settled in Western Mound 
Township where the father died in 1848. There 
wore six children in the Dams family and of these 
our subject was the eldest. He was born in Penn- 
sylvania July 20,1832. He attained manhood in 
Western Mound Township in which he has always 
been a resident. He not unnaturally continued the 
calling in wliich he had early training — that of 
farming — and has pursund it most successfully. 

Mr. Dams' marriage took place in Western Mound 
Township. His wife's maiden name was Matilda 
Harrows. .She was a daughter of Austin S. Bar- 
rows, who i.". now a resident in the State of Kansas. 
Our subject and his wife are the parents of five 
children, three of whom are deceased. Tlie chil- 
dren living who are the pride and comfort of their 
fond parents are Oscar and Frank. Tliosc deceased 
are Arthur, John and Edward. 

Mr. Dams is held high in the esteem of his fel- 
low-townsmen. He is genial and open-hearted, a 
man who makes many friends and who receives the 
confidence of others, but one who keeps his own 
counsel, and while he has many acquaintances con- 
fides in but few. He has most satisfactorily filled 
the office of School Director for some time and 
othoroffices that have been urged u|)on him have 
been declined, because it seemed that he could not 
neglect his own affairs for a position that could be 
filled by others. 



-^= 



'^ir^=' 






OIIN GE0RI5E BECKER, of the firm of J. 
G. Becker ife Son, of A'irden, was born in 
Bavaria, Germany, in 1828, June 15, being 
his natal day. His father, John Phillip 
Becker, was born in the same locality in 1800. His 
parents spent their entire days there, and the father 
of our subject followed farming all his days, and 
spent his entire life in his native home, dying there 
in 1874. Four of his children came to America. 
Frederick lives in Cincinnati, Ohio; and Louis F. 
went to California in 1861, and the last heard of 
him was from Salt Lake City. 

Our subject attended school until thirteen years 
of age and then learned the trade of a cabinet- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



395 



maker in which he served for two and a half years 
and then worked as a joiner until 1850. He then 
decided to come to the New AVorld and try his for- 
tunes here. He set sail from Havre in March on 
tiie sailing vessel "Calendor." and landed in New 
Orleans after a voyage of fift^'-two da^-s. He spent 
two weeks in New Orleans and then came to St. 
Louis where he remained until 1861. He then 
came to Virden. whore he has ever since made his 
home. 

On settling in Virden he began business as a 
contractor and builder, and has continued in this 
line up lo the present date. Some of the finest 
buildings in Virden have gone up under his super- 
vision. In 1866 be erected the first brick building 
in A'irden. This edifice is now occupied as a bank 
and drugstore. His marriage, which took place in 
June, 1852, united him with Catherine Stechor, 
who was born in Hcsse-Cassel, Germany, and came 
to America in 1851. 

Five children have blessed the union of this 
worthj' and interesting couple, namely, Lewis F., 
who is a partner with his father in business and 
whose liiograpiiy will be found in connection with 
this sketch ; Anna, Amelia, Oscar and Carrie. This 
gentleman is a member of \'irden Lodge No. 161, 
A. V.A: A. M., and is a Director in the Homestead 
and Loan Association. 



^^y-"*- 



-^ii^^lt^^^- 



^^HOMAS B. ALLEN. The original of this 
/iwSv sketch is the owner and resident upon a 
^^^ farm on section 6, North Otter Township. 
His father vvas William Allen, who was a native of 
North Carolina, and came to Greene Count}', HI., 
when he was about twenty -six \-ears old, being one 
of the first settlers there. There was a life of hard 
work before him, for he was one of the pioneers of 
the State, but on his entr}' here he was at the age 
when the very fact of living is divine, and 
hardships and deprivations seem the smallest pos- 
sible consideration in the face of 3'outh and 
strength. 

The father of our subjet was united in marriage 
to Mary Pinkerton, who was a native of Virginia. 



Mrs. Allen had, however, made her home in this 
State some time previous to her marriage, and 
when they set up their household gods in their own 
little home, thej- settled in Greene County, this 
Slate, where the}- died after having reared a family 
of nine children, of whom our subject is the eld- 
est. He was born in Greene County-, 111., May 31, 
1822. 

Our subject's father was a farmer, and his chil- 
dren were brought up with an acquaintance with 
the duties of farm life. He of whom we write 
early learned how to swing the ax and milk the 
cows, plant and hoe corn. Thus he worked until 
he reached manhood years, when he was married 
in his native township and county, to Miss Martha 
A. Ha/.lewood, Match 21, 1843. She was a daugli 
ter of Pleasant and Lillias (Bradfute) Hazlewood, 
both natives of Virginia, although they were mar- 
ried in Tennessee, and from there came to the 
county where their daughter entered her marrietl 
life. There they made their home uiitil their death. 

Mrs. Allen is the ^-oungest of her f.atlicr's fam- 
il}-, and was born in Tennessee, August 1, 182G. 
For several years after the marriage of our sub- 
ject, he with his wife made his home in Greene 
County, after which he came to Macoupin Count}-, 
and settled on section 6, North Otter Township, 
where he has since resided. Throughout his 
life he has been engaged chiefly in farming. 
His farm here comprises two hundred acres, 
that covers portions both of North Otter and 
North Palmyra Townships. Upon his farm here 
he has erected good buildings, and has a delightful 
home. 

Mr. and Mr. Allen are the parents of ten chil- 
dren. They are as follows: Lillias A., who is 
the wife of John W. Kohrer; William P., who is 
a farmer in Sangamon County, 111.; Harriet R. is 
the wife of William Simms; JIaria J., who married 
H. C. Cooper; and Edward <t.. who is a farmer in 
North Palmyra Township. The children who are 
deceased are Alfred P., Thomas B. nnd Mary M. ; 
two of these died in infancy. 

Our subject and liis amiable faniilv are worth)- 
of the respect shown them by the communitj- in 
which they reside, and which has been pleased to 
honor Mr. Allen with several positions in the gift 



396 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of the township. He has been School Director 
and Trustee, in which stations he lias well ac- 
quitted iiimself of the public trust placed in him. 
In politics he is an adiierent of the Republican 
party. 

Mr. and Mrs. Allen are members of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church, of which they are generous 
supporters. Mr. Allen has for several years held 
the posiliiMi of Steward and Trustee of the body 
with which he is connected. Our subject's place 
is notable for the good class of buildings upon it, 
all in excellent condition and carefully kept. He 
is well known as a public-spirited man, whose own 
interests are alw.ays secondary to those of the pub- 
lic good. While in Greene County, Mr. Allen was 
elected Captain of the State Militia. 



"^/AMES JONES, who is engaged in general 
farming on section 22, Brighton Township, 
was born in Wales, in December, 1837 
and is the eldest son of James and Mary 
Jones, both of whom were natives of the same 
country. The mother there died when in middle 
life. She was a member of the Baptist Church. 
Some years after the death of his wife, Mr. Jones 
crossed the Atlantic to this country, and died at 
the home of his son Tom, in Brighton Township, 
having reached the allotted three-score years and 
ten. He, too, was a member of the Baptist CInuch. 
The first one of the family to cross the ocean 
was our subject, who, when a young man of twenty 
years resolved to try his fortune in America, and 
in 1859, made his passage from Liverpool to New 
York on a st-iamer. Choosing Jllinois as the scene 
of his future labors, he soon afterward began life 
here .as a poor man. The first year he woiked for 
John Bennett for $100, and continued farm labor 
for three years in the employ of others, when he 
began work on his own .account. Whatever suc- 
cess he has achieved in life is due to his own ef- 
forts. He certainly deserves great credit, for he 
began at the very lowest round of the ladder and 
has worked his way upward step by ste|) until he 
is now numbered among the well-to-do citizens of 



the community. His farm in Brighton Township 
comprises two hundred and eighty-eight acres of 
arable land, much of which is under a high state of 
cultivation and well improved. It yields to liim 
a good income and he can now provide himself and 
family with all the comforts of life, of which he 
was once denied on account of his limited means. 
A view of his pleasant homestead is presented on 
another page of this volume. 

Mr. Jones has been twice married. In this 
county he wedded Miss Emma Bradley, who was 
born in England, and during her childhood came 
with her parents to America, the family settling in 
this county, where she grew to womanhood. She 
died at her home in Brighton Township, at the 
early age of twenty-four years. Four children 
were born of their union, but William .and May 
are now dece.ased. Charles and Mary A. still sur- 
vive and are both married. The former now en- 
gages in farming in Colorado and the latter is the 
wife of Josiah Morris, a resident farmer of Kansas. 
On the 8th of April, 1875, Mr. Jones was united 
in marriage wiili Mrs. Emma Barnes, nee Spencer, 
who was born in Marshawood P.arish, Dorsetshire, 
England, December 8, 1853, and is a daughter of 
Barnetl and Flora (Mecch) Spencer, also natives of 
Dorsetshire, who came of pure English stock. Af- 
ter their marriage they settled in their native 
county, where they spent their entire lives, Mr. 
Spencer following the occupation of farming. He 
died on the 1st of March, 1882, at the age of sixty 
years. His widow still survives him and will have 
attained her sixty-ninth year in December, 1891. 
She is a member of the Episcopal Church, to which 
her husband also belonged, and is still enjoying 
good health, retaining much of the vigor which 
characterizes middle life. 

Mrs. Jones is one of a large family- and in the 
county of her nativity she grew to womanhood 
and was educated in the common schools. She was 
first married to Charles Barnes, who w.as born and 
reared in Dorsetshire, England, and in 1873, they 
sailed for America, locating upon a farm in 
Brighton Township, Macoupin County, 111., where 
the death of Mr. Barnes occurred March 27, 1874, 
at the age of twenty-four years, leaving one child, 
p;iiza J., who still resides with her mother. Unto 




RESIDENCE OF JURGEN H AUSCHl LD , SEC.30.,GI LLESPI £ TP, MACOU PIN CO., I LLS. 





'-iS;''-t:a!aK:aaai-.Aacv-v>,-. 



RESlDEIJCLOr JAMES J ON ES , sec.22.,BRIG1-1T0N TR, MACOUPIN CO., ILLS. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



399 



.Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been bom the following 
children: A. Zeajy. Ellen F., George E., Emma 
.S.. XI. Lucy, and Grovcr C. The parents attend 
tilt' Baptist Church, and in politics, Mr. .Tones atDl- 
iates with the Democratic part}'. 



-^-Hg-^^j^s^-^f- 



J'URGKN HAUSCHILD, a self-made man 
and enterprising farmer and stock-raiser 
living on section 29, Gilles|)ie Township, 
first oiiened his eyes to the light of dav 
September 20, 1842, in Schleswig-Holstein, Ger- 
many, anrt is a son of .John and Anna Hausehild, 
who were also natives of the same Province. In 
their later years they crossed the Atlantic to Amer- 
ica and became residents of Macoupin Count}', 
where the father died at the age of seventy-three 
years, his wife in the sixt}- -sixth j-ear of her age. 
They were members of the Lutheran Church and 
were highly esteemed b}' all who knew them. 

Under the parental roof our subject was reared 
to inanhooil and received a liberal education in 
his native tongue. Xo event of special importance 
marked his boyhood, but after he had grown to 
mature years an important incident in his life 
look pl.ace in his native Province in the winter 
of 1863-bis marriage with Miss Wicbkc .Jolinson, 
who w.os born in Holstein in 1835. Her fatlier 
died in his native land about 1863, after which 
Mrs. .Tohnso-j emigrated to this country and spent 
her last days near Shipman, III., where she passed 
away when well advanced in years. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hausehild began their domestic 
life in the land of their birth and their iiome was 
blessed by the presence of two ehililren. At length 
they determined to try their fortune in America, 
and upon the steamer "Cl^'tonia" sailed from Ham- 
burg in the autumn of 1806. Upon American 
soil the}' first set foot in New York Cit}', but the}' 
did not long tarry there, coming at once to Ma- 
coupin County, HI., and the same year making a 
settlement in Gillespie Township. For seventeen 
years they have resided upon the farm which is 
now their home, and a view of which is shown on 
another page. A rich and valuable tract of land 



comprising two hundred acres yields a golden trib- 
ute for the care and cultivation bestowed upon it, 
and the many excellent improvements seen upon 
the place all indicate the owner as a man of thrift, 
possessing practical and progressive ideas. He 
started out in life empty handed, but had a young 
man's bright hope of the future, and, determined 
to succeed, he has overcome the obstacles in his 
path and reached the goal of success, being now 
numbered among the well-to do farmers of this 
community. 

In politics Mr. Hausehild is a Republican, but 
has never sought public otiice; he and his wife 
are members of the Lutheran Chuich. Unto them 
have been born eight children, but they have lost 
three — Herman, Charles and Hem ick. The living 
are: Anna, wife of Charles Freezs. who is engaged 
in agricultural innsuits in Gillespie Townshii): 
Jacob, a resident farmer of California; .John E., 
Minnie and Otto at home. 



r^, IC'I1.\RD BALL, a member of the County 
^ Board of Supervisors, in which he repre. 
\\\ .sents Virden Township, is a man who has 
^ not only been strikingly successful in bus- 
iness, but has also made good use of the property 
which he has been so fortunate to acquire. He was 
born iu Braconshire, Wales, December 18, 1831, 
and was one of the children of Richar 1 and Maria 
(Evans) Ball. For further minuliie in regard to 
the personal history of this family, the reader will 
be pleased to read the biography of Henry Bali, 
which appears on another page of this work. 

After receiving an elementary education in the 
schools of Wales, the boy at the age of fifteen un- 
dertook to learn the trade of a machinist and served 
an apprenticeship of six years, and worked at his 
trade until 1855, when as his father's family 
had decided to emigrate to America, he accom- 
panied them and made his home in Virden, 
which was then a small village. He found in it 
and in the surrounding country but little inde- 
pendent employment in bis line and worked for a 
time for Mr. Emerson, who eventually took him 



400 



i'OKTRAlT AND BIOGKAPHICAL RECORD. 



into partnersliip, tbe firm name being Emerson & 
Ball. This pleasint and profitable business asso- 
ciation continued for seventeen 3'ears, after which 
our subject sold his interest and became a part- 
ner of J. J. Cox and Amos C. Hutchinson, un- 
der the firm name of Cox, Hutchinson & Ball. 
They engaged in manufacturing wagons, buggies, 
etc., as well as carrying on a general blacksmith- 
ing business. This connection continued un- 
changed luitil by the death of Mr. Hutchinson 
the firm became Cox & Ball and still continues 
to carry on a flourishing and prosperous business. 

The lady who has since 1877 shared the joys 
and sorrows of our subject was before her union 
with him Mrs. Jennie B. (Goss) Ranch. Her na- 
tive place is Littleton, N. H., and she was the 
daughter of Richard Goss and the widow of James 
Ranch. The Presbyterian Church (constitutes the 
religious home of our subject and his valuable 
wife and in its work they take an ailive part and 
ate higiily |)rized. 

Mr. Ball is prominently identified with several 
of the social orders, being a member of Virden 
Lodge, No. ICl, A. F. & A. M., the Virden Home- 
stead and Loan Association and the farmers' Mu- 
tual Insurance Company. His political views ally 
him with the Republican party. He was elected 
.Supervisor in 1890, and has served as a member 
of the village Board a number of years. His suc- 
cess .as a business man and his genuine integrity 
have made him a marked man in the community 
and he well deserves the esteem in which he is held 
by his neighbors. 

T*} EROME B. BALDWIN, a resident of tbe 
village of Mrden, is -.Massed among the 
wide-awake and prosperous farmers vvho are 
upholding the great agricultural interests 
of this county, and are thus closely- associated with 
its progress and material welfare. He was born 
April 22, 1843, on a farm near Crawfordsville, 
Montgomery County. Ind. He is a son of the late 
William C. Baldwin, who was a native of Butler 
County, Ohio, coming of the old pioneer stock of 



that State, and his parents are also thought to have 
been natives of Butler County. 

The father of our subject w:is reared amid the 
primitive scenes of his birth, and when a .>oung 
man he became a pioneer, seeking to build up a 
home in the primeval wilds of Indiana. He bought 
a tract of forest-covered land in Montgomery 
County, on which he built a log house, which lium- 
ble abode was the birthplace of his son of whom 
we write. The father cleared a part of his land, 
and continued his residence on it until 18.J2, when 
he came with his, family to Illinois. He lived for 
a time in (Jreene County, and then came to Macou- 
pin County to take up his abode here for the rest 
of his life. He bought a tract of partly improved 
land a half mile from the village, and there he 
maiie his home until he closed his eyes in deatli in 
in June, 1888. Ilis wife |>assed away before he did, 
dying July 31. 1880. Her name in her maiden 
days was Cyrena Dalton, and she was a native of 
Madison County, Ky. 

We will now turn our attention to the son of 
those worthy peoi>le who forms the subject ol this 
sketch. He was a lad of nine years when his par- 
ents brought him to Illinois, and he was carefully 
trained by them to a useful manhood, being given 
such education .as the local schools afforded, which 
he attended whenever oijportunity offered, and he 
also gained a sound practical knowledge of farm- 
ing in .all its branches. He remained an inmate of 
the home of his father and mother until after he 
attained his majority. After his marriage at the 
age of twenty seven years he settled on a farm two 
and one-half miles northwest of ^'irden, and dur- 
ing the fourteen years he lived on it he brought 
it to a high point of cultivation, and by the various 
improvements that he made he greatly increased 
its value. In 1884 he came to Virden and bought 
land, upon which he built his present weli-.appointed, 
conveniently arranged residence, in which he has 
made his home ever since. He still retains his 
farm, a part of which he rents, and the remainder 
he operates himself with good financial results. 

The marriage of Mr. Baldwin with Miss IMary 
E. Gates was duly celebrated September 1,1870. 
One child h.as blessed their union, John M., who is 
a cripple from hip disease. Mrs. Baldwin, who is 



PURTKAir AND BJOGRAPHICAL RFXORD. 



401 



(iesccnded from llie early pioneer stotk of this 
State, is a native of Illinois, Ixjrn three miles from 
Vinien in Sangamon County, March 25, 1844. 
Her father, Andrew Gates, was born in Muhlen- 
berg Coiint\-, K}., and was a son of Michael Oaf's, 
who was born and leared in Pennsylvania. He 
went from that State to North Carolina, and was 
there married. P'rom there he removed to Ken- 
tucky, and was a pioneer of Muhlenberg County, 
where he resided until 1830. In that year he came 
to Illinois and took up his abode in Auburn Town- 
ship, Sangamon County, where his death occurred 
at a venerable age. 

Mrs. Baldwin's father passed his early life in the 
state of his nativity, whence he came to Illinois in 
the spring of 1831, and settled on the line of San- 
gamon and Macoupin counties. At the time of 
his marriage he rented land, and farmed as a renter 
two years. He was a pioneer of that region, which 
was sparsely s'ittled. and deer and all kinds of 
game abounded in the forests and on the wild prai- 
ries. There was no railway, and Alton was the 
nearest m.irketing point. As soon as able Mr. 
Gates entered land in Auburn Township, .Sanga- 
mon County, and in Vird.en Township, making his 
home in the former county until his life was closed 
in death in 1882. His venerable wife, to whom he 
was wedded February 13. 1833. survives him, and 
is a welcome inmate of the household of our sub- 
ject and his wife. She bore the maiden name of 
l.ucinda Wood, and was born December 3i, 1816, 
in Madison County, HI., when this State was a 
territory. Her father, whose name was William 
Wood, was a native of Knox County, Tenn., and 
was left an orphan at an early age. He came to 
Illinois in 1810. and was a pioneer of M.adison 
County, which .it that time had but few white set- 
tlers, who stood in constant fear of the Indians 
who were numerous anrl troublesome. After a 
residence there of some years he bought land in 
North Gtter Township, this county, am! in the 
home that he built thereon he dwelt some yeors, 
devoting himself to the improvement of his land. 
He finally went to Texas, where he died. The 
maiden name of his wife was Polly Cox, and she 
was born in Kentucky, a (iaughter of George and 
and Joanna (Hubbard) Cox, who were natives of 



.South Carolina. The grandmother of Mi-s. Bald- 
win returned from Texas to Illinois after the deaih 
of her husband, and died at the home of a son in 
Knox Count}'. Mrs. Baldwin is one of a family 
of four daughters and two sons. She was carefully 
trained in all household work, and was early taught 
b}" her mother lo card, spin and weave flax and 
wool of which all the garments worn b\- the family 
were made, and she also learned to knit. Under 
such instruction she became an excellent house- 
kee[>er. and understood full well how to manage 
her home when she became a -^ife. 

Our subject has made a creditable record as a 
thrifty, capable farmer, and in him his commuuitj' 
finds a citizen sound and true, an accommodating 
neighbor and a sincere friend. He and his wife 
and son arc active members of the Baptist Church 
and are identified with its every good work. Mrs. 
Baldwin's father was a devotetl member of the 
German Baptist Brethren Church. 

AMLEL E. KILLAM, a son of William H. 
Killam.an Englishman, makes his home on 
section 2, Bird Township. The mother of 
our subject was Mary Hall, who was also 
born in England. This couple came to America 
when j'oung people and after their arrival here 
were married and settled in Morgan County, 111., 
where they made their home for the remainder of 
their days. Thi.i sou, Samuel E., was one of the 
eldest in a large family of children. He was boru 
in Morgan County, -Juh' 7, 1835. Here he resided 
until he reached manhood, and here he made his 
home until his marriage when he rented a farm 
west of Jacksonville and lived there until the fall 
of 18G8 when he came to Macoupin County and 
made his home in Bird Township, where he has 
since been a resident. 

Mr. Killam has always been engaged in farming 
and stock-raising, and his farm of two hundred and 
fifty acres is an illustration of his energy and good 
judgment. The buildings are commodious and 
e.Tpacious and he has every convenience necessary 
to the successful carrying on of a farm. His mar- 




402 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RFXORD. 



riage took plat'c in Morg-an County, February 20, 
1.S62, his liridc being Mary A., daughter of Jolin 
and Kstlier (Peckering) Grime, boli\ natives of 
Kngland. Mr. Grime died in New York and Mrs. 
Grime in Whitcliall, this State. Mrs. Killam w:is 
born in Onondaga County, N. Y., January 12, 
1840. 

To this wortliy and prosperous couple liave been 
born five ciiildren: Mary E., Frances G., Klizabetli 
A. who died at the age of twenty years, John W. 
and Samuel E. Their mother is an earnest and 
<levoled member of the Metliodist Episcopal Church 
. and she has faithfully trained her children in the 
duties of the Christian religion. 

Mr. Killam held the oHicc of Supervisor of Bird 
Township for two years. He has been Justice of 
the Peace for five years and School Director for 
many terms. He votes and wt)rlvs for the success 
of the Republican party, with which lie has l)een 
identified since its organization. He is a public 
spirited man and ever active in promoting the 
best interests of the communit}'. 

— *> >^-(^ s — 



^^^^ROF. HENRY D. FOLTZ,a resident of Pal- 
^ )j myr:i, is a gentleman of broad culture and 
^ aih-aiiced views who occupies a high posi- 
tion among the leading educators of this 
county as a teacher who has met with more than 
ordinary success in his profession. He is a native 
of \Vi>stutoreland County, Pa., born near Mt. Pleas- 
ant October 3, 1S47. His father, Henry W. Foltz, 
W.1S born in the town of Andover, Essex County, 
Mass., while his father, whose name was George 
Foltz, was a native of Dauphin County, Pa. The 
greatgrandfather of oi'r subject was a native of 
Germany. The grandfather of our subject, who 
wasaviragon maker by trade, removed to Andover, 
Mass., where he was engaged in manufacturing 
wagons a few years. He then returned to Penn- 
sylvania and carried on his tr,ade in Westmoreland 
County the remainder of !iis life. 

The father of our subject was young when his 
parents returned to Pennsylvania, and the remain- 
der of his boyhood was p.assed in Westmoreland 



County. In his youtl; he leurncd the trade of a 
shoemaker, but he was of a thoughtful, scholarly 
turn of mind, and tiic legal profession having pecu- 
liar attractions for him he prepared himself for it 
and in due time opened an oflice to practice law in 
ait. Pleasant, where he still resi<)es. He h.as served 
as assistant Justice of Westmoreland County and 
has won an honoralilc position at the bar. In early 
manhood he married Mary Smitley and theirs has 
been a felicitious wedded life. Mrs. Foltz is a 
native of Ediuboro. Scotland, a daughter of John 
Smitley, who was born in the North of Ireland and 
was of Scotch ancestry. Ho .vune to the United 
States when a young man and was hc;e married to 
Catherine Golden, a native of Cumbcrlan<l County, 
Pa. He settled seven miles from the Westmoreland 
County line and was a resident there until I,S,")2, 
when he went to Allen County, Ind. He buu>rht 
a large tract of land there, engaged in farming and 
there quietly passed his last days. The mother of 
our subject and her twin brother Jacob are the 
o:ily survivors of the family. 

The subject of this biogr.apliical review laid the 
foundation of a liberal education in the schools 
of his native county, and at the age of thirU-cn he 
entered the Normal School at Millersville, from 
which he w.as graduated with honor in 18GG. He 
h!id also gained a jiraclical knowledge of his chosen 
profession, as while he w,as a student .it the Normal 
he taught school four terms and Uius earned the 
money to p.ay his expenses. After graduation he 
taught two terms at Oak Grove, Pa., « ns next cn- 
g.aged at Lemon Centre, and in 1 SCS went to Ft. 
AV.ayne to take charge of a school in that city. A 
year later he came to Macoupin County, and has 
since been closely identified with the educational 
interests of this part of the State. In 1873 tlie 
Professor came to Palmyra, and the next year 
bought his present resulence, and he h.as also pur- 
cliascd other vill.age propeity, investing his money 
judiciously, and with mnch business acumen demon- 
strating the f.ict that his talents are by no means 
confined to his profession. His education, his famil- 
iarity with books and his wi<ie range of knowlndo-e 
concerning subjects of general interest, together 
with a good address and a pleasant mannerjiave 
made him popular in social circles and have at- 




oAAAy^yO 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



405 




tracted to iiim tlie friendship of some of tlie best 
citizens. He is a member of I'aimyia Camp No. 
119, M. W. A. In iiis political views he is a de- 
cided Republican. 

The marriage of Prof. Foltz with Rliss Bella 
Chisholm was solemnized September IC, 1873. 
Mrs. Foltz is a native of South Palmyra Township, 
born April 6, 1856, and a daugliter of William and 
Sarah (KiUam) Chisiiolra. The Professor and his 
wife iiave a charming home, and their pleasant 
family circle is completed by liieir tiiree children — 
Floddie, Minnie Lucretia and Benjnmin Harrison. 
Mrs. Foltz and her daughter Floddie are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church and their names 
are associated with every good work. 

OLOMON JOINER, one of tiie influential 
farmers and stock-raisers of Bird Town- 
ship, is a son of Thomas and Martha A. 
(Pulliam) Joiner. The father, who died 
in 1883 is mentioned prominently in the sketch of 
his wife which will be found in another part of tliis 
book. His widow still survives and is one of the 
rei)resentative women of the township. Of a fam- 
ily of eight children, our subject is the second in 
order of birth, and he was born in what is now 
North Palmyra Township, July 5, 1849. 

The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on 
his father's farm in Macoupin County, and made 
his home with his parents until his marriage, which 
momentous and interesting event took pl.ace in 
Bird Township, November 14, 1872. The lady 
who became his wife was Mary E., daughter of 
Joseph M. and Lucimla (Burfoid) VanArsdale. 
Mrs. VanArsdale died in South Palmyra Town- 
ship. She was the happy mother of twelve chil- 
dren, of whom her daughter Mary, the wife of our 
subject, was the tenth, and she was born in Ma- 
coupin County, July IG, 18.54. 

After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Joiner they 
decided to make their lioiue in Bird Township, and 
have since resided upon their fine farm. They have 
one hundred ami fifty acres of rich and productive 
soil, and upon it are located excellent buildings 



and all other improvements necessary to mark it 
as the property of an enterprising and thorough 
farmer. Seven children were born to Mr. .Toiner 
and his estimable wife as follows: Thomas M., 
deceased, Martha L., Joseph E., Loretta E., Ger- 
trude A.,Effle E., and George R. Mrs. Joiner is an 
earnest and devoted member of the Baptist Church, 
in the belief and practice of which she is faithfully 
bringing up her children. Our subject is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has 
been School Director and is ever active in promot- 
ing the interests of the district school. Asi<le from 
the interest in these matters he devotes himself en- 
tirel3- to agricultural pursuits, where his persistent 
inilustry and good judgment are crowning his 
efforts with success. 

The attention of the reader is invited to the 
lithogaphic ()ortrait of Mr. Joiner which is pre- 
sented in connection with this sketch. 



/^^ II AHLES 11. A. fllNTZ, dealer iu meats and 
(|( _ live stock in Bunker Hill, established busi- 
^^^ ness in that place in 1870, in which year 
he emigrated from Germany to America. With 
his brother .is a partner, he carried on operations 
under the firm name of Hintz <fe Co., until 1874, 
when the firm title vvas ch.inged to E. & C. Hintz. 
In 1881 another change was made and the bnsine.ss 
has since been conducted by the lirm of Hintz 
Bros. They have bee.i very successful in their 
dealings and so rapidly lias their trade increased 
that they found it expedient to establish two slio()s, 
tluis to more conveniently attend upon the wants 
of their customers. Their shops are well equi|iped, 
having all the modern conveniences for preserving 
and retaining all the freshness of their meats. They 
do a large shipping trade, their principal markets 
being St. Louis and Indianapolis. 

Charles Hintz is a native of Germany, his birth 
having occurred on the 24th of July, 184(;, in the 
Province of Holstein, where his ancestors had lived 
for many generations. His grandfather, Peter 
Hintz, was a baker and brewer of that Province 
and there siient his entire life, dying at the age of 



406 



PORTRAIT AND KiOGRAPHlCAL RECORD. 



sixty-five years, lie iimrried Sopliia Halm anfl 
slie also lived tliioiigliotil life in Ilolsleiu, her death 
oceiirring at the age of fifty-one years. They were 
members of the Liilhernn Church and in their 
family were thirteen children, of whom E. Hintz, 
father of our subject, was the second in order of 
Iiirth. He was also the only one who ever came 
to the United States, but eio;ht of his brothers and 
sisters aie still living in the Fatherland. He grew 
to manhood in Holsteiu an<l in his youth learned 
the cabinetmaker's trade, which he followed 
throughout his residence in his native country. 
Me married Johanna Dresscl, who was born and 
reared in Lutjenburg, Ilolslein, and is also of pure 
German descent. Right children were born unto 
them and with their family they emigrated to 
America in IM.ay, 1870, taking passage at Hamburg 
upon the steamer '•tiermania." After a very rough 
voyage of twenty-three days the vessel dropped 
anchor in the harbor of New York and the Hintz 
family found themselves in the New World which 
was to be their home from hence forth. They be- 
came residents of Bunker Hill, where the parents 
and a number of the children are yet living. For 
a short time after his arrival, E. Hintz carried on a 
meat market but now is practically living a retired 
life, performing no labor unless perhaps he some- 
times does a little cabinet work for his children. 
He is now seventy -eight years of age but is a hale 
and hearty old man, still possessing much of the 
vigor of younger manhood. His estimable wife, 
who so long has traveled life's journey with him 
and proved to him a true helpmate, has reached the 
age of seventy. five years. They still hold to the 
faith of the Lutheran Church, under the auspices 
of which the3' were reared. 

According to the laws of his country our subject 
attended school and when twenty-one years of age 
he enlisted in the French War under Frederick 
Charles in the regular army and served three and 
a half years. He participated in many engage- 
ments, including the noted battle of Gravellote, on 
the 16th, 17th and 18th of August, 1870. He also 
bore his part in the many battles which occurred 
around the city of Metz and was wounded in Or- 
leans, France, during a street battle which occurred 
between the citizens and soldiers, known as the 



Orleans Massacre. It was a gunshot wound and 
the bullet he yet carries in his left leg. He served 
throughout as a private and w.as a brave and val 
iant soldier. 

When the family turned their faces Westward, 
Mr. Hintz also crossed the broad ocean .nnd as be- 
fore stated established himself in business in Bunker 
Hill. After four years he was united in marriage 
with Miss Louisa Kahl, who was born in Holstein, 
Germany, January 4, 1858, and was brought by 
her parents to the United States when a child of 
eight summers, the family locating in Bunker Hill, 
which has since been her home. She has four 
brothers and a sister yet living there. Her educa- 
tion was acquired in the schools of this community 
and her native land and she remained at home un- 
til she gave her hau'l in marriage to Mr. Hintz. 
Seven children have been born of their union, tive 
of whom are yet living: Cora, Dora, Emma, Maria, 
and Ella. Charles is now deceased and the other 
child died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Hintz are 
members of the Lutheran Church and he holds 
membership with the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen and the Haryue, a German order. In 
l)olitics he is a Reiuiblican and keeps himself well 
informed on the political issues of the day, also 
upon all matters of general interest. He has never 
sought otiice but is now serving as a member of the 
School Board. Jn addition to his other interests 
he is a stockholder in the Bunker Hill Nail Com- 
pany and also in the Building ^.nd Loan Associa- 
tion. He was one of the enterprising and successful 
business men of Bunker Hill, and by courteous 
treatment and f.iir dealing has won a liberal patron- 
age and is accounted a valued citizen of the com- 
munity. 



ICHAKI) KIlXiLEY. One by one the old 
settlers are being called away from the 
^\\\ scenes of time and sense, leaving records 
^) more or less benelicial, according as their 
deeds were usefid in advancing the general welfare 
and their characters upright and noble. Numbered 
among those whose careers can be looked ui)on 
with interest and whose works may well be emu- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



407 



lated bj' others, is tbe late Richard Ridg^ley. wiio 
resided in Bunker Iliil nearly tliirt^- j'cars and who 
passed nway March 25, 1887. He was an earnest, 
honest mac, diligent in business, liberal in his 
views and his means, and stanciil}' supporting that 
which was worth}', whether for morality, education 
or civil government. 

Mr. Ridgley was of pure English blood and was 
born in the Mother Country, May 12, 1810. His 
parents. Thomas and Lj'dia (Cross) Ridgle}-, emig- 
rated in 181G, landing at Boston, Mass., and sub 
sequently settling at Medford. They lived there 
until 1838, when they set out for the West, coming 
overland and being ten weeks en route. Some of 
the children had already come West and on this 
occasion the others accompanied their parents. A 
settlement was made at Alton and a few years later 
the parents removed to Monmouth, where the 
mother died at the age of seventy-four years. The 
father 1; ter went to St. Louis, Mo., where he 
breathed his last at the ri|)e age of eighty-four 
years. Both were life long members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. 

The subject of this biographical sketch grew to 
manhood in the old Bay State, and after bis marriage 
came West with his parents and other members of 
the family. He established his home in Alton, but 
in 1840 came to Bunker Hill Township, this county, 
and rented a farm. A year later he returned to 
Alton and the next year went to St. Louis, where 
he lived until 1858. His brother Sti-plicn had in- 
troduced in that city an invention for the lighting 
of the streets, and was carrying on the manuf.icture 
in connection with Abner .Stone. In 1846 Richard 
Ridgley secured control of the plant a.id from that 
time until he came to Bunker Hill permanently, he 
conducted tbe business. The spirit-lighiing was 
then superseded by more modern means of illumi- 
nation, and he, having in the meantime accumulated 
a fortune, decided to spend his last days quietl}', 
and left the Missouri metropolis for the pleasant 
town of Bunker Hill. He had here an attractive 
home, which is still occupied by his widow. 

In 1837 Mr. Ridgley was married to Mary A. 
Capen, tbe ceremony taking place at the bride's 
home in Wrenthani, Mass. She was born in Dor- 
chester, that State, March 31, 1818, and is the 



youngest of four daughters, all of whom lived to 
rear families, but of whom she is the only one now 
living. Her parents, John and Margaret (Carpen- 
ter) Capen, were natives of Massachusetts and be- 
longed to old families of that State. They lived 
on a farm near Dorchester for some years, then re- 
moved to Wrentham, which was their final home. 
Mr. Capen lived to the advanced age of eighty- 
six years, but Mrs. Capen died in 1861. Both bo- 
longed to the Congregational Church. The mater- 
nal grandfather of Mrs. Ridgley- was a Revolution- 
ary patriot and was one of those who crossed the 
Delaware River with Washington. Mrs. Ridgley 
having had no children has been a foster mother 
to some whose parents could not give them t'le best 
opportunities an<l has aided them to an education 
and .•; good start in life. 

The late Mr. Ridgley was a sound Republican 
and during the Civil War was a faithful friend of 
the Union cause. For years he was connected with 
the Congregational Church and held the offices of 
Deacon and Trustee. By his will he bestowed up- 
on the church at Bunker Hill the sum of sl.OOO. 
Mrs. Ridgley belongs to the same religious society. 



HILIP LAUCK, who is engaged in busi- 
ness .as a dealer in all lands of fresh, dressed 
and cured meats on Main Street in Brighton 
_ was boin in the Province of Nassau, Ger- 

man3'. December 4, 1845, and is the eldest child of 
Conrad and Hannah (Henn) Lauck. natives of the 
same province, where liiey were reareil and married. 
Several years later in September, 1857, they started 
for America, taking passage at Harvre, France upon 
a vessel which after some weeks landed in New Or- 
leans. The family came up the Mississippi River 
to Illinois and settled ui)on a farm near Brighton. 
Mr. Lauck was a shoemaker by trade but in this 
country engaged in agricultural pursuits until his 
death, in 1875, at the age of sixty years. His wife 
died two years previous at about the age of fifty 
years. They were members of the Lutheran Church 
and people of sterling worth. 



408 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Coming to this country with his parents, tlie sub- 
ject of this sketch aided liis father in tlio develop- 
ment of a farm. His educational advantages were 
such as the eoinraon schools afforded and by read- 
ing and observation be has made liimstdf a well-in- 
formed man. He was married in St. Louis, to Miss 
Henrietta Schneider, also a native of Germany 
born in Saxony, in January, 1847. She was only 
seven years old when her father, Gotleib Sebneiden 
brought his family to America. After crossing the 
broad ocean they settled in Ohio, and about two 
years later came on to Illinois, traveling with teams 
and wagons overland to Springfield, where they 
remained until 18.58, which year witnessed their .-ir- 
rival in Brighton, where the parents both died. The 
mother and her son Henry were both killed while 
driving over a railroad crossing, by a fast-running 
passenger train, their death occurred instantly. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Schneider were life-long members of 
the Lutiieran Church and were people whose lives 
entitled them to universal esteem. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lauck have been boru seven 
children but they have lost three— an infant, Harry 
and Louisa. Ada, Edward C., Albert and Frank 
are still with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Lauck 
are both members of tlie Lutheran Church and he 
is one of the prominent citizens of Brigliton. His 
fellow. townsmen recognizing his worth and ability 
have frequently called upon him to serve in posi"- ; 
tions of public trust and for the long period of i 
thirteen years he has filled the office of Councilman, ; 
a fact which indicated his faithfulness and efficiency. 
A stanch .advocate of the Republican parly he ex- 
ercises his right of franchise in its behalf and exerts 
every honorable means in his power to promote its 
interests. Mr. Lauck is also regarded as one of the 
leading business men of Brighton. lie began op- 
erations in his present line as a partner of the Shuf- 
fle Bros., and for twenty years has been alone. He 
is supplied with all the best apparatus for dressing 
and preparing meats, has one of the finest establish" 
mcnts in the place and is enjoying a well-deserved 
l)atronage. 

Our subject served as a soldier in the late war, 
enlisting in March, 1864, in Company D, Twenty- 
seventh Illinois Infantry. He was in the army of the 
Cumberland under Gen. Sherman, and was in all 



the principal engagements of that campaign and 
was honorably discharged at Springfield III., in 
August I8G.5. Our subject belongs to the Odd Fel- 
lows of Brighton, the Knights of Honor, Uio 
Grand Army of the Kepublic and the O. I. II. all 
of Brighton. 

J«^- 




HULIFF DEY. one of the prominent far- 
„. niers of Hilyard Township, resides upon 
^\«i section 24. where he operates a good farm 
of two hundred acres, all of which is thor- 
oughly cultivated and well stocked. It is now 
twenty. one years since he look charge of this place 
and he has lived in this township since 18.54, that 
being the year when the family removed from .Jer- 
sey County to this county. 
I Jerseyville, Jersey County, III., is the birthphico 
of our subject, whose natal day was February 18, 
1841. He is a son of Cornelius Dey, a native of 
Somerset County, N. J., who ivas born there Au- 
gust 26, 1817. His father, Enoch, a New Jersey 
j farmer, died at the age of fifty years. His wife, 
; Rebecca Shaw, who with her husband was a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Cnurch, died when 
she was fifty-five years old. 

Cornelius Dey wns the fifth in a large family of 
children and was reared to farming pursuits in 
Somerset County, N. J., and there w.as united in 
; marriage with Miss Catherine Rodgers who w.is 
I born in that county January 4, 1 811). Her parenls, 
: William and Ann (I>,rine) Rodgers were both na- 
tives of that county and came of Scotch ancestry. 
This worthy couple emigrated to the West with 
their children, including Mrs. Dey and her husband, 
in April, 1838, coming by lake, canal and river, 
I reaching Jerseyville, which was then a hamlet in 
a new country. Wolves and wild animals of all 
kin<ls then abounded and here Mr. and Mrs. Rod- 
gers took up a new life in this new country. In 18.52 
they came to this county and took iiroperty which 
had been slightly improved in Hilyard Township. 
After living upon it for some years they retired 
from active life and making their home in Bunker 
Hill there spent the remainder of their days. They 
both passed the line of four-score years, and after 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



409 



a quiet season of retireinent died during the decade 
of liie '50s. For iDany years they had been con- 
nected with the Presbyterian Church, but at the 
time of tlieir death were members of the Congre- 
gational Church. Mr. Rodgers ever remained a 
strong Whig in politics. 

The j'car following their marriage, Cornelius 
Doy and wife emigrated with Mrs. Dey's parents to 
Jcrseyville and there Cornelius found employment 
aL his trade of a mason and plasterer. In 18i)4 he 
came to Macoupin County and taking land in Hil- 
yard Township followed the avocation of a farmer. 
Air. Dey's death occurred October 30, 1874. He 
had made a success of his farming and had acquired 
a handsome property'. He had been an earnest and 
consistent member of the Presbyterian Churcli and 
had been esceedingl3' heli)ful in religious move- 
ments in this new country. His political convic- 
tions had allied him with the Republican jjart.y in 
whose future he had great faith. His widow, who 
still survives him, is in the enjoyment of excellent 
health, and with faculties unimpaired pursues a life 
of usefulness, spending most of her time with her 
son Khuliflf-. She is an earnest member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. 

The gentleman of whom we write is one of a 
family of four sons and two daughters, and with 
one sister constitutes the remnant of the family. 
His brother, William II., who was a farmer in this 
township, departed this life March 8, 1891. His 
sister, Mrs. Mary Ferguson, is the wife of David 
Ferguson, a retire<I farmer of Staunton, 111. 

Having reached his majority. Rhullff Dey began 
work on his own account and before long was mar- 
ried in Ililyard Township to Miss Catherine M. 
Snedeker, who was born in Cliam|)aign County, 
Ohio, October 13, 1845. Her father, .lacob, and 
her mother, Eleanor (Ja^') Snedeker, were natives 
of New Jersey, the former coming of Jersej' Dutch 
ancestry. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Snedeker 
removed to New York State and some 3'ears later 
to Champaign, Ohio and there a part' of their 
family were born. In the fall of 1850 they emi- 
grated with the family to Jerseyville, this State, 
and one year later c.^me to this county, making 
their home In Hilyard Township. They settled on 
one hundred and sixty acres of wild land and here 



the father is still living at the age of eighty-five; the 
mother died, March 21, 1891, aged seventy-eight 
years. In their retirement they enjoyed the com- 
panionship of a large circle of friends who truly 
esteemed them for their excellent qualities of heart 
and mind. 

Mr. and Mrs. Dey are the parents of six chil- 
dren, one of them, Edward, died in infancy; Charles 
R. Is at home with his parents; Orval A. and Nellie 
C. are attending the Normal School at Bushnell, 
preparatory to teaching, and Frank C. and Ilattie 
L. are at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dey are earn- 
est and consistent members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, in which Mr. Dey acts as a faithful 
and efHciont Trustee. His political views lead him 
to vote and work with the Republican party. This 
happy cou|)le are among that thrifty class of resi- 
dents who go to make up a truly prosperous and 
desirable community. 



S^iEORGE W. DUNCAN, who resides on sec- 
^ lion 3, Cahokia Township, where he carries 
__j on general farming and stock raising, is a 
reinesentative of one of the pioneer families of the 
county. Ills father, Dr. Nathan Duncan, having 
here settled at an early day. He was born in 
North Carolina as were the grand|)arenls of our 
subject and the family is of English origin. The 
Doctor married a North Carolina lady. Miss E. 
Lavina Linebarge'-, whose parents, natives of Penn- 
sylvania, were of German descent. Two children 
were born unto them, Mary and Absalom, but be- 
fore they left North Carolina the daughter died. 
The Doctor with his wife and son and her [larcnts 
came to the North, locating lirsi. in Indiana anil 
after a year the Duncan family came to Illinois, 
locating first on the farm which is now occupied 
by our subject. This land the Doctor entei'ed 
from the Government and in true pioneer style he 
began life, being one of the first settlers of the 
township. The nearest postottice was in Carlin- 
vllle, fifteen miles away and their markets were St. 
Louis and Alton, where they journeyed wilii ox- 
teams, live da3s being required to make the trip. 



•no 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Some years later Dr. and Mrs. Duncan went to 
Montgomery County, III., where the lady, who was 
a consistent member and active worker in the 
Methodist Church, died at the age of seventy. five. 
Tile Doctor survived his wife some years and 
passed away in Sherman, Tex. He became a 
prominent man in every community in wiiicli lie 
resided and was for many years Class- Leader in the 
Methodist Church. He was not a graduated physi- 
cian but won his title on account of his home 
practice, he doctoring with herbs which he gathered 
from the woods. 

The subject of this sketch first opened his eyes 
to the light of day on the farm which is still his 
home, BY'bruary 13, 1834, and there his childhood 
and youth were passed. It has been his home con- 
tiiiucusly since yet he has traveled extensively 
over the country. He has been engaged in the 
stock business both in Illinois and Kansas on his 
own account and for other parties and in this way 
has come in contact with many people. His trav- 
els have made him familiar with the ways of the 
world and he has gained thereby a knowledge of 
men and their customs which he could not have 
acquired from text books. 

In Montgomery County, III., Mr. Duncan led to 
the marriage altar Miss Sarah O. Johnston, who was 
born in Plainfitld, Will County, III., in 1843, 
and when young removed to Montgomery County 
with her parents, Andrew and Laura (Maltby) 
Johnston, who located in Litchfield, where the hus- 
banvi engaged in railroad contracting. Subsequently 
they removed to a farm but finally went to the 
Upper Peninsula of Michig.an, where Mr. John- 
ston's death occurred. His widow is j'et living in 
that State, at the age of three-score and ten. Six 
children grace the union of Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, 
of whom four are yet living: Edgar, who married 
Alice Simmons, is engaged in farming and stock 
raising in Dickinson County, Kan.; Laura 15., O. 
Leroy and Myrtie iire at home; Minnie is now de- 
ceased; and the sixth child died in infancy. 

In politics Mr. Duncan is a Republican and a 
stalwart advocate of the party principles. Both 
lie and Ids wife are members of the Methodist i 
Church, in which he has served as Steward and { 
Trustee. He is charitable and benevolent, a friend 



to the poor and needy and has lead a useful and 
upright life. With the history of this county he 
has been identified for fifty-seven years, having 
witnessed almost its entire growth and develop- 
ment and in all possible ways he has aided in its 
upbuilding, proving himself a worthy citizen who 
has the best interests of the community at lieart. 




■^^ RS. MARGARET HOCHREITNER. It 
is unusual that a lady develops a business 
enterprise and tact enough to go ahead 
and independently make her own fortune. 
A century .ago such a thing was almost unheard of. 
Now it is more common, but the traditions of 
womanly dependence are still strong upon the sex 
and when one steps out and makes a success of busi- 
ness life she really becomes a notable personage. 
The lady whose name heads this sketch owns a fine 
farm on section 18, North Otter Township, and has 
so ably managed it that it is one of the most desir- 
able places in the township. 

The lady of whom we write is a native of Ger- 
many, where she was born January 8, 1824. Her 
father was Christopher Sturm and her mother 
was Christin (Braznar) Sturm, both natives of Ger- 
many. Both of our subject's parents died in their 
native land. Margaret grew to womanhood in 
Germany and continued to live there until she was 
twenty-one years of age when she went to Switzer- 
land. There she worked as a domestic until her 
marriage, which took place April 17, 1848, when 
she took up the duties of life for better or worse 
with Jacob Hochreitner, who was a native of Swit- 
erland, being there born August 25, 1799. After 
their marriage they lived in Switzerland for throe 
years and then they emigrated to America in 1851. 
Our subject and her husband on coming to this 
country settled first in Knoxville, Tenn., where the 
head of tlic family plied his trade which was that 
of a bkicksmith. They remained in Knoxville un- 
til early in January, 1852, when they removed to 
St. Louis, but being unable to find employment 
there they came to Macoupin County and purch.ased 
a tract of land in North Otter Township. Here 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



411 



they settled and the home they erected was soon 
after saddened by the death of the liusband. JMr. 
Hochreitner died .Tune 17, 1868. 

The original of this slictch has since carried on 
the farm herself and now owns one liundred and 
tliirty-eigiit acres, five acres of which she rents. 
Si30 has made valuable improvements upon the 
farm, having erected a nice iiome and built several 
outbuildings. Slie is tlie mother of the following 
children: the eldest, William, is a farmer in 
North Otter Township; George died at the e:\rly 
age of one and one-half years; and Mary E. is the 
wife of Charles Hagler. Two are deceased. 

Mrs. Hoclireitner, who is a member of the Lutli- 
eran Church, is an intelligent woman who knows 
how to attend to her own affairs witliout interfer- 
iu"- with the business of otlsers. Kind and gener- 
ons in her natural impulses, she is liked and re- 
spected by all who know her. 



^?^EORGE Q. GORDY, a well-known business 
Yj man of Carlinville, is a dealer in agricul- 

%2( '■"'■f^' implements, carriages, wagon?, etc. 
He is a native of Maryland, born in that State, in 
the town of Salisbury, Worcester County, January 
31, 1814. His fallier, Leonard Gindy, was born 
near tliat town on a farm, and was a son of William 
(iordy, a native of the same place, who was derived 
from early English ancestry, and passed his entire 
life in Worcester County, where he was engaged 
both as a farmer and as a Methodist preacher. 

The father of our subjeut learned the trade of a 
carpenter in his youth, and followed it in Mary- 
land until he went to Missouri, when lie was a 
young man. After a stay there of five years he 
went back to his native State, married, and spent 
the rest of his days tliere, dying in 1849. The 
maiden name of his wife was Mary E. Mitchell, and 
she was born on a farm near Salisbury, Md. Her 
fattier, William Mitchell, was born on the same 
farm, and spent his whole life in his native county, 
devoting himself to his occupation as a farmer. He 
married Mary Hall, a native of the same locality, 



and also a life-long resident of Worcester County. 
She was still a young woman when her husband 
died and left her with three small children to care 
for. She continued to live on the farm, and care- 
fully reared her offspring to good and useful lives. 
She has attained a venerable age, and now makes 
her home with her son John B. James A. and 
George Q. are the names of her other children. 

The latter of whom we write was but about five 
years old when his father died. He grew up much 
like other farmer boys, early learning to do farm 
work, attending school only in the winter seasons 
that he might assist in farming Ihe rest of the year. 
He remained at home with his mother until he was 
sixteen years old, and then commenced life for 
himself, working out on a farm by the month in 
Maryland until 1864. In that year he came to Illi- 
nois, and in Chicago found employment in driving 
a vegetable wagon from Tremont Garden. He was 
thus engaged one year, and at the expiration of 
that time went to Sangamon County and farmed a 
year. He next come to this county and learned the 
trade of a blacksmith at Carlinville. He did jour- 
ney work at that until 1876, when he opened a shop 
on his own account. The following year he formed 
a partnership witli J. C. Myer, that continued until 
March, 1890. In 1888 he became interested in the 
sale of agricultural implements, succeeding Theo- 
dore Moore, who had been in the business a num- 
ber of years. He has a well-fitted-up and well- 
stocked store, carrying always the best in his line, 
and deriving a good income from his extensive 

trade. 

One of the most important events in tiie life of 
our subject, was his marriage, February 21, 1870, to 
Miss Sarah E. Baird, whereby he secured one of 
life's choicest blessings, a good wife. Mrs. Gordy 
is a native of Alton, this State. Her otherwise 
happy wediled life with our subject, has been sad- 
dened by the death of their two children: Clara E., 
who died at the age of five years; and Lucy, who 
died at the age of four years. Mr. and Mrs. Gordy 
have an adopted child, Jessie M., upon whom they 
lavish the tenderest care and affection. 

Our subject stands high in business circles as an 
honorable, straightforward man, who deals fairly 
by all. He is a member of the Methodist Episco- 



412 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



pal Cburch. and we find him lielping to carry for- 
ward its every good worI< for tlie social and relig- 
ious elevation of the community. In his political 
views Mr. Gordy is ;i stanch Deraociat. 



Nlp^ W. HAVES, one of the leading attorneys of 
lU] the county and one of the prominent mem- 
/IL^ bers of the bar, has been a resident of Bun- 
ker Hill for twenty. four years. Public-spirited 
and progressive, he has done much for her inter- 
ests. Mr. Hayes is a native of Pennsylvania, his 
birth having occurred in Franklin County, Janu- 
ary 30, 1837. The family is of Irish origin and 
was founded in America by David Hayes, who with 
other brothers emigrated to this country prior to 
tiie Revolution. He settled near Dauphin, Pa., and 
after some 3'ears, with iiis wife, whose maiden name 
was Mary Wilson, removed to Franklin Comity, 
becoming pioneers of that region, which was tiien 
just opening up to civilization. Upon a farm in 
South Hampton Township thoy spent the remain- 
der of their lives and two generations lived there 
after them. Wilson Hayes was born and reared on 
that old homestead, of which he afterward became 
owner and there lived and labored for many years, 
his death occurring at the .age of seventy-two. He 
married Martha Culbertson, who w.as also of Irish 
descent, and like her husband was a faithful mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church. They became 
parents of six children, the eldest of whom was Da- 
vid, the father of our subject. He came into pos- 
session of the old home on the death of his father 
and there resided for many years, when he sold and 
removed to Shippensburg, Cumberland County, 
where his death occurred at the age of sixty -seven 
years. He had adhered to the faith of his fathers 
and was an upright, honored man. His wife, who 
in her maidenhood was Nancy Cowell, is a native 
of Cumberland County and yet makes her home in 
Shippensburg, being now eigjity years of age, but 
still hale and hearty She, too, is a Presbyterian 
and a consistent Christian woman. 

Our subject IS the eldest of six sons and two 
daughters wiio were born unto David and Nancy 



Hayes. All lived to mature years and all were 
married but one. Five of the family are yet liv- 
ing. The early life of E. W. passed uneventfully, 
nothing of special occurrence breaking the usual i 
routine. In thespriugof 1861 he donned the blue 
and became a member of Company A, Seventh 
Pennsylvania Infantry and the regiment was as 
signed to the Army of the Potomac, participating 
in most of the eng.ageraeuts of the East, including 
the first and second battles at Hull Run, Auticlam, 
Fredericksburg and many others. Mr. Hayes saw 
much hard fighting but was never wounded, how- 
ever. He w.as taken sick with typhoid fever, 
which incapacitated him for duty and he was dis- 
charged. For some time after his return home he 
w-as unable to resume work, but lime and good 
nursing at length brought back his health. 

In the meantime, Mr. Hayes had begun the stu.ly 
of law. Ho had acquired his literary educ-ition in 
Lafayette College, of Easton, Pa., and began fit- 
ting himself for the legal profession in the law of- 
fice of R. P. McClure, of Carlisle, Pa., with whom 
he remained until lie entered the service. When 
his health w.as restored he returned to his old pre- 
ceptor and was admitted to the bar in 1865. He 
was admitted to pr.ictice in the courts of Illinois 
about two years later and located in Bunker Hill, 
where he has since made h;s home. He has an en- 
vialile reputation as a practitioner and ranks high, 
not only among his professional brelhreii of Ma- 
coupin County, but throughout the State as well. 
In Franklin County, Pa., Mr. Hayes was joined 
in wedlock with Miss Margaret F. Heck, a native 
of Cumberland County, oorn in Shippensburg, July 
18, 1848. She is a daughter of Jacob and Mar<'a- 
ret (Sturgeon) Ileek, and on the p.aternal side is of 
old Pennsylvania Dutch stock, while the Sturgeons 
are of Scotch-Irish descent. Her mother died in 
tlie Keystone State at the age of seventy years. 
Her father spent the last twelve years of his life 
with his daughter, Mrs. Hayes, in Bunker Hill, and 
died at the age of eighty-eight. They were both 
life long members of the Presbyterian Church. 
They had quite a large family, but the wife of our 
subject is the only one now living. She obtained 
a good practical education, is a pleasant and intelli- 
gent lady and is an active and faithful member of the 



I- 

11 





^ ^^i^.^^^^^-^^ , ,^^^ 






PORTRAIT AND BIOORAPDICAL RECORD. 



415 



Congregational Church, to which Mr. Hayes also 
belongs and in vvhicii for ^ears lie has been an offi- 
cer. I'liey have an intercut in<i; family of live chil- 
dren — Margaret, (J. , lierlha, Kdgar H., Ralph II. 
and .los(>i>li A.; they have lost one child. Alma. 

Mr. Hayes is a stalwart Republican and was twice 
nominated for County Judge, hut was defeated, 
owing to the large preponderance of Democrats in 
the county. He frequently attends the county and 
State conventions of his party, where his oi)inions 
are received with every degree of respect. He is a 
mcndier of the Orand Army of the Republic and of 
the N'ctcran I'nion. AV'itli the leading interests of 
IJunkcr Hill he has been prominently connected, 
being now a Director in the Bunker Hill Nail Com- 
pany, President of the Cemetery Association. 
ex-President and one of the Directors of the 
Library Association and President of the School 
Hoard. All social, moral and educational interests 
(inil in him a warm friend and Bunker Hill lias no 
better citizen. 



OLlMlilS WIIKKLKR. The farming com- 
muuily of I'.rushy Mound Township recog- 
nizes in the subject of this notice a repre- 
sentative citizen and a most successful agriculturist. 
He is the owner of a fine landed estate comprising 
nearly seven hundred acres. On his home farm he 
has erected a commodious frame house and barn, 
and all necessary and adequate buildings, and has 
improved the land until it presents a very attrac- 
tive appearance. The attention of the reader is in- 
vited to his portrait on the opposite page. 

The native ])lace of our subject is Christian 
County, Ky., and the date of his birth April 7, 
1826. His father, James Wheeler, was, it is 
thought, born in New England, and when a young 
men he went South, settling in Kentuck}', where he 
engaged in teaching school. In Christian Count3' 
he iiiarried Miss Catherine Harlan, who is thought 
to have been a native of Kentuck}', and was a 
daughter of Jehu Harlan. In the fall of 1832, ac- 
companied by Ills wife, three children, and five of 
his wife's brothers and sisters, Mr. Wliet;ler started 
for Illinois, journeying with teams, and cooking and 




camping by the way. He located in Macoupin 
County, settling in (iillespie Township on land 
which his father-in-law had purchased for him. At 
that lime there were but a few settlers in the count3', 
and he w.as thus numbered among its early pio- 
neers. The greater part of the land was held by 
the Oovernment, and later was sold for 4!l.25 an 
acre. Where the town of Hunker Hill now siaiids 
there was but one building, and that was a log 
cabin. Deer, wolves, wild turkeys and sand hill 
cranes were very plentiful. 

Into the log cabin that stood on the place the 
family moved, though it was a rude structure at 
best. No sawed lumber entered into its construc- 
tion; the clapboards on the roof were rived by 
hand, and held in pkace by poles; the doors were 
made of boards split by hand, and had wooden 
hinges; the floor was of i)uiicheon, and the chim- 
ney of earth and slicks. INIr. Wheeler bought other 
Government land near the home jilace, and W!is a 
resident of Oillesiiie Township until his death, 
when his community was deprived of a valued citi- 
zen, who had contributed his share in the develoj)- 
mcnt of the .igrieultural interests of the county. 
He was twice married. By his first wife, mother 
of our subject, there were five children, and by his 
second wife two children. 

Columbus Wheeler was but eight years old when 
he accompanied his parents to Illinois, and he at- 
tended the first school ever taught in Gillespie 
Township. It was held in a log liousi^ and the 
seats were made by siilitting basswood logs, and 
hewing one side smooth, and then inserting wooden 
pins for Itgs. There were no backs to the seats, 
and desks were an unknown quantity. A substi- 
tute for the latter was made by splitting a log, and 
placing it against the wall at a convenient height, 
it thus serving as a writing desk for the larger 
scholars. On one side of the house a log was cut 
out to admit the light. 

As soon as large enough our subject commenced 
assisting on the farm, residing ,Tt home until twenty- 
three years old, when he settled on the place he 
now owns and occupies. At that time it consisted 
of eighty acres of prairie and twenty' of timber. He 
first erected a small frame house, hewing the frame 
and riving the shingles to cover the roof, and also 



416 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the l)oards for the sides, and built the house en- 
tirely himself. He has since replaced it by a fine 
and well-appointed residence, and has greatly added 
to the value of his landed property by the many 
fineimproveraenls that he has made, besides increas- 
ing its acreage. 

On the -^Glh of April, 1849, Mr. Wheeler and 
Miss Naomi Wilson were united ia marriage. Mrs. 
Wheeler was born .lune 13, 1831, in Logan County, 
K3-.,and is a daughter of Isaac and Rebecca (Mitch- 
ell) Wilson. Her father was a pioneer of Madison 
Count}', this State, where he settled in 1834. The 
following year he came to Macoupin Count}', and 
became an early settler of Brushy Mound Town- 
ship. He l)0ught a squatter's claim on section 19, 
entered it from the Government, built on it, and 
there resided uinil death closed his mortal career. 
His wife also died on the home farm in Brushy 
Mound Township. 

Of the sixteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Wheeler, six are living — Elma E., Carrie, Fred- 
erick. Terrj', Bird and Grace. Carrie is the wife 
of Jefferson Dedrick, and has one child Nellie; F'rcd- 
eriek married Nellie Snank. Mr. AVheeler and his 
estimable wife are members in high standing of the 
Baptist Church. Their unpretentious, sensible and 
upright lives, and their kindly interest in their 
community at large, have won them the hearty 
good will of their associates, and the friendly re- 
gard of those to whom they are not intimately 
known. 



fiEUBEN J. ALLMOND, M. D. One who 
has been for many j-ears the trusted counsel- 
or of a community in times of sickness, has 
gradually and almost imperceptably grown 
into a position of trust and usefulness which may 
well be envied by those who spend their lives in de- 
votion to mere money making. Such has been the 
life work of Dr. Allmond who lias been in practice 
longer than anj^ other physician in the county, and 
has earned the success and the respect which is 
universally accorded him. He was born in Wil- 
mington, Del., August 11, 1818. His f.ather. 



William, was born two miles from that city, and 
the grandfather, Thomas, was a native of the same 
localit}', and was there reared and married. He 
was a farmer and also a stonemason by trade, and 
he erected upon his farm nine commodious stone 
barns. He was a tremendous worker, and quarried 
this stone at night and wheeled it at night onto the 
scaffold from which in the daytime he erected the 
structure. The great-grandfather of our subject 
was, according to the best information at hand, an 
emigrant from England to America. His name was 
Thomas and with bis brother John he was among 
the first settlers upon the banks of the Delaware 
River. They built a cave for their home and there 
resided until they were able to |)urc!iase l.ind and 
build houses. 

The father of our subject learned the trade of a 
shoemaker but did not follow it any length of time. 
He carried on a boot and shoe store in Wilmington 
in which business he continued a number of years. 
He lived to a ver}' advanced age, dying when 
ninety-one years old. The maiden name of his 
wife was Phrebe Jefferies. She was a native of 
Wilmington and a daughter of David and Martha 
Jefferies. She reared seven sons and four daugh- 
ters, and spent her entire life in her native city. 

Reuben, thi^ eldest of this family, w.as reared 
and educated in his native city, and commenced the 
study of medicine when he was sixteen years old, 
being matriculated at Jefferson Medical College at 
Philadelphia, and taking his diploma there in the 
spring of 1839. He (ommeneed his medical prac- 
tice at Talleyville, Newcastle Count}', Del., an<l 
continued there until 1849. He then removed to 
Ohio, making his home in Morgan County until 
1853. After this he practiced in Ogle County, III., 
carrying on a farm at the same time. In 1858 he 
sold this property and removed to Piasa, Macoupin 
County, where he practiced until 18ol, when he 
made his permanent home in Palmyra, 

The first marriage of Dr. Allmond occnrreil in 
1841, when he was happily united with Ann G. 
Talley, who w.as born near Talleyville, Del., the 
ancestral home of her family. Her birth occurred 
in May, 1822, and she passed away from life in 
1860 at Piasa. Tne i)resent Mrs. Allmond bore the 
maiden name of Elizabeth Janes. She was born 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



417 



in Carrolllon, 111., in 1831, ;uk1 was united with 
our subject in May, 1862. The Uoctor has six 
ehikhen living by his first marriage, namely: Leu- 
rina, Mrs. Gardner; Priseilla, Mrs. Padgett; 
Pha'be, Mrs. Cram; .lulia, Mrs. Grinimett; Flor- 
ence ^'irginia, Mrs. Rice, and Ida, Mrs. Springlo. 
The second marriage has brought him three daugh- 
ters: Zillie Jlay, Mrs. Kapps; Dora B., Mrs. 
Ritchie, and Ilattie. The Doctor aad Mrs. All 
mond and most of their daughters are active and 
earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church in which they are highly respected, and 
where they find a broad Held of influence. The 
Doctor's politics are in accordance with the utter- 
ances of the Democratic platform. 




ANDOLPH P. ANDERSON, a well-known 
and honored citizen of Carlinville, now 
living retired from active business, comes 
I of Irish and Scotch .ancestry. lie was born 
February 25, 1832, on a farm near Newark, N. J., 
the son of Robert and Nancy (Moore) Anderson. 
Robert Anderson was born in Ireland, of which 
country, as far as known, his father, James Ander- 
son, was also a native, and where his entire life was 
spent. His son Robert was roared in his native 
land, and when a young man, with three of his 
brothers, came to America, locating in New Jersey, 
while his brotliers settled in the Southern States. 
He was a brick moulder by trade, and followed that 
business in New Jersey for fifteen years, and then 
l)ought a farm near Newark, upon which he resi<)ed 
until 1838, when he went to Indiana, and settled in 
Randolph County', where he was a pioneer. He 
bought a tract of limber land near the Ohio Slate 
line, and built a log house on the place. He split 
boards for the roof, also puncheon for the floor. 
The chimney was built of earth and sticks. At 
Ihat early day there was an abundance of game, 
deer and turkeys were ver^' plentiful. For some 
years there were no railways, and Pickaway thirty- 
seven miles distant, was the nearest market. The 
merchants would pay for grain and hay in mer- 



! chandise only. At that lime but little value was 
placed upon lumber, and when clearing land huge 
logs were rolled together and burned. 

The father of our subject developed a farm from 
the wilderness, which he sold at an advance, and 
bought another tract of timber a mile distant from 
his first purchase. This he also built upon and 
cleared the land, but finally sold it. He then pur- 
chased a small piece of land, erected a comfortable 
home, and there dwelt until bis death. His wife 
was a native of Scotland, and she came to this 
country with her father, Isaac Moore. Her death 
took place upon the home-place in Randolph 
County. Both she and her iiusband were devoted 
Christians, and members of the Baptist Church. 
They reared a famil}- of thirteen children to useful 
lives. 

Randolph P. Anderson was but six years old 
when his parents removed to Indiana, and in that 
State he was reared and educated. He early at- 
tended school in a primitive log schoolliousc, and 
as soon as he was able, commenced to assist in the 
duties of the farm, residing with his parents until 
he was fourteen years old, when he began to do 
farm work b}- the day or month for others. He re- 
ceived ten cents a d.iy for his labor, and by the 
month was paid 14 or $o, and had to work hard 
from daylight until dark. He continued working 
out until he was seventeen, and then served three 
and one-half years in Union Cit^', Ind., to learn 
the trade of blacksmith. After that he did "joui" 
work in that State until 1855, when he came to 
Carlinville, commencing here as a journeyman, and 
finally opening a carriage and general blacksmith 
shop, in which he continued until 1884, when he 
retired from active business. He was VGr3' much 
prospered, and succeeded in accumulating a valua- 
ble properly, the possession of which places Lira 
among the moneyed men of Macoupin County. 
He has purchased farm land from time to time, 
I some of which he has sold, but he still owns up- 
ward of five hundred acres, all of which is located 
within a convenient distance of Carlinville. 

On October 30, 1862, Mr. Anderson was united 
in marriage with Helena McGinnis. She is a na- 
tive of Macoupin County, her birtli taking pl.ace in 
Carlinville Township, and she is a daughter of 



418 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RhXORD. 



Martiu McGinnis, a Missourian by birth. Mrs. An- 
derson's great-grandfather was born in Ireland, and 
emigrated to this country. His son James, the next 
in line of descent, was a pioneer farmer of Missouri. 
From that State he came to Illinois, and his death 
took place in Madison County. The father of Mrs. 
Anderson was quite young when his parents took 
up their residence in this State. After his mar- 
riage with Klizabetii Haines, a daughter of .lames 
Haines, he located in Macoupin County, and was 
an .active pioneer of Carlinville Township. He 
purchased a tract of partially improved land and 
engaged in agriculture. He now resides in Ches- 
terfield Township. His wife is thought to have 
been a native of Missouri. She died on the home 
farm in Chesterfield Township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of two 
children, Annie Mary and Robert R. Annie is the 
wife of William B. Taylor, of Carlinville. They 
have three children, whom they have named Earl 
Randolph, Fenton and Myrtle. The term "self- 
made"' may most properly be applied to Mr. An- 
derson, as through life he hiis had to depend 
entirely on his own exertions. But with a deter- 
mination to succeed, he worked eariiesti}' and con- 
stant!}', and now, while yet in the prime of life, 
can rest from all care and anxiety, with the con- 
sciousness that his present prosperity is due to his 
own industry and ability, abl}- seconded by the co- 
operation of his faithful wife. 




ENRY C. SANDERS, one of the members 
|] of a prominent family in Macoupin County, 
residing on section 22, North Otter Town- 
f!^) ship, has a beautiful place of eighty-tiirec 
acres upon which he has erected good farm build- 
ings. He is a brother of W. E. Sanders of Polk 
Township and a son of Brantley N. Sanders, who 
was a North Carolinian by bu'tli. His mother, Sarah 
Sanders, w.as born in Alabama, which became the 
first home of this couple after their marriage an<l 
from which they moved to Missouri in 1858. They 
remained in that Stale until during the d.ays of the 
Civil War, when they- came 10 Illinois, settling in 



what is now Polk Township, Macoupin County. 
They remained here from 1863 through the re- 
m.ainder of their lives. 

The subject of this sketch is the third in order 
of age in a family of ten children. He was born 
before his parents came West, December 23. 1849, 
in Alabama. He 'Accompanied his father and 
mother in their wanderings, reaching Macoupin 
County in 1863 and remained with his parents un- 
til their death. After this sad event the family 
remained together about a year, making their home 
in North Otter Township. Henry went to live 
with Nathan Chamberlain and remained with him 
four years and then worked a year for another 
fiirnier who also resided in North Otter Township. 
After this he spent one summer in Polk Township. 

Martha F. Biggerstaflf was the maiden name of 
the lad3" who was united in marriage with our sub- 
ject at the home of her parents in North Otter 
Township, October 27, 1870. Her parents, Benja- 
min and Nancy (Courtney) Biggerstaflf, were- also 
Southerners by birth and breeding, and came from 
Kentucky to Macoupin County- at an earlj' day, 
making their permanent home in North Otter 
Township, where they remained until called hence 
by death. Christmas Da\% 1852, is the natal day 
of Mrs. Martha F. Sandeis, who was born after 
her pn rents removed to this county. 

Six bright and interesting children came to share 
the i)arental love and care of Mr. and Mrs. Sanders. 
Their names are: Charlie B.. Melvin M.. Mella A., 
Lola A., Arthur A., and Eva M. The youngest 
son was rudely snatched froru his parents by death 
through a sail .accident. He w^s kicked by a horse 
July 6. 1890 and died from the effects of this blow 
four days later. 

Ml. Sanders h.as been .School Director and Con- 
stable, both of which oHices he has filled with credit 
to himself .and advantage to his fellow-citizens. 
He takes .an intelligent view of political movements 
and keeps himself well-informed in regard to pub- 
lic affairs, as well .as exerting himself to induence 
local movements. He is strongly attached to the 
])arty which placed Lincoln in the Presidential 
Chair, and watches with interest the progress of 
this party. 

The Christian Church is the'relisrious body with 




RESl DEisC:^ Or H. ^. i A;>; J^r.5 , Si^C^i.^NOr^ 1 n 0. : l.-^ 1 1"", M ACU J r^i M CO., ILL. 









RESiQENCeOF FRANK vV . G AT lS , SEC. ^S , Gi RARD TR.MACOUPliN CO.,1 LL, . 



rORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



421 



which our subje<;t has connected himself and he is 
;i hearty worker in its sciiemes of piety and phi- 
lanthropy. Me has alvvajs been actively cngtiged 
in farmii'g and stock-raising and has put his farm 
in a (irsl-clasf; condition. The bnildiiiys are an 
ornament to the townshii) and the neat appearance 
of fields and fences is in itself a compliment to his 
tliorongliness and good management. A view of 
this homestead is presented elsewhere in this 
volume. 



Jil 



-•' — ■■»^-^°^«- - '-::y>^-' 



^l^fRANK W. GATES, a veteran of the late 
||~\^; ^'*'^''' "''lo fought bravely for his country on 
jj^ ~ many a Southern battleheld, has done no 
less good work as a sturdy, capable farmer in help- 
iiig to carry forward the agricultural interests of 
this county. His home place comprises one hun- 
dred and foity-four acres of fine farming land, ad- 
vantageously located close to the city of Girard, 
and he also has two other small tracts of choice 
farm land, one in this and one in Sangamon Coun- 

Mr. Gales is a native of Muhlenberg County, 
Ky., born December 23, 1838. His father, who 
bore the name of Henry Gates, was a native of 
Muhlenberg Count}-, Ky. John Gates, the grand- 
father of our subject was a native of North Caro- 
lina and a son of Yost Gales. The family name 
was formerly spelled differently'. The great-grand- 
father of onr subject went fi'om Pennsylvania to 
North Carolina, and spent his remaining; <)ays in tlie 
latter State. The grandfather of our subject grew 
to manhood m the State of his birth, and was there 
married to Christina Groves, who was also a native 
of North Carolina. He removed to Muhlcnlierg 
County, Ky. about 1800, and was one of the |)ione- 
ers of that section, buying a tra<'t of land on the 
Greenville and Elkton Koad bordering on the 
waters of Pond River. He.erected needed build- 
ings, and in the course of years improved a farm, 
upon which he resided until death called him hence. 
His wife also died on the home farm. They had 



four sons and three daughters, who names were 
John, Jacob, Joseph, Henry. Catherine, Elizabeth 
and Christina. 

The father of our subject inherited tlr;old home- 
stead, and retained it in his possession until !855, 
when he sold it in the spring of that 3'ear in order 
to come to Illinois to avail himself of the superior 
advantages afforded by the rich soil o; this State. 
He settled in Sangamon County, buying a t)-act of 
land in Auburn Township. He erected suitable 
buildings, and dwelt there until 18511. In that 
year he sold bis ()roperty there at an advance, and 
coming to Macoupin County, took up his abode in 
Shaw's Point Township, wliere he again bought a 
tract of land broken and fenced, but without build- 
ings. He erected all the buildings thai he required, 
and in the home that he made there his life was 
[irolonged to a ripe age, his death occuriing in 
January, 1873. His married life with Sarah Jenk- 
ins, a native of Muhlenberg County, Ky., and a 
daughter of Amos and Grace (Deeren) Jenkins, 
was one of mutual happiness, and was blest to 
them by the birth of eleven children, namely, 
Julia A., Albert K., Frank W., Henry H., John P., 
Delila, Andrew, Thomas M., LtamJer W., Ellen 
and Mary J. The mother is still living at a vener- 
able age, and makes her home with a daughter at 
Shaw's Point Township. 

The subject of this biographical notice was six- 
teen years old when the family came to this Slate. 
He had attended school in Kentuck}', and was well 
versed in farm work, as he had begun at an early 
age to help his father. He remained an inmate of 
the parental home until he attained his majorit}', 
and then commenced his chosen calling as a farmer 
on rented land. In the opening years of his man- 
hood tlie great rebellion broke out and threatened 
destruction to the Union. In August, 18G2 he 
determined to sacrifice all prospects of success in 
the pursuit of his vocation to join the brave boys 
at the front to hel|) save the old fiag at any cost. 
His name was enrolled as a member of Corniiany 
K, One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, 
with which he served faithfully until the close of 
the War. He look part in the battle of Chicka- 
mauga, and started with Sherman on his celebrated 
march to Atlanta. On the way he helped to fight 



422 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RPX'ORD. 



the haltle of Resaca, and will) his regiment was 
detached to guard tiiat city. After a few weci<s 
he and his comrades advanced to Adairsville, and 
then marched back to Resaca, whence they went to 
Nashville, and assisted in that battle. After that 
they followed tlie rebels to Huntsville, Ala., where 
they went into winter quarters. In early spring 
they were despatched to A'irginia, and were near 
Greenville, Tenn., when they received the joyful 
news that peace was declared. Our subject's regi- 
ment returned to Nashville, where it was (aicamped 
for a time before it was finally mustered out and 
honorably discharged in June, 1865. 

After the war closed our subject returned to this 
count}', and quietly resumed the work that he had 
thrown aside to become a soldier. He soon bought 
a tract of timber land west of Girard, built thereon, 
improved a part of it, and in 1869 sold it. His 
next i)urcl)asc was a lot of prairie land three miles 
northwest of Girard, which he farmed some years 
with good profit. He then sold that farm at a good 
advance on the purchase price, and his next invest- 
ment was in land a mile and a half southeast of 
Girard in Nilwood Township. In 1884 he bought 
the farm on which he noiv resides near the village 
of Girard. On another page appears a view of this 
estate. It is a well-improved piece of property, 
and the fertile soil returns abundant harvests in 
p.aj'ment for the care bestowed upon it. 

Mr. Gates and Miss Serilda Gibson entered upon 
their wedded life in March, 18C2. Mrs. Gates is a 
native of Morgan County, this State, and a daugh- 
ter of Cullen and Nancy Gibson, of whom see bio- 
graphy on another page of this volume. In her the 
German Baptist Church finds an active working 
member and the husband a faithful wife. Mr. and 
Mrs. Gates have eight cliildren living, Sarah J., 
Emma M., Oscar, Ella, Nora, Charles, Edgar and 
Lois. 

Our subject is well worthy of the trust and con- 
sideration in which he is lield, as he is honest and 
straight forward in all that lie does, and has ever 
been true to his convictions of duty, whether as a 
soldier or as a private citizen. He is one of the 
leading raerabeis of the Luke Mayfield Post, No. 
516, G. A. R , of which he is Senior Vice, and Past 
Commander and Adjutant. In religion he is lib- 



eral, allowing all to think as they |)lease and re- 
taining the right in that respect as private propertj-. 
Ill politics he is a Republican although he cast his 
first vote for Mr. Douglas. 



-^ 



-H- 



(ACOB BRUBAKER, a retired farmer 
residing in Virden Township, is a man 
whose life and character have won him 
the universal respect of his fellow-citi- 
zens, and he is most worthy of representation in 
this Biographical Record. He was born in Frank- 
lin County, Va.. August 1, 1819, the ehlest son of 
Jonathan and Barbara Brubaker, an account of 
whom is given in the biography of Jonathan 
Brubaker on another page of this volume. 

Our subject had a thorough training in agricul- 
ture in his youth on his father's farm, as he com- 
menced when very young to be of assistance in 
the labors incident to its cultivation and improve- 
ment. That was before the days of railways or 
canals in his native Virginia, and his father used 
to market his products at Lynchburg, in that 
State, taking them thither with teams, two weeks 
being consumed in traveling to and fro that city. 
Modern farming machinery was then unknown in 
the cultivation of the land and in gathering the 
crops, and all grain was cut with a sickle or cradle. 
Later a primitive harvest machine was invented 
an<l it was considered a great institution. In using 
it a man had to stand on a frame on the machine 
to rake the grain from the table, but later a self 
raker was invented and made at Springfield. Our 
subject, who was always progressive and ready to 
ado(it new ideas, exhibited the first machine of that 
kind ever manufactured, and ultimately bought it. 
When Mr. Brubaker was a lad of twelve years 
he accompanied his parents in their removal to 
Ohio, and drove a team the greater part of the 
way. In that early day Clarke County where they 
located was somewhat sparsely settled, and still re- 
tained much of its original condition as a wilder- 
ness, in which deer, wild turkey's and other game 
still roamed in abundance. Our subject received 
his education in the pioneer schools that obtained 



POUTEAi'l AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



423 



in those days before the era of free schools, when 
each family hail to [)ay a certain sum of money ac- 
cording to the number of scholars sent. The school 
was taught in a log house, which was furnished 
with benches which were made of slabs and had 
no backs, and the only desk was a slab resting on 
l)ins inserted in the wall. The people were prin- 
cipally home-livers in those times, and the veiy 
cloth with which the children were clothed was 
spun and woven by the mother from Sax and wool 
raised on the farm. 

Our subject continued to make one of the par- 
ental household until his marriage, when he rented 
a tract of land on which he made his home for 
about fourteen years. He then bought property 
in the village of Norlhanipton, including a log 
house and a shingle mill. He operated the mill 
there two years, and then selling the house and lot, 
he bought thirteen acres of land a half mile south 
of the town, on the Ilaraplon and Donnellsville 
Pike, and removing his mill to that place, contin- 
ued profitably engaged in the manufacture of 
shingles the ensuing eleven years. During that 
time he had invested in seventy-seven acres of lautl 
adjoining, and in 1863 sold his whole place for the 
goodly sum of 165 an acre. Coming to Vir 
den after he had disposed of that property, he 
bought two hundred acres of land on section 18, 
of this township, besides forty acres of timber, 
and he has been a resident here ever since. His 
farm is in a fine condition, well supplied with all 
.modern improvements, and its rental affords him a 
good income. 

Mr. Brubaker was married August 13, 1840, to 
Annie P'rantz and in her he has a devoted wife, 
who has been an importaut agent in bringing about 
his present comfortable circumstances. Mrs. Bru- 
baker is a native of Clarke County, Ohio, and a 
daughter of John and Annie (Olimert) Frantz, tlie 
former a native of Botetourt County and the lat- 
ter of the Shenandoah Valley, Va., and they were 
among the pioneers of Clarke County, Ohio. Mr. 
and Mrs. Brubaker reared six of their children to 
maturity, namely : Elizabeth, who married George 
Shull, and died in November, 1886, at the age of 
forty-five; Nancy, wife of .James Shull; Catherine, 
wife of Jacob Blickenstaff; John, a [)reacher in the 



German Baptist Brethren Church; Samuel, who is 
a farmer; and Ezra, who lives with his parents, the 
sons all being residents of Mrden Township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Brub.tker are most estimable peo- 
ple, kindly, hospitable and charitable, and they 
are among the most devoted members of the Ger- 
man Baptist Brethren Church, in which faith they 
have reared their family. 









ANn':L D. GOODELL, a leading attorney 
at law and the efficient village Clerk of 
Brighton, claims New York as the State of 
his nativity, his birth having occurred in La F.ay- 
ette, Onondaga County, December 24, 183(5. The 
family was probably founded in this country dur- 
ing early Colonial days. 'J'he grandfather of our 
subject, Nathan Goodell, lived ami died in the 
Emi)iie State, and Warren Goodell, father of 
Daniel, was born in Onondaga County. In the 
usual manner of Tarmer lads he was reared to man- 
hood and in his native State iie married ^^ss 
P'rances Bannister, who was born in Vermont. 
Tliroughout his life he engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits and was a leading citizen of the community 
ill which lie made his home, being es|jecially pro- 
minent in local political affairs, supporting the 
Whig party. In religious belief he was a. Presby- 
terian and died in that faith in New York, after 
which his widow emigrated with her family to 
Michigan. She (iied in Calhoun County when well 
advanced in years. She too was a meml)er of the 
Presbyterian Cluircli and a most estimable lady. 

The early life of our subject was unmarked by 
any event of special importance, !iis time being 
[lassed midst play and work as boys usually spend 
their earl}' days. After the death of his father he 
accompanied his mother to Jlichigan. and having 
determined to become a legal practitioner he enter- 
ed upon the study of law. He has lived in Illinois 
since 1858, making his home in Jersey, Madison 
and Macoupin Counties, where for some years he 
had a successful career as an educator. Being 
offered a position as teacher in the schools of 
Brigiilon be came to this place and after some time 



424 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



spent in tli.at profession, opened an office and enter- 
ed upon the i)racticc of law in 1879. 

Mrs. Goodell was formerly Miss Saraii Dicker- 
son, a native of the .State of l)i*laware. AVith her 
parents slie came to Illinois, the family- locating in 
Madison County, where they resided for some 
years, subsequently re.noving to Brighton, where 
they still make their home. They are well-known 
and iiighly respected citizens of this community 
and are numbered among the honored earl}- settlers. 
Sarah Dickerson remained under the parental roof 
until she gave her hand in marriage to D. D. 
Goodell. Their union has been blessed by two 
children — Warren H. who was educated in the 
public schools of Brighton, and is now a wide- 
awake and enterprising young attorne}' at law; and 
William M. who is still at home. 

In politics, Mr. Goodell is a stalwart supporter 
of the Republienn party, having advocated its 
principles since he attained his niajorit}'. His ca- 
reer as an attorney has been a successful one and he 
has now a large and lucrative practice, such as his 
merits well deserve. 



---^-^^i^i^^^^f^ffZ^^ 



AMUEIj lee, dealer in wines and liquors 
at Bunker Hill, has carried on business 
since 1877. He is a native of England, 
his birth having occurred in Northampton- 
shire, in the month of November, 1850. Tracing 
his ancestry back until history was lost in tradition 
we see that the family is of pure English stock. 
The father of our subject, George Lee, was also a 
native of Northamptonshire, and in that county 
was united in marriage. His wife died in her na- 
tive land in the prime of life, leaving a family of 
four children, of whom Samuel is the third in order 
of birth. After the death of his first wife George 
Lee was a second time married, his union being 
with Mrs. Anna Wall nee King, who was also born 
and reared in Northamptonshire, and was there 
married the first time. By her first union she had 
one child. 

The eldest brother of our subject, Josiali Lee, 




was the first of the family to come to the United 
States, the date of his emigration being between 
1850 and 1860. When the late war broke out he 
manifested his loyalty to his adopted country by 
enlisting as a member of Company F, Seventh Ill- 
inois Infantry, in which he served until the South 
was conquered. He then returned to his home in 
Macoupin County. For nine long months during 
his service he had been confined in Andersonville 
prison. He was married and was engaged in liusi- 
ne.'s in Bunker Hill at the time of his death, which 
occurred in 1876. William Lee, the second of the 
familj', wedded Mar3- Malume3'and is now living in 
St. Louis. John II. is successfully' engaged in the 
livery business in Bunker Hill, where he keeps a 
well-equipped stable and is also owner of the fine 
thoroughbred horse, ••Brilliance." 

We now tn.ke up the personal history of our sub- 
ject who spent the days of his boyhood and youth 
in his native land aid was there educated. He w.as 
only three years old when his rcolher died. In 1870, 
in i;omi)any with his elder brother .John, he bade 
good-by to Merry England, and taking passage on 
a Westward bound steamer, sailed from Liverpool 
to New York, whence he came across the country 
to Bunker Hill, where he has resided continuoiisly 
since, covering a period of twenty-one consecutive 
years. Three years later he wns joined by his 
father and step-mother who are yet residing at this 
place. George I^ee is now seventy j'ears of age 
and his wife has attained the age of sixt}' six years. 
Both are members of the Episcopal Church. 

In 1877 our subject established his business in 
Bunker Hill and continued in it at his first location 
until 1881, when he removed to the building which 
is his present pl.ace of business. From the early 
age of eight years he has made his own way in the 
world, depending entirely upon his own efforts, 
and tlie success he has achieved in life is due to 
his own industry and push. He was married in 
Bunker Hill, to Miss Louisa Ijrandenburger, who 
was born in St. Louis, Mo., January 9, 1859, but 
grew to womanhood in this locality where her 
parents located during her childhood. The}' are of 
German birth and still reside in Bunker Hill. Five 
children grace the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lee, and 
the family circle yet remains unbroken. In order 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



427 



of tiirlh lliey are as follows: Samuel G., Laura J., 
.Joseph W., Christina E. and Walter .S. Mr. and 
Mrs. Lee attend the Ei)iscopal Cliurcli and in poli- 
tics lie is a supporter of tiie Republican [wrty. 




EVVIS M. PEEBLES, wiio is now living in 
§, retirement from active business at Carlin- 
ville, has been vaiiously identified with the 
interests of this county for many years, especially' 
with its agriculture, and his place is among our 
most useful and honorable citizens. He was born 
in Ilart County, Ky., January' 23, 1833. His par- 
ents were Bird and Nancy (Brooks) Peebles, the 
former of whom was born in North Carolina No- 
vember 8, 1795, and the latter in La Rue County, 
Ky., October 21, 1798. They were married in tlie 
latter county January 8, 1818; and settled in Hart 
County, the same State, where they lived until 
1839. 

In that 3'ear the parents came to tliis State, and 
cast in their lot with the pioneers of this county. 
He became one of the leading farmers of his sec- 
tion, and was also jirominent in public life. In 
1848 he was elected County Commissioner, and held 
the office four years. Both he and his good wife 
were devoted members of the Metiiodist Episcopal 
Church. They died in Chesterfield Township, his 
death occurring in June, 1852, and hers in the fall 
of 1867. They were the parents of ten ihijdreii, 
nine of whom lived to grow up. They wereamjng 
the oldest settlers of the county, and their names 
are held in reverence among those of its most 
worthy pioneers. 

He of whom we write was six years of age when 
his parents came to this county and located in 
Chesterfield Township. Here he grew to man's 
estate, and for forty-four years he lived in the 
house that his father built in 1810. He was given 
excellent educational advantages, and for six 
months was a student at Sdurtleff College, Upper 
Alton. He was carefully trained in all that makes a 
good man and a good citizen, and high moral i)rin- 
ciples were early instilled into his mind. His par- 
ents were among the leading members in buildini> 



up the Methodist Episcopal Church in Chesterfield, 
and he was one of the first pupils to attend the first 
Sunday-school that was established in Cliesterfield 
Township. 

Our subje<!t has been chiefly' engaged in agricul- 
tural [)ursuits, and formerly farmed quite exten- 
sively, and laised a good deal of stock, making a 
specialty of horses and cattle, lie still retains 
possession of his farm, which is one ot the finest in 
the county, comprising three hundred acres of 
choice land in Chesterfield and Western Mound 
Townships, which he rents, as on account of ill- 
health he is unable to superintend its cultivation. 
He has b^' no means confined himself to farming, 
but with characteristic enterprise has branched 
out in other directions, and at one time was en- 
gaged in the drug and grocer^' business at Chester- 
field. While living on his farm he built a brick 
kiln and manufactured brick for o.".e year. In the 
spring of 1884 he rented liis farm and removed to 
the village of Chesterfield, where he continued to 
live two years. He then removed to Greenfield, 
Greene Ct)unty, and was u resident of that place 
until August, 1890, when he took up his abode in 
tlie city of Carlinville, where he has since made his 
liorae. 

Mr. Peebles was married in Barr Township, this 
county. April 12, 1871, to Miss Josei)hine A. Met- 
calf. Theirs is a true marriage, in which each has 
nobly met the responsibilities of domestic life, com- 
forted each other in its sorrows, and trebled its 
joys by their devotion to each others' interests. 
Three children have been born to them: Earl M., 
Roy B. and Ina. Ina dietl when nine months old. 
Both the sons are being given every advantage to 
secure a liberal education, and are at present stu- 
dents in Blackburn University. 

Mrs. Peebles is a native of this county, born in 
Barr Township August 28, 1840, a daugiiter of 
Richard J. Metc;df, one of its leading citizens. She 
remained with her [larents in that township until 
her marriage, being reared to womanhood in tiic 
home of her birth. She was educated in the Meth- 
odist College at Jacksonville, and is a woman of 
much culture and ti ue refinement. She is an ac- 
tive member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
as is also her voungest son. She is charitable and 



428 



rORTKAlT AMD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



benevolent in Iier disposition, and lier sympathies 
are enlisted in every good work in or out of lier 
cliurcli. 

Tiie father of Mrs. Peebles was born in Hopkins 
County, Ky., August 1, 1817, and was next to the 
j'oungest of a family of nine children. He was 
eighteen years old when he came to Macoupin 
County, an J he was here married September 6, 
1838, to Miss Mary J. Buchanan, who had come to 
this county whisn she was ten years of age. She 
was born in Bourbon County, Ky., August 26, 
1823. The youthful couple established their home 
among the pioneers of Barr Township, where they 
lived in contentment and happiness for more than 
forty years. In December, 1882, they removed to 
Greenfield, where she died October 26, 1886. He 
suivived her until March 2, 1890, when he too 
passed away. He was a farmer by occupation, but 
after his removal to Greenfield he engaged in the 
banking business, which he followed until a j'ear 
previous to his death, when he was obliged to aban- 
don it on account of old age, and consequent fail- 
ing health. 

Mr. Meiealf was prominent in public life during 
his residence in Barr Township. He rejjresented 
the township two terms as a member of the Ma- 
coupin County Board of Supervisors, and was one 
of the Directors of the County Agricultural Board 
for several years. He also held various school ofli- 
ces. About three j-ears before his death he joined 
the Metiiodist Episcopal Chuich, of which his wife 
had been a devoted member since she was fifteen 
jears old. They were the parents of ten children, 
of whom Mrs. Peebles is the eldest. Mr. Mctcalf 
took a good degree of interest in educational 
affairs, and was careful to give his children sound 
educations. He was a great lover of home, and 
his thoughts were centered in the domestic circle 
where he was the most devoted of husbands and 
the kindest of fathers. His neighbors found in 
him a true friend and a safe counselor, and he was 
honored and revered by all who knew him. 

We will add only a few more words to this brief 
outline of the life of our subject. He Ijas always 
honored industry and integrity in thought and in 
example, in personal character he is above re- 
proach, and enjoys a high standing throughout the 



county. He hHS always manifested a deep interest 
in the welfare of the county, and has contributed 
his share to its rise and progress. He was Presi- 
dent of the Permanent Organization in Chester- 
field Township, for the purpose of assisting in 
building what is now known as the St. Louis, Al- 
ton & Springfield Railway, and subscribed very 
liberall}' toward tiie construction of the road. He 
has held some of the school offices and has used his 
influence to extend the educational advantages of 
his comnuinity. He represented Chesterfield Town- 
ship as a member of the Anti Court House Central 
Committee, of which Judge Lewis Solomon was 
Chairman. Our subject was Chairman of the first 
Anti Court House indignation meeting that w.is 
held in the county, and he was very influential in 
arousing public sentiment against the erection of 
the court house. 

Mr. Peebles was formerly' actively engaged in 
church work in the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
until he was forty ^ears old, and held various offi- 
ces in connection with it, such as that of Class- 
Leader, Superintendent of the Sunday-school, and 
was for a time Recording Steward. He is a thor- 
ough-going temperance man, and has long been a 
leader in the Prohibition party, it being largely 
through his instrumentality that the party was or- 
gaiiized in this county, and he also assisted in the 
organization of the Prohibitionists in Greene 
County, into an effective working parly. 

On another page of this volume the reader will 
notice a portrait of Mr. Peebles. 



ETER J. AHRENS, one of the oldest mer- 
chants in Gillespie who is doing a general 
merchandise business on Macoupin Street 
began business at his present stand in the 
spring of 1866. He now has a well-filled store 
measuring 20x66 and a ware-room 16x20 feet in 
addition. Before coming to this city he was in the 
same line of business for a year at Staunton, but 
is now considered one of the oldest residents of 
this place, having come here when the village was 
very small. The subject of our sketch was born in 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



429 



Ilolstein, Germany, May -29, 1826. He came of a 
good Genuaii family, a fuller hisloiy of wliieli can 
be seen in the liistoiical sketch of John M. Ahi'ciis, 
to be founrt elsewhere in this Reooku. This son is 
one of seven children who grew to maturitj- in their 
native country, five of whom are now living in 
America. Peter was trained in tlie life of a farmer 
and he had reached the age of twent3'-three years 
before he started for the New Worhl. He then set 
sail in May 1849, and coming in a sailing-vessel to 
the United States, landed in New York after a four 
weeks' voyage. He came to Cliicago and after- 
ward to this county. He farmed for awhile and 
later took up the business as above staled. 

The marriage of Peter Ahrens and Rlnria Ruther 
took place in Macoupin County, in Rlay, 1854. She 
was born in Hanover, Prussia, February 2, 183j. 
For" fuller mention of this family, the reader is re- 
ferred to the biography of Charles Kuther. This 
young woman was reared and i)artly educated in 
Germany and in 1817 came with her [larents to 
America. Their first home in the new country was 
near IJrighton in this county and somcivhat later 
they removed to Staunton. This bright anti cap- 
able German lad^' has become the mother of ten 
children, three of whom died when ^oung. Those 
who are living are .lohn, who is yet single, and is 
associated with his father in business, being the 
junior partner in the (irm ; Christina, the wife of 
Edgar Lightl}-, a mechanical engineer, who resides 
in Lansing, Kan.; George C, who has grown up 
in the mercantile business and is now assisting his 
father and brother by clerking in the store. His 
wife's maiden name was Lucy Burton. The four 
younger children, Carl, Anna, Fanny and Rosa, are 
at home. These children have inherited more than 
ordinary intellectual acumen and practical aptness 
for the duties of life. Fanny received her higher 
education at the German Methodist Episcopal Col- 
lege at Warrenton, Mo. The church under which 
this school is flourishing is the one to which our sub- 
ject and his wife are attached, and in which they 
fiiid a broad field of usefulness and opportunity for 
labor. Mr. Ahrens is a sound Republican and one 
of the leading German-American citizens in this 
part of the county. For eight 3'cars past his neigh- 
bors have served themselves and honored him by 



placing him in the office of Justice of the Peace, an 
office which he has conducted in a manner which is 
a credit to himself and is highly satisfactory to all 
concerned. 



^-^^ 



OHN WHEELER, a respected resident of 
Bird Township, w.as born in Mason County^ 
Ky., Sei)tember 6, 180G. His father, Benja- 
min, a native of Kentucky removed when 
this son was seven years old to Clermont County, 
Ohio, whnrc he grew to manhood. Early in the 
'30s Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Wheeler with one 
chilli left Ohio for Illinois, but on the way spent 
almost a year and a half in Indiana. In 1833 our 
subject came to Greene County, III. and after a 
year's residence there arrived in Macoupin County 
in the fall of 1834 and made his permanent home 
in Bird Township 

John Wheeler first bought one hundreil and 
sixty .'icres but finally incieased it to two hunilred 
rnd fifty-eight acres, which he now owns, although 
at one time he possessed some twelve hundred acres 
which he lias parted with. He improved his farm 
and erected comfortable buildings, and was suc- 
cessful in his enterprises. He has always from the 
first been provided with the necessities and many of 
the comforts of life. 

The marriage of our subject took place in Cler- 
mont County, Ohio, his bride being Miss IMary 
Cameron. She was born in Fleming County, Ky., 
October 22, 1803. They became the parents of 
the following children: Lucinda, anil Amanda who 
died in infancy; William, who married Mary J. Lee; 
Barbara, who is Mrs. Jonas Ribble; Francis M., 
who married Miss Shull and later Miss Lucy 
Haynes; Iluldah, who is the wife of John R. Stew- 
ard; Calvin, who married Lizzie Kane. 

Mr. Wheeler has been a member of the School 
Board and is alw.ays deeply interested in educa- 
tional affairs, promoting in every way possible 
the interests of the young people of the community. 
He is justly proud of his ancestry as his grandfather 
John Wheeler, was a soldier under Gen. Washing- 
ton for four 3'ears in the Revolutionary days. His 



430 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



political views are of the strong Jacksonian Demo- 
cratic kind and he is ever ready willi his ballot to 
holi) carry out the jirinciples which he indorses. 
Farming and stock-raising have occupied his efforts 
and interests. Like all old settlers he has seen great 
changes in bis township, and rejoices in the pros- 
perity of the region which he made his home so 
many years ago. To all snch great credit is due 
for the ))rosperity and enlightenment which now 
blesses the younger members of society and which 
has made of Illinois a State of which all Aintricans 
feel proud. Not one of the family has died since 
our subject came to Illinois. 




^M V^ARNEY HALL is a rei)resentative of 
the native-born citizens of this county who 
within the past fewj^ears have stepped for- 
ward to aid in carrying on the great agri- 
cultural interests of this section. He is a descend- 
ant of the good old pioneer stock of the early 
years of the settlement of the Stale, and was burn 
Se|)tember 1, 18G7, on section 6, Brushy Mound 
Township, on his father's old homestead, a part of 
which he now owns and operates. 

Our subject is a sou of the late Harrison Hall, a 
former well-known, wealthy farmer of thisconnly, 
who was born in 1832, in Jarvis Township, Madi- 
son County, a son of one of its early settlers, Heniy 
Hall. The latter was a native of Kentucky-, and 
after his removal to this Slate lie bought and im- 
proved a farm in Jarvis Township, and died 
there. 

Harrison Hall was reared and educated in his 
native count}-. There were no free schools in his 
youth, and all had to pa^' for their schooling. As 
his early life was passed on a farm he became in 
time a good, practical farmei'. He continued to 
reside in Madison County until 185G, when he came 
to Macoupin County, and bought a tract of land 
on section 6, Brushy Mound Township, which was 
mostly' covered with timber, but r. few acres were 
in cultivation and a set of log buildings stood on 
the i>lace. In the busy >ears that followed he be- 
came prosperous, carrying on his agricultural pur- 



suits very successfully, and at different times buy- 
ing other land, and at the time of his death he was 
the possessor of four hundred and fifty acres of 
choice land, and was one of the solid men of the 
township, whose growth he had actively helped to 
promote. He ilied here in the pleasant home that 
he had built up, in November, 1888, and his mem- 
ory is held in respect for his good citizenship and 
for his sterling worth in all the relations that he 
sustained toward others. 

He had married Cassie Ann Hall, who preceded 
him in death in Februarj^, 1885. She was a native 
of Brushy Mound Township, born in 1842, and a 
daughter of an old pioneer family of this State. 
Her father, Mathew H. Hall, was born in Madison 
County, June 14, 1819, and was a son of James 
and Mary (Walker) Hall, for whose history see 
sketch of Oliver Hall. Matthew Hall was four 
years old when his parents brought him to Ma- 
couijin County, of which they thus became early 
l)ioneers, settling here in 1823. After marriage 
wiih Mrs. Ann (Sheton) Moore, widow of John 
Moore, he bought a tract of land on section 6, 
Brushy Mound Township, which had not then been 
organized and named, and engaged in farm- 
ing there some years. He then traveled in the 
Western country fotu' years, and since his return 
has resided with his brother Oliver. His wife died 
on the homestead in 1888. 

The subject of this sketch was given excellent 
educational advantages, and received a good train- 
ing in everything that pertains to agriculture on the 
old homestead that was his birlhi)lace. so that he was 
well eqnip[)ed for his vocatioii when he ado|)ted 
farming for his lifevvoik. He is now proprietor 
of a part of the old farm, having one hundred and 
sixty-nine acres of fine land, that is under a high 
slate of cultivation, pleasantly located two miles 
from the Court House. His place is amply sup- 
jjlied with good frame buildings and farm machin- 
ery of all kinds, and is well cared for in every re- 
spect. 

Mr. Hall was hajipily marriiMl September 30, 
1888, to Miss Kate Milton Metcalf, adopted daugh- 
ter of the Rev. T. M. and Emma (Thayer) Metcalf, 
of whom see sketch on another page of this vol- 
ume. Their pleasant household circle is completed 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



431 



l)y their little son, wiioni tljey have named Howard 
Melcalf. 

Our subject, tiioiigli one of tlie youngest mem- 
bers of his ealling in his native townsiiip, is manag- 
ing his affairs witli a discretion, clearness of judg- 
ment and foresight, that would do credit to a far 
more experienced farmer, and tliat bid fair to 
place him one day among the leading agriculturists 
of this locality*. He and his wife are possessed of 
many pleasant, social and iiospitable qualities, and 
stand well among their fellow-citizens. JNIrs. Hall 
is an active worker in the Baptist Church, of which 
she is a member. 



-Ss^^- 



* i ^ 



Blocher, was a native of the Keystone State and 
when a young man rcmove<l with his parents to 
Ohio. He went back to Pennsylvania to wed the 
girl he had left behind him and then returning to 
Ohio, took up his residence there for a time. Af- 
ter a while he made his home in Indiana, but after 
a few years went back to Ohio and resided in 
Darke Count}' until about the year 1868, when he 
removed to the Prairie State, making his home first 
in Bond and later in Macoupin County. Here he 
bought the farm where his son Eli now lives and 
died at that residence in Marcii, 1886. 

The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Susanna Warner. Shereared eight of her chil- 
dren to yeai's of maturity and passed away from 
earth while the family home was in Ohio. This 
son was but thirteen years old when his parents 
came to Illinois and here he grew to manhood. 
He commenced quite earl}' to help his father on the 
farm and he resided with the latter until that par 
ent went to Girard and then ho assumed the man- 
agement of the old homestead, which he now owns 
and occupies. 

Eli Bloclier was married in March, 1880, to Sal- 
oma Frantz, who was born in Franklin County, Va., 
as were also her father and grandfather, both of 
whom boie the name of Samuel. The gi'and father 



r^LI F. BLOCHER is a prosjierous resident of 
•^ (iirard Township, born in Darke County, 
^^ Ohio, January 29, 1855. The father, David 



owned and occupied a farm in Franklin County and 
his son learned tlie trade of a miller and followed 
it while living in Virginia. In 18G3 he removed 
tlience to Greene County, Ohio, and there farmed 
until 1868, when he came to iMacoupin County and 
purchased the farm upon which Mr. and Mrs. 
Blocher now reside. Here he prepared to engage 
in farming, but his death, which occurred here the 
following si)ring, cut short his life plans. His be- 
reaved widow is still living and resides wilh her 
children. Her name before marriage was Magda- 
lina J5rubaker and she was born in Botetourt 
County, Va., October 31, 1817, her parents being 
Henr}' and Salonia (Eler) Brubaker. F^or further 
history of this family the reader will consult the 
sketch of Moses Brubaker. She married twice, Mr. 
Blocher, the father of our .subject, being her second 
husband. By her first marriage she ha<l iwo chil- 
dren, whom she reared to maturity, Mrs. Bloclier's 
sister being Lizzie, now Mrs. John Huber. The 
children who have come to bless the home of our 
subject are Charles M., Eddie C, Dora A. and Net- 
tie M. The parents arc devout an<l earnest mem- 
bers of the German Baptist Church, in which they 
find a broad field of influence and labor. They are 
one and all a family who riclily deserve the 
friendly good will and respect which is accorded 
them by their neighbors. 



"S^- R. JACOB T. DICKERSON, who is suc- 
cessfully eng.aged in the drug business in 
Brighton and to some extent practices medi- 
cine, was born in Sussex County, Del., on the 26th 
of February, 1829, and is a son of Peter and Sarah 
(Laughlin) Dickerson. His father was a native of 
New Jersey, but grew to manhood in Delaware, 
where he met and married Sarah Laughlin. Both, 
however, had been previously married. The lady 
was a native of Sussex County, Del., of Scotch 
descent. They lived as farming people and after 
a long and useful life of three-score 3'ears passed 
away. Mrs. Dickerson was a member of the Meth- 
odist Church, which Mr. Dickerson also attended. 
He was a soldier of the War of 1812. 



^32 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Our subject has one sister who is yet living — 
?:iizaheth, wife of Isaac Murphy, of Niles, III. 
rpon his father's farm the Doctor grew to raan- 
iiood and acquired a good literary education, 
though his school training was very limited. Pos- 
sessing a studious nature, in his leisure evenings by 
his own fire light he would peruse those volumes 
which served as the basis of a good, practical 
knowledge. Deciding to make the profession his 
life work, he entered upon its study under the 
direction of John S. Prettyman, of Milford, Del. 
He afterward entered the Philadelphia Eclectic 
College, from which lie was graduated on the 18th 
of February, 1*<60. He then resolved to locate 
in the West, where he believed better openings 
were afforded ambitious joung men. and on the 
16th of July, 1860, drove to Brighton and hung 
out his shingle, soliciting the patronage of all 
those in need of medical services. From the 
beginning his practice constantly- increased, and he 
successfully engaged in the prosecution of his 
profession until within a few years, when he ,".ban- 
doned that work. In 1865 he established a drug 
store, which he has since carried on. being now 
the owner of one of the leading establishments of 
the kind in Brighton. He also carries a full line 
of hardware. 

The Doctor was united in marriage, in 1861, 
with Mrs. Amanda Whitlock, whose maiden name 
was Loveland. By her fii-st marriage was born 
one child, who died voung. Unto our subject and 
his worthy wife have been born one son, Leonard 
M., an enterprising and wide-awake young busi- 
ness man, who is now associated with his father 
in business. He married Miss Jennetta Robert- 
son, and one child graces their union, Donald. 
Since locating here the Doctor has been numbered 
among the prominent citizens of the community, 
and by his fellow-townsmen has frequently been 
called upon to serve in positions of public trust. 
He has filled most of the offices of the township 
and village, and at present is Supervisor of the 
town of Brighton. In politics he is a Republican 
and his opinions arc received with respect in the 
local councils of his part)-. Socially he is con- 
nected with the Knights of Honor and the Odil- 
Fellows society, of Brighton, of which he is a 



charter member. An intelligent and broad-minded 
man, the Doctor possesses qualities of sterling 
worth, and is esteemed alike by those with whom 
busine.«s or social relations have brought him in 
contact. He won a position in the front rank of 
his profession, keeping always abreast of the 
limes, and the same enterprise has characterized 
his career as a druggist. 



^^ILBERT KEIRLE. The calling of ,agricul- 
(ij ^— ture promises a peaceful life and assured 
^^^ii|! maintenance to the careful student of nat- 
ural economy. Such an one is Gilbert Keirle. re- 
siding on section 10, Bunker Hill Township, where 
he has lived for ten years and now owns one hun- 
dred and fifty acres of land, that is for the most 
part highly cultivated, well stocked and supplied 
with good buildings. Mr. Keirle came here from 
Hil^ard Township, where he lived on a farm five 
j'ears. Prior to that lime he resided for three and 
a half j-ears in Brighton Township, coming in Au- 
gust, 1871. to Bunker Hill Township where he has 
since resided. 

Mr. Keirle was born in Somersetshire, June 3, 
1853. He was reared and educated iu London and 
Bristol while he was still young, being only eight- 
een years of age when he came to the L^nited States. 
The lad look passage at Liverpool on the steamer 
"City of Washington" of the Inman line, landing 
in New York and coming thence to Brighton 
Township, Macoupin County, where he has since 
been engaged as a farmer. He worked for the first 
two and a half years .as a Laborer. 

The parents of our subject, Job and Mary 
(Baker) Keirle, were natives of Somersetshire, En- 
gland, and they came of English parents who lived 
and died at that place. Job Keirle and his wife, 
after the birth of all their children, decidetl that 
the New World offered inducements not to be 
found in the Old, and there upon came to the States 
in 1881, bringing with them .all their children ex- 
cepting two married daughters who vet live in 
England. One son and one daughter were buried 
in England. Thej' settled in Hilyard Township 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



433 



and later cnine to Bunker Hill Township and are 
yet living here, having attained to a good old age. 
Mr. Keirle is sist3 -five years of age and Mrs. Keirle 
sixty-one years of age. The latter is a member of 
the Episcopal Church. 

The subject of this sketch is the eldest of the 
large family horn to his p.srents. He was married 
in Brighton Township to Miss Emma Reader. The 
lady was born in Dorsetshire, England, October 3, 
1848, and was the daughter of Robert and Sarah 
(Rawlings) Reader, natives of Dorsetshire. All of 
the family on the maternal side were born and | 
reared in England, though all but one are now in 
the United States. The wife and mother is deceased, 
having died August 15, 189 1: she made her home 
with her daughter, Mrs. Keirle. She was eighty- 
two years old and with the exception of the loss of 
her sight was still smart and active. 

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Keirle. the subjects 
of this sketch, has been blesse<l with six children. 
The second, Harry L. is deceased; the remainder, 
all living at home, are Albert, Frank R., Otto H.. 
Oscar F. and Eph. Mrs. Keirle is an efficient mem- 
ber of the Congregational Church and is a Repub- 
lican in politics. Mrs. Keirle is a devoted Baptist. 

' OSEFH LOTTER. a practical German 
farmer, residing on section 23, Staunton 
Township, has made his home in this com- 
munity for about a third of a century. He 
was born in the Province of Byron on the Rhine, 
August Ifi. 18"29. and is a son of Charles and .\Dna 
(Coleman) Lotter, who were also natives of the 
same Province. His father was a cooper by trade 
and followed that business throughout his entire 
life. Both were members of the Catholic Church 
and lived to an advanced age. Our subject is one 
of the youngest of a large family. Tlie only ones 
that came to America ate himself and his sister, 
who married and had a large family. She is now 
living in Muscoutah, 111., at the age of sixty-one 
years. 

Oar subject acquiretl his education in the schools 
of his native country, and remained under the pa- 



rental roof until nineteen years of age, when wish- 
ing to begin life for himself he left his home and 
also his native land. It was his desire to try his 
fortune in America, and in the spring of 1848, he 
sailed from Havre, France, reaching New Orleans 
after a voyage of forty -six daj's. Making his way 
up the Father of Waters to St. Louis, he learned 
the cooper's trade in that city and followed it for 
some years, becoming a skilled workman. At 
length he came to this county, about 1860, and lo- 
cated upon the farm which is still his home. It 
comprises one hundred and eighteen and a half 
acres of land, on sections 23 and 24, and by his un- 
tiring efforts it has been placed under a high state 
of cultivation and supplied with man^' improve- 
ments, including all the necessary buildings and 
machinery. He also raises a good grade of stock 
and is regarded as one of the practical and pro- 
gressive farmers in the community-. 

While living in St. Louis, Mr. Lotter led to the 
marriage altar Miss Julia Roughmann, 'who was 
born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, and 
came to this country with her parents, Charles and 
Anna (Friezel) Roughmann, who crossed the ocean 
landing at New Orleans, and came up the Mississ- 
ippi to Madison County, where they resided with 
a daughter until called to the home beyond. The 
death of the father was caused by falling down a 
flight of stairs when quite old. and his wife was 
well advanced in j-ears when she passed s.wa3-. 
Both were members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. 
Loiter w.as called upon to mourn the loss of his 
wife in 1887. She died in the early morning of 
the first day of the new year, when ne.aring her 
nfty-third birthday, having been born February 
17, 1834. In religious belief she too was a Luth- 
eran. Five children were left to mourn her loss — 
Maiy, wife of William Winder, a blacksmith of 
Warden, 111.; George, who aids in the operation of 
liie home farm ; Anne, married R. Vogt and lives 
in Mt. Olive. 111.: Elvina, wile of Ernst Jacob, a 
butcher of Warden : and Julia, who is also deceased. 
Three children of the family had died in childhood 
— Tcna, Charles and Henry. 

Mr. Lotter was a second time married in Staun- 
ton Township, to Mi-s. Mary Burghardt, who was 
born in Indiana, and with her parents removed to 



434 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Belleville, 111., where she was the first time mar- 
ried. By that union she had one child, John, who 
now holds the responsible position of manager of 
the mines owned hy tlie Consolidated Coal Cora- 
j).iny at Mt. Olive. Mr. Lotter and his wife attend 
the German Catholic Church at Staunton and in 
l)olitics ho and liis son are Democrats. They are 
people of sterling worth, who are widely anil fa- 
vorably known tliroiigliout this community and 
have many friends within the township. 



^U^C 



W. HARTKK. Tlie members of a suecess- 
™. ful farming community' are always de- 
Ul^ pended upon to furnish the bone and sin- 
ews of our social, commercial and national life. 
A country, no matter how rich, which is under the 
control of unreliable and shiftless farmers can 
never help in building up villages, towns and cities 
wliicli will prove of value to the world. Tlie 
financial and social progress of Macoupin County 
has been largely increjisod by the inllux into it in 
its earl^' dajs, of such men as Mr. llartke. This 
successful German farmer residing on section 13, 
Cahokia Township, has a well-improved farm of 
more than five hundred acres, upon which he has 
been residing for over eight years. His previous 
residence for the same length of time had been Mt. 
Olive, where he was engaged in gener.al merchan- 
dising. 

It was in 1866 that our subject first came to 
Macoupin County and after farming here for some 
time near Mt. Olive, he did business in St. 
Louis, Mo., in llie wholesale and retail grocerj' 
trade. Later he returned to Mt. Olive, where he 
m.ade his home until he came to Cahokia. 

Mr. llartke w.as born in Prussia, Gonnany, in I 
Hanover Province, April 15, 1843. He came of 
good German stock and his parents, William and 
Minnie (Fromeman) llartke, being natives of 
Prussia, wiiere they lived and died, passing away 
when they had completed their three-score years. 
They were engaged in agriculture throughout life 
and were sincere believers in the Christian faith, 
being members of the Lutheran Church. Our sub- 



ject is one of a large family of children and he 
grew up in his native province. In 1863, when 
he was about twenty years old, he set out to the 
United States, embarking at Bremen in a sailing \ 
vessel, and landed in New York City after a five 
weeks' voj-age. They still set their faces Westward, 
making St. Louis their ol>jeciive point. L:iter he 
came to this county and made it his home. 

It was on September 21, 1875, when young 
Hartkc was married at Mt. Olive to Miss Minnie 
Kruse, who was born on her father's farm in 
Macoupin County, near Mt. Olive, November 15, 
1856. She is the daughter of an old settler, Henry 
Kruse, now deceased, and of Mrs. Minnie Krusc, 
who is yet living on the old homestead. She is 
one of the large land owners in this county aiKl in 
her declining years is able to surround herself with 
every comfort. The daughter was reared and edu- 
cated in this county, and after the marriage with 
our subject became the mother of seven children, 
all of whom are still residing at homo with their 
parents. They are namely: William H., Henry W., 
Louis J., Anna W., Sophia F., Emma L. and Au- 
gust F. Mr. and Mrs. Hartkc and their children 
are all devout Lutherans. Mr. Ilarlke's political 
views have led him to afflliate with the Republican 
party, in the progress and ()rosperity of which he 
feels a keen interest. 

^y* RS. MARY A. EASLEY, a resident of 
iV Bird Township, is a daughter of James 
Is and Rhoda (Regan) Huskey, natives of 
Tennessee, who came to Macoupin County, 
111., at a very early il.ay and lived in Bird Town- 
ship, until de.ith ended their labors and they were 
buried here. The^' had thirteen children, of whom 
Mrs. Easley was the fifth in order of birth. She 
first saw the light in Alabama, May 20, 1821, and 
was about thirteen years old when her parents 
removed to this count}-. She grew to womanhood 
in Bird Township, which has been her home ever 
since she came to this State with the exceiUion of 
two years which slie spent in Western Mound 
Township. 



f 



%. 







-£^> f 



/ 



( 




yriMyn/ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL HECORD. 



437 



The marriage of this lady with Isaac N. Edwards 
took place October 4, 1838, in Hird Townsliip. 
Mr. Edwards died in Deeemljer, 18G0. By that 
marriage slie had ten children, namely: Mary J., 
James H. and John N., deceased; Rhoda E. ; Grif- 
fith A., Rachael E. and Daniel F., deceased; Oliver 
N., Rilda E. and Amanda M., deceased. 

This lady's second marriage was solemnized 
March 4, 1866. Eler husband, George W. Easley, 
lived but about six years after his marriage, when 
he passed :iway in September, 1872. He was a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 
which his widow is also active and where she has 
been a member since she vvas sixteen years old. 
She owns one hundred and twenty acres of rich, 
productive land. .Mrs. Easley's surviving children 
have all established homes of their own. Mary J. 
is the wife of Z. Loveless; Rhoda E. is Mrs. John 
Stokes; Oliver N. married Mis5 Etta Cook, and 
Rilda E. is Mrs. J. W. Parrott. Their mother is a 
lady who is sinceie in the discharge of her reli- 
gious duties and is respected by all who know her. 



4--#--:^'%iH5- 



Vi; OHN SLOMAN, who has for more than thirty 
years been prosperously engaged in agri- 
cnlUinil pursuits in this count}', is one of 
the substantial and well-to-do farmers of 
Honey Point Township, where he has a fine farm. 
He was born near the village of High Bighington, 
Devonshire, England, Aitril 30,1831. His father 
was James Sloman. a native of the same shire, and 
his paV.ernal grandfather was Zachariali Sloman, 
who so far as known, spent hi-s entire life there. 

James Sloman was reared to the vocation of a 
farmer, and carried on his calling on English soil 
until 184 1, wlien he came to this country, bring- 
ing with him his wife and four children. The 
family sot sail from Appledore in April, but when 
the ship was nearlj' a thousand miles out at sea it 
s|)rang a leak, and had to retrace its course to Ire- 
land for repairs. .Starting on its vo3'age again it 
finally arrived in safety at New York in thirteen 
weeks' time from the date when it first sailed. Mr. 



Sloan at first settled in Genesee County, N. Y., 
where he resided one year prior to coming to Illi- 
nois. The removal hither was made by the way 
of Erie Canal to Buffalo, thence by lake to Cleve- 
land, from there by canal to Portsmouth, Ohio, 
and then on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to 
Alton, that being the most expeditious and con- 
venient route at the time. 

After his arrival in this State, Mr. Sloman pur- 
chased a tract of tim))er land in Jersey County, 
nine miles south of Jerseyvillc, in the locality 
known as Gilham's Mound. He built a log house 
on the place and proceeded to clear a farm from 
the wilderness, where deer and other wild ani- 
mals still abounded, and special care had to be 
taken of the pigs and lambs to protect them from 
the wolves. The father passed the rest of his life 
on his homestead in Jersey- County, improving it 
into a fine piece of p''opcrtv. The maiden name 
of his wife was Amy Gean, and she was also a na- 
tive of Devonshire, and a daughter of Richard 
Gean. She survived him a few years, and died at 
the home of a daughter in Jersey Count}'. She 
was the mother of four children — John, Emma, 
Mary A. and James. The latter married Mary 
Bushby and resides on the old homeste.ad; Emma 
married Nelson Lurton, of Jersey County; Mary 
became the wife of Hiram McClosky, of Jersey 
County. 

John Sloman was a child of ten years when the 
famil}' emigrated to America. He attended school 
quite steadily in the old country, bul after ho 
came to this State he had to assist his father in his 
pioneer work of clearing his land and tilling the 
so'l. He remained an inmate of the parental home 
until his marriage, though a part of the time he 
was engaged in working out by the month. He 
commenced his independent career as a farmer 
after he had taken unto himself a wife by carrying 
on agriculture on rented land, continuing to farm 
as a renter in Jersey County the ensuing six years. 
He then came to Honey Point To^^nship in 18.59 
and bought eigi;ty f.cies of his present homestead. 
A small frame house and stable and a small orchard 
constituted the improvements u[)on the place and 
Mr. Sloman has constantlj- been at work in its fur- 
tlior improvement, he has now n valualtle estate, 



438 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



amply provided with neat frame buildings, good 
farming machinery, and all the appointments that 
go to make up a well-ordered farm. He has added 
to his original purchase, and now has two hundred 
acres of land all in a body. 

March 6, 1853 was the date of an important 
event in the life of our subject, as he was then hap- 
l)iiy married to Miss Sarah C. Lamb. Mrs. Sloman 
was born in Adams County, Miss., November 2, 
1831. Her father, John J. Lamb, was a native of 
the State of New York and a son of Israel and 
Amanda (Beach) Lamb. The grandfather was 
also born in that State, of English ancestry, and 
so far as known spent his entire life in New York. 
Jolin Lamb passed his youth in his native State, 
and received a good education, commencing teach- 
ing when quite young. At the age of twenty- 
one he went to Mississip|)i, and engaged in his 
profession there nearly twenty years. In 1835 he 
came with his wife and six children to Illinois, 
making the journey overland, and cooking and 
camping on the way at nightfall. He settled seven 
miles south of Jersey ville, wheve he bought land 
that was partly timber and partly prairie, and a 
comfortable log house on tlie place was used as a 
residence by the family. 

Mr. Lamb farmed and lived on his homestead 
until his career was closed by death. The maiden 
name of his wife was Sarah Noble. She was born 
in Mississippi, and was a daugiiter of Henry and 
Mary (Swaysee) Noble, and died on tlie old home- 
stead near Jersey ville. Mrs. Sloman resided with 
her mother until her marriage, and was carefully 
tauglit all household duties, and being adept in 
spinning and weaving, as while the family lived in 
Mississippi the mother carded, spun and wove all 
the cloth Willi which she made the clothes for her 
children. Mr. and Mrs. Sloman have two children, 
Addie and Emma. The former married Frederick 
Jeary, and they live on the home farm. They 
have six children, who.se names are Myrtle, John, 
Emma, Abbie, Bessie, and Virgil. Our subject's 
daughter, Emma, married Samuel Ball, of Honey 
Point Township, and they have two children, Ethel 
and Ollie. 

Mr. Sloman is a self-made man, and by years of 
activity and well directed labor has placed himself 




in possession of a goodly property, and is well for- 
tified against want. He is of a sturdy, self-respect- 
ing character that commands respect from others 
in turn, and both he and his good wife are held in 
high estimation by all who know them. A man of 
strong opinions, on no question are his views more 
pronounced than on politics and we find him giv- 
ing hearty support to the Republican party. Mrs. 
Mrs. Sloman, who is a sincere Christian, is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

In connection with this biographical sketch the 
reader will find a portrait of Mr. Sloman. 

ERNHARI) LORENZ is a prosperous 
merchant of Carlinville, where he is en- 
[: gaged in the s.aleof harness, having a hand- 
somely fitted up store, in which he carries 
a complete stock. He w.as born in the city of 
Holstein, Germany, April 1, 1825. His father 
who bore the same name as himself, was also a na- 
tive of that city and spent his entire life in the 
German Fatherland. When he was young he 
learned the trades of a tanner and a shoemaker and 
operated a tannery and manufactured shoes as long 
as he continued in active business. He was the 
father of nine children, six of whom came to Amer- 
ica, and these are the names of his offspring: An- 
nie, Margaret, Bernhard, John, Peter W.,''Lucy, 
Jacob. Catarina, Erich. 

Our subject's education commenced at the age 
of six years and he attended school regularly un- 
til he was fourteen years old. He was reared in 
the faith of the Lutheran Church and at that age 
he was confirmed. For two years after leaving 
school he assisted his father and then began to 
learn the trade of a harness-maker. During his ap- 
prenticeship of four years he received only his 
board, while his father clothed him. At the expir- 
ation of that time he did journey work in dilterent 
cities, .as was the custom for apprentices in Ger- 
many. 

In 1851 he determined to emigrate to the United 
States of America, where he shrewdly thought that 
life held for him better prospects than in the old 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



439 



country, and on the 19th of March he set out on 
a steamer from Hnraburg for Liverpool, England, 
where he bonrded a sniling vessel bound for Mew 
York. He arrived at tliat great metropolis April 
19, a stranger in a strange land, encumbered with 
an indebtedness of $08. Not a wliit diseour.iged 
by those unfavorable circninstances, he matie his 
way to New Jersey and found work at his trade at 
Millstone and Newark. Later in the same j-ear he 
went to St. Louis, but when he arrived there he w.as 
out of money, and as he could find no einploymeut 
in that city he drifted to Upper Alton and the en- 
suing three months worked for Dr. Humbert, now 
deceased. After that he went back to St. Louis .ind 
obtained work at Ins trade, and as soon as he had 
made a sufHcient sura of mone^' he honorably dis- 
charged his indebtedness that he had contracted in 
the old country. 

Our subject remained in St. Louis five years, and 
then with •^he earnings that he had carefully saved 
and which amounted to a goodly sum, he came to 
Carlinville, in 1857, and opened a shop in a small 
frame building and put in about $450 worth of har- 
ness. He was a hard worker, attended faithfully 
to his business and in time he built up a good trade. 
He added to his stock from time to time and at 
length had to seek more commodious quarters, with 
the result that in 1885 he erected the brick build- 
ing that he now occupies. It is 80x28 feet in di- 
mensions and is two stories in hciglit, the upi)er 
part being neatly fitted up for a tenement. His 
store is well arranged and finely appointed and he 
carries a full line of harness valued at upward of 
$2,000. 

Mr. Lorenz was fiist married to Mary Zapf, in 
1854. She was born in Bavaria and came to this 
countr}' when a j'oung lady. She died in 1882, 
after a marri.age of twenty-eight j'ears, in which 
she had I)een a true wife to her husband and a ten- 
der mother to their children, of whom tliej' had 
four, as follows: Annie, wife of William Groda- 
fent; Ida, Henry and Amanda. Mr. Lorenz was 
married to his present estimable vvife in 1883. Her 
name prior to marriage w.as Theresa Wittl and she 
was a Bavarian by birtli. 

Our subject is a man of sturdy, relialile charac- 
ter, possessing good habits and in carrying on his 



business he bas shown shrewdness and capability in 
the management of his .affairs, and withal has es- 
tablished himself In the confidence of all with 
whom he deals. He has served as a member of 
the City Council and has always displayed proper 
interest in forwarding the welfare of his commu- 
nitj- in whatever way he could. He is a stock- 
liolder in the Carlinville Building and Loan Asso- 
ciation. Politically he is a faithful .idherent of the 
Republican party. Religiously he is a valued mem 
ber of the Lutheran Church, his children also be- 
longing to that church. 



^^^EORGl 
/(^ and St 
^^1 has a : 



^^j^EORGE F. W. HARRIS, a general farmer 
stock-raiser in Bunker Hill Township, 
fine farm of one hundred an<l sixty 
acres on another part of the county, besides his 
home farm upon which he has lived for man}- years. 

He came to this part of the country in 1853 and 
took a farm of unbroken prairie, which he now has 
in an excellent state of cultivation and well stocked. 
Previous to coming to this county he had made 
his home in LaSalle County, this State, where he 
had lived upon a farm for two years. He was 
born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1826, and there 
he was reared and educated. He came to this 
country in the fall of 1850, and emigrated to Illi- 
nois in 1851. His parents died in Ireland. 

Mr. Harris married while in the old country', 
being united with Miss Maria .Jamison Barry. She 
was born and reared in the same county as himself, 
and her parents lived and died in the old home. 
Mrs. Harris came to this country with her hus- 
band in 1850. They have become the parents of 
eight children, four of whom have passed to the 
other world. The four who are living are: George 
F. W., who now lives on a farm in this town- 
ship; Abel, .Joyce J., and Sallie .1. who married 
William Tuttleand they reside in Colorado .Springs, 
Col. Mr. and Mrs. Harris are earnest and con- 
sistent members of the Episcopal Church. This 



440 



PORTEAIT AND liJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



gentleman's political views nve expressed in the 
platform of tlie Rcpul)lic!in party, and he takes a 
lively interest in local politics, although not a 
seeker for ofiice. 



VfjOHN Q. NOEL, wiio is engaged in general 
farming on section 25, Bnnkei Hill Town- 
ship, where he owns one hundred and sixty 
acres of land, loeale<l on his present farm in 
1865, and has lesided in the county' since March 
10, 1859. He came here from Adams County, Pa., 
where he was horn September 14, 1833, ten miles 
from Gettysburg. His father, John L. Noel, was 
also a native of that count}' and was descended 
from an early Pennsylvania-Dutch family. He 
grev/ to manhood upon a farm in the county of 
his nativit}-, and thepe wedded Miss Mary Clunk, 
who was also born and reared in Adams County. 
After some of their sons had come to Illinois, Mie 
parents emigrated Westward in the spring of 18C'), 
settling in Bunker Hdl, where they spent the re- 
mainder of their lives, both dying when fifty-six 
3ears of age. They were both members of the 
Catholic Church, and in political sentiment Mr. 
Noel was a Democrat. 

Our subject is the third in order of birth of the 
famil}' of sixteen children born unto .John L. and 
Mar\' Noel, of whom five are yet living. His boy- 
iiood days were spent in the usual manner of 
farmer lads, and his education was acquired in the 
district schools of the neighborhood. When he had 
arrived at years of maturity he led to the marriage 
altar Miss Rebecca Freebury, whose birlh occurred 
in Adams County, Pa., although she is of German 
descent. Her father, John Freebury, was a native 
of German}', and wliea a young man crossed the 
Atlantic to Ameri<;a, settling in Adams County, 
Pa., where he afterward married. 

For some years Mr. and Mrs. Freebury made 
their home in that locality, when later they re- 
moved to Emmettsburg, Md. There both died at 
an advanced age, in the faitli of the Catholic 
Church, of which they had long been members. 
Mr. Freebury was throughout life a cooper and 



I)rewer, following both pursuits. Mrs. Noel was 
reared in Gettysburg, Pa., and has proved to her 
husband a true helpmate. Their union has been 
blest with a family of ten children, seven of whom 
arc yet living, namely: John L., who married 
Miss Plitz. and is living at Mt. Olive, 111.; Ella, 
wife of Henry Hurb, a resident of Bunker Hill; 
Frank, who wedded Anna Peters and makes his 
home in Bunker Hill; Katie, vvife of John Seigle, 
of the same place; Lizzie, Augustus and William, 
who are still under the parental roof. 

On coming to this county in 1859, Mr. Noel and 
his family located upon a farm in Dorcliester Town- 
ship, where he engaged in tilling the soil for about 
six years. He then came to Bunker Hill Township 
and purchased his pi'csent farm which now com- 
prises one hundred and sixty acres of land under a 
high state of cultivation. I'pon it are also good 
buildings and every improvement is the work of 
the owner, and stands as a monument to his thrift 
and industry. He also owns ten acres of timber 
land in Dorchester Township. He li.as led a busy 
and useful life, and the success he has achieved is 
due entirely to his own efforts. Public spirited 
and progressive he is numbered among the valued 
citizens of the community, and those who know 
him esteem him highly for his sterling worth. In 
political sentiment, both Mr. Noel and his sons are 
Democrats. 

The estate of Mr. Noel is universally conceded 
to be one of the finest in the township, and we are 
pleased to present on another page a view of ihe 
comfortable liome. 



■^OHN JONES. Of the young farmers in 
this part of the coun'.y none are more suc- 
cessful than he whose name is at the bead 
(^^y of this writing. Mr. Jones occupies and 
owns the farm of one hundred and seventy-tv. o 
acres on section 22, Brighton Township. Ho has 
lived here since 1862, and what he has .accumulated 
has been by his own persistent effort and unweary- 
ing industry, for like so many others who have set- 
tled here, when coming into the country his only 




residence: OF J. Q.UINCY NOEL, sec. ^5., bunker hill TR, MACOUPIN CO. .ILL. 




RESIDENCE OF JOHN JONES , SEC.22., BRIGHTON TR, MACOUPIN CO. ILL. 



PORTBAir AND BJ0C4RAPH1CAL RECORD. 



443 



weallli was a strong constitiilion and an abiding 
faith in a hrigiil prospect for tiie future. A view 
of iiis coiufortable resinence and rural surround- 
ings appears on another page. 

Our subject is a native of Wales, having l)oen 
born in Eodneysliire, November 4, 1851. He is 
the youngest of the family born to his parents. 
Jaunts and Mary (Jones) Jones, both natives of 
Wales. Tiiere the mother lived and died being 
about fifty years old at the tiaie of her decease. 
The father spent his last years in the United States 
and died in this township and county when seventy- 
four years of age. He and his wife with their 
famil}- belonged to the Baptist persuasion, but at 
the time of his death he was a member of the Church 
of England. 

Our subject with two ijrothers are all the chil- 
dren that came to this country, and five sisters are 
yet living in Wales. He of whom we write was 
only about twelve years old when with his father 
and another brother he came to the United States. 
Their passage across was made in the month of Au- 
gust, 1862. having taken sliii) at Liverpool and 
landed in New York Cit^'. One can readily imagine 
tlie impression that the American metropolis with 
its (tush and hurry made upon the little Welsh lad. 
He early got the idea that if he would succeed he 
must he up and stirring, allowing no one to ste|) 
in ahead of iiim. Shortly after Ihrir advent into 
the country they proceeded to this township and 
county. 

Soon after he became of age he entered inio tiie 
matrimonial relation with Miss Clara E. Mason, 
their mai-riage being celebrated June 2, 1878. The 
lady was born in this townsiii|) and county, her 
birth occurring on her father's farm, August 23, 
1858. She was here reared and educated and is 
the eldest of the living children of her parents. 
Her father, William Mason, is an old settler and 
liromiiunt and vi ell to-do farmer in this townsiiip. 
A biograi)hical sketch of Mr. Mason may be found 
in another part of this volume. 

Mrs. Jones is one of tiie women whose ottlce in 
life is to help and encourage by tiie kind words 
and tender looks, those who are dearest to her. She 
is the mother of six children, two of wliom are de- 
ceased. The children who have passed away were 



an infant and Gilbert E. Those living are R.ay M., 
Levi C, Harry E. and Cyrus. IMr. and Mrs. Jones 
are both members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Chuicli and liberal supporters of the same. Politi- 
cally Mr. Jones is a Democrat, holding that the 
doctrines of tl;e old original party in all tiieir purity 
are most suited to the growth and advancement of 
this great country. He is the owner of a beauti- 
ful country home located on a sligiit elevation 
overlooking a fine landscape. The prairie is dot- 
ted with high-bred stock, and water and clouds 
witii a rare variety of trees lend the view an en- 
chanting [lerspective. 



<<1 &ILLIAM T. BRLSTOW, a Justice of the 
\w// ^^^^^ '^^ Girard, is one of the oldest set- 
^'^ tiers in tlio county. He was born in Over- 
ton County, Tenn., February 13, 1829. His father, 
James Bristow, wis a native of Virginia, and his 
grandfather, also named James, was born in Eng- 
land, and coming from there settled in \'irginia 
where he ended his days. The father of our sub- 
ject was reared in his native Slate, anil removed 
from there at the ago of eighteen years, making his 
home in Overton Countv, Tenn. In 1829 he 
inoujjht his wife and four children and settled in 
the northwest part of a tract which became a por- 
tion of Macoupin Count}' at the time of its organi- 
zation. He took up land which afterward was 
included in Scottville Township, and when the 
land came into the market bought it from the 
Government. He erected a log cabin in which 
tliere were no nails used and the door was hung on 
wooden hinges and had a wooden latch, with the 
traditional latchstring, which hung outside in 
those friendly days. He also split puncheon for 
the floor. 

The surrounding country was sparsely settled. 
The land where Carlinvillc now is, was bought of 
the (Jovernment the same year wli'?n Mr. Bristow 
pu- chased his tract. Deer, wolves and wild tur- 
keys were plentiful. The settlers lived chiefly on 
the products of tlieir farms and wild game. Our 
subject relates that oftentimes his father would 



444 



FOKTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHJCAL RECORD- 



start out in tlie morning and return before break- 
fast witli a deer which he had shot. The mother 
used to card, spin and weave, and dressed her 
children in homespun, mailing all their clothes lier- 
self. The father of the subject of this sketch pur- 
chased quite a tract of land and resided there 
about twenty years. This he sold and removed to 
Waverly, Morgan County, where he resided for two 
years. He then came to this county and took a 
tract of wild and unimproved land in Nilwood 
Township and resided there until the death of his 
wife when he sold his property and made his home 
with his cliildren until his second marriage, when 
he with his wife, whose maiden name was Lucinda 
Edwards, removed to Greene County, where he 
spent the remainder of his dayt. 

The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Mary Cherry. .She was born in Kentucky and 
was the daughter of Patterson Cherry. She died 
on the farm iu Nilwood Township, having been the 
mother of eight children. Our subject was Ave 
years old when he came to Illinois with his parents, 
and remembers well the incidents of the journey. 
He says he received his education in Brush College, 
meaning the pioneer schools in the woods. These 
pioneer schoolhoust-s weie built of logs with stick 
chimneys. The seats were made b^' splitting logs 
and hewing one side smooth and boring holes to 
insert sticks for legs. There were no backs to the 
seats and no glass in the windows, greased paper 
being pasted over the openings which answered for 
windows. A slab resting on pegs in the wall, 
formed a desk for writing. 

William Bristow resided with his parents until 
his marriage, and then bought a farm near home 
and lived upon it for three years. In 1850 he united 
with his brother and two brothers-in-law in buying 
four hundred and twenty-eiglit acres of land at 
$5 an acre, situated near the present site of Girard. 
In 1851 he built and settled on the place. At that 
time there was not a house where Girard now 
stands and in fact not a house in sight of this new 
home of his. In the winter of 1851-52 the first 
building in Girard was removed tiiere from the 
country by Dr. Miller, and in the following spring 
another building was erected there. Our subject 
devoted his time and efforts to the improvement of 



his land until 1854, and then removed to the vil- 
lage of Girard and engaged in the mercantile 
business. After awhile he began buying and 
selling grain which he pursued until 18G2. He 
was then for two or three years in other business 
enterprises after which he settled up his affairs and 
worked for some \'ears at the carpenter's trade. In 
1881 he was elected Justice of the Peace and has 
since continued to serve in that office as well as 
that of Notary Public. During this time he luis 
continued buying and shipping hay. 

The marriage of William Bristow with Sarah 
Sharp was solemnized March 28, 1847. Three 
children blessed this union, William W., Mary E., 
and Lemuel P. (deceased). Mary married Dr. 
Fuller, and makes her home in Cherry Vale, Kan. 
Mrs. Sarah Bristow died in 1857, and in 1858 Mr. 
liristow was a second time married taking to wife 
Miss Louisa P. Burgess, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio; 
there are no children of this union. 

Mr. Bristow cast his first vote with the Demo- 
crats, but in 1856 he became a Republican and 
has ever since adhered to that party. He belongs 
to the Girard Lodge No. 192, 1. O. O. P., and both 
he and his good wife are earnest and consistent 
members of the Metliodist Eplsco|)al Church with 
which Mr. Bristow has bcLMi lonneeted since he 
was fourteen years old. 




•iTStN AVID W. GOOCH is one of the oldest 
' of the native-born citizens now living in 
^ this county. He is carryiiig on a black- 
smith shop in Atwater, where he has made 
his home for a number of years, and where his rep- 
utation is excellent. He has a good war record, 
although he was not able to remain in the service 
as long as he wished, being discharged on account 
of physical disability. He, however, did what he 
could to maintain the Republic and when he could 
no longer fight her battles, he could and did use all 
of his influence for the encouragement and sup- 
port of those who were stronger th.in he. 

The families which Mr. Gooch represents be- 
longed in the Southern States, and he shows in his 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



445 



manners and habits of lliouglil the influence of 
lieredit}'. His father, Clayton Gooch, was born in 
Vii'ginia, but went from that State to Kentucky 
when he was quite young, lie attained to his ma- 
jority in tlie Blue Grass State and continued to re- 
side there until early in the '30s, when he came to 
Illinois. He had married Sarah Jeffrey, an estim- 
able Kentucky lady, and in his journey hither was 
accompanied b3' her and live children. They trav- 
eled overhiud in a large wagon drawn bj' six 
horses and settled on Government land, in what is 
now North Palmyra Township, this county. Mr. 
Gooch soon had a two-stor^' double log house on 
his land, in which his son David VV. was born, 
February 25, 1838. The father improved his farm 
and resided upon it until his death. After that 
sad event the widow lived with her sons and died 
under the roof of William. She had reared live 
sons and two daughters. 

The gentleman of whom we write was reared on 
the farm and received his education in the pioneer 
schools, conning his lessons in the old-fashioned 
schoolhouse, whose picture is historical. For many 
years after the family settled here there were no 
railroads in this section, and the father marketed 
his grain in Alton and brought his supplies from 
there. The mother cooked by a fireplace and 
clothed her children in homespun, which she herself 
prepared. Mr. Gooch looks back to primitive times 
w-hen the settlers lived primarily upon the pro- 
ducts of their farms and the game which could be 
secured in the vicinity, and seeing the present con- 
dition of things he rejoices in what he has beheld 
of progress, and in the prospei'ity of the people of 
this locality'. 

In 18.56 young Gooch left the farm and liegan 
an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade. He 
served two years as an apprentice, then did jour- 
ney work until the breaking out of the Rebellion. 
At the first call for troops he enlisted in Company 
K, Seventh Illinois Infantry, and upon the expira- 
tion of the three months for which the enrollment 
had taken place, he re-entered the service in the 
same company. His discharge was dated Septem- 
ber 14, 1862, and prior to his being disabled he 
had fought bravely and borne hardships uncom- 
plainingly, glad that he had the strength and spirit 



to serve his country. As soon as his healtli was 
sufficiently restored he resumed his trade, and after 
few a years at Shaw's Point Township, he went 
to Girard and operated a shop there until 1884. 
That year he established himself in Atwater. 

Mr. Gooch has a pleasant home which is made 
attractive bj' the lady who became his wife in Sep- 
tember, 1865. She was known in her maidenhood 
as Miss Cynthia Carpenter. They have one child 
living, a daughter, Sadie. Mr. Gooch w.as Super- 
visor of Shaw's Point Townshii) at the lime when 
the county debt was refunded. His political sup- 
port is g'ven to the Democratic principles and 
policies. He is well and favorbly known as a re- 
liable citizen and a thorough workuian at his trade. 



OHN G. LIPPOLDT, a large landowner 
and one of the successful farmers and stock- 
raisers of Hilyard Township, whose farm 
lies on sections 26 and 35, was born in 
8axe- Weimar, Germany, Fel)ruary 2, 1825, and was 
one of a large family of children whose parents 
were Christoff and Maria (Brever) Lippoldt. They 
were a'so natives of (Jcrmany, where they grew to 
manhood and were married and there began their 
domestic life ui)on a farm. Their children were 
all born in the Fatherland and attiined to years of 
maturity. It was in the year 1853, that the parents 
crossed the Atlantic to America and settled near 
Jersey ville. 111., where Mr. Lip|)oldt secured a wild 
and unbroken tract of land from which he de- 
veloped a good farm, making his home thereon 
until called to his final rest at the age of sixty-six 
years. His wife also died on the old homestead at 
the age of sixt3'-four. Both were members of the 
Lutheran Church and were numbered among the 
best citizens of the neighborhood. Their children 
all came to America and six are yet living. All 
are married and reside upon farms, four being re- 
sidents of Illinois, while two make their homes iu 
Kansas. 

Our subject grew to manhood in his native pro- 
vince and when of age began work as a farm labor- 
er, serving in that capacity until the spring of 



4i6 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1854, when he bade good-by to home and friends 
and took passage upon the sailing vessel, "Herman" 
at Bremen. F'or seven long weeks he was upon 
the bosom of the Atlantic and at length safely 
arrived at New Orleans, from whence he made his 
way up the Mississippi River to Alton, where he 
ai rived !\ week later. His parents had already 
come to America and he went to his father's home 
in Jersey County, 111., where a short time after- 
ward he was joined in wedlock with Miss Hen- 
rietta Lippoldt who had crossed the Atlantic in the 
same vessel with her husband. 'J'hey were distant 
relations and this lie of blood prevented their mar- 
riage in the old countr3' so they came to the United 
States. The lady was born in the same province 
as her husband, June 13, 1821. and is a daughter 
of Godfred and Christina (Neimaker) Lippoldt. 
For some generation their people had resided in 
Saxe-Weiniar, Germany. The parents and their chil- 
dren all came to this country, though at different 
limes and located in Jersey County, near the 
Mncoupin line, where Mr. Lippoldt died- at the age 
of sixtv-lwo years and his wife at the advanced 
age of eighty five years. 

The wife of our subject was the third in order of 
a birth in a family of thirteen children, all of whom 
came to the United States but only three are now 
living. By her marriage she has become the moth- 
er of Ave children — Bertha who died at the age of 
one year; Fannie, wife of Herman Bartell, a resid- 
ent farmer of Hilyard Township; Anna, wife of 
Casper Jaco, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this 
work; Theodore who wedded Mary Brinkman and 
operates a farm in Hilyard Township; Herman at 
home. Mr. and Mrs. Lippoldt were reared under 
the auspices of the Lutheran Church but the ladj' 
is now a Methodist. In politics he is a stanch 
Democrat and a strong advocate of tiie party 
principles but has never sought or desired public 
office. The farm upon which he now resides has 
been the family' homestead since 1866. It com- 
prises throe hundied and twenty acres of valuable 
land and in addition to this he owns a one hundred 
sixty-acre tract, his landed possessions therefore 
aggregating four hundred and eighty acres. The 
residence is surrounded by good buildings such as 
are necessary to a model farm and these in turn lie 



in the midst of fertile fields. He raises a good 
grade of stock and the neat appearance of the place 
imllcates the care of a thrifty manager. 

-^ -^-#^ ^^ 



ICHARD R. BARNSTABLE, one of the 
11^.. prosi)erous tillers of the soil of this county, 
<^\ is a resident on section 5, Polk Townshii>, 
where he has a fine and attractive farm. 
He is a native of England, having been born in 
that country on the "iSd of December 1830, in 
Othery, Somersetshire. After having grown to 
manhood in his native place he decided to seek 
what the New World held for him and coming to 
this country in the spring of 1852 proceeded to 
America, where he remained but a short lime 
before returning te New York State to get a wife. 
The one whom he chose to be his life partner bore 
the maiden name of Ellen S. Pitmon, a native of 
the same country as hirajelf, where she was born 
December 31, 1834. The wedding day of this 
happy couple was November 4, 1852. 

The wife of our subject came to America when 
but a lass of seventeen years and made her home 
in Clay, Onondaga County, N. Y.. until united in 
marriage witii our subject. In the spring of 1853 
this young couple came to this county, thinking it 
the best place to begin their new life. They s(-ttled 
on a tract of land in Polk Township where Mr. 
Barnstable has since been engaged in agricultural 
])ursuits, of which he has made a great success. On 
this place will be seen a fine set of farm buildings 
and the oilier now has an arable tract of two hun- 
dred and thirty acres. 

The home of our subject and his estimable wife 
has been blessed bj' the advent of five cI'iMien, all 
but one of whom still survive. They are as follows: 
Emily J. died when nearly four ^-ears old; Walter 
J. is married to Miss Anna Dowland; Ella T. is the 
wife of Alonzo T. Keele; Nettie A. is the wife of 
T. M. Lawrence; and Norman R. 

Mr. Barnstable in his oolitienl views casts his 
vote witii the Republican party, which he thinks is 
the party to govern this nation. He is not in any 
way an office-seeker but has been made the incum- 




J \ ^ 








PORTRAIT AND IJJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



449 



l)ent of the office of School Director of his district 
which he filled with great satisfaction not only to 
iiiinself liut to his constituents. lie and his worthy 
and efficient wife arc active and consistent monibcrs 
of the Congregational Church, with which they 
have been united since the year 1855. These good 
people are held in the highest esteem by all their 
neighbors and fellow- men. 



'-^^^^^^^^^^f^^^ 



<jf^EV. MARTIN V. KIT/MILLER, Post- 
master at Girard, residing in a beauti- 
ful rural home in the western suburb 
)of the city, is known far and wide 
as a former prominent minister of tlie Baptist 
Church. For many years he was very active 
in promoting liic growth of the denomination, 
being instrumental in establishing churches in va- 
rious places, and though ill-health obliged him to 
abandon his beloved calling lie is still a power in 
religious circles. He was born in Wasiiington 
County, Tenn., January 20, 1826. His father, 
Henry Kitzmiller, was a native of the same county, 
and was a son of one of its early pioneers, Martin 
Kitzmiller, who was born in Pennsylvania, and was 
a descendant of early German settlers of that Stale. 
The grandfather of our subject was a farmer and 
also a blacksmith and wagon-maker. He removed 
from his native State to Tennessee, and was one of 
the first to settle in AVashington Count}', where he 
bought a large tract of land, and in connection 
with farming carried on blacksmithing and wagon 
manufacturing, many of the wagons that he made 
finding a market in Kentucky. With the proceeds 
of the sale of some of them he bought a farm in the 
locality then known as Ohio Falls, and now in- 
cluded in the city of Louisville, Ky. Though he 
owned that farm for several years he never lived 
upon it. He died when eighty-six years old at his 
home in Washington County. His wife, who bore 
the maiden name of Mary Devault, was a native of 
Maryland, and died at the age of eighty-four. 
Those worth}' people reared a famil}' of six sons 
and two daughters, named David, John, Henry, 
Martin, Jacob, Joseph, Mary and Elizabeth. 



Henry Kitzmiller learned the trades of a black- 
smith and wagon-maker from his father, but did 
not follow them. About two years after his mar- 
riage he located on a farm which ids father gave 
him, situated across the line in Sullivan. County, 
and actively engaged in agriculture until his death 
in 1843. In early manhood he married Elizabetii 
Carr, a native of Washington County, Tenn., and a 
(laughter of Richard and Martha Carr, natives re- 
spectively of Virginia and North Carolina, and the 
latter of English and Scotch ancestry. The mother 
of our subject died on the home farm in Sullivan 
County, January 2, 1891, aged ninety-five jears. 
She has reared nine children, namely: Martin V., 
Martha, Richard C, Mary. Henry, Elizabeth, 
David, Lovisa and Joseph. David and Joseph are 
deceased. 

Our subject i)assed his early life in his native 
State, gaining his education in the local schools. 
At the age of fifteen he was converted and joined 
the Baptist Church, with which he has ever since 
been closely identified. He was licensed to preach 
in 1844, and continued in the niiniilvy in Tennes- 
see until 185G, when, for the sake of rearing his 
chililren in a free State wiiere ' honest labor was 
not degrading," he came to Illinois, having ac- 
cepted a call to the Bai)tist Church in Girard. He 
was the first })astor of the congregation wiiich 
numbered seven ladies and four gentlemen, who 
owned a one-fourth interest in what was known as 
the Union Church. During the interval of his 
pastorate here a neat and comfortable edifice has 
been erected as a house of worship, and at the time 
of ills resignation the congregation numbered one 
hundred and eighty-eight members, this being the 
largest number at any one time from its organiza- 
tion up to that date. Ho continued to ably discharge 
the duties of his holy office until 1888, a period of 
thirty-two years, when he resigned his charge on 
account of losing his voice. 

Those 3'ears of active labor in the cause of relig- 
ion were fraught with great good, and bore much 
fruit in the increased growth of the church not 
onl}' here but elsewhere. The following concern- 
ing his work was written for this publication: 

■'About the year 1863 or 1864 the Rev. Mr. 
Kitzmille'' immersed the first person ever immersed 



450 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



at Chatham, Sangamon Countj^ 111., and as the re- 
sult of his labors there, a 15aptist Cluiieh was or- 
ganized and a house cf worship built. 

"The house of worship belonging to the Baptist 
Church at Hickory Point. Macoupin County, was 
begun and mainly built by him, and when it was 
comi)leled he i»reached the sermon of dedication. 
During his ministry at Girard he gave one half of 
his lime to various other churches, which like that 
at Girard were just starting and needing the fos- 
tering care of a shepherd and leader. The Baptist 
Church at Auburn, Sangamon County, was one 
which in that way had his services for a period of 
from twelve to eighteen years until it became 
strong. For four years our subject worked in the 
same way at Carlinville, at Greenfield for two or 
three years, and at Waverly for six years." 

During his ministry Mr. Kitzniiller has baptized 
about a thousand people, of whom twelve or more 
have entered the ministry of the Baptist Church. 
The first person baptized by him was his wife; the 
second his sister, who soon after became the wife 
of the Rev. W. C. Newell, who lately died at Mt. 
^'ernon; and the third was a young man, who be- 
came a Baptist minister of extensive usefulness in 
Virginia and Tennessee. It is generally believed 
lliat our revered subject has performed more mar- 
riage ceremonies than any other minister in the 
county. The first man married by him was the 
Rev. William A. Keane, one of the leading Baptist 
ministers in East Tennessee. 

The Rev. Mr. Kitzmdler was uniterl in the holy 
bonds of matrimony with Miss Mary Crouch April 
29, 1847. Mrs. Kitzmiller is a native of Washing- 
ton County, Tenn., and a daughter of Joseph and 
Elizabeth (Keefhavor) Crouch. Mr. and Mrs. Kitz- 
miller have seven children living, namely: Joseph 
H., Martha A., James W., Charles M., David M., 
Laura E. and Eldredge P. Joseph H. a graduate 
of Hahnemann Medical College, of Chicago, is a 
physician at Taylorville, ill. Martha married 
John Ijloyd, an extensive farmer and stock-raiser 
of Franklin Countj', K}'. James W. is a success- 
ful farmer and lumber merchant at Medora. David 
Martin is associated with his brother James in the 
lumber business Charles is assistant Postmaster 
at Girard. Laura married G. A. Post, clerk and 



book keeper for the firm of Solomon «& Martin, of 
Palmyra. Eldredge is at home with his parents. 
Mr. Kitzmiller and his family are very pleasantly 
situated in their suburban home. The grounds 
around his house comprise seventeen and one-half 
acres of land, devoted to fruit growing, gardening 
and pasturing, and are chicH}' under the man.age- 
ment of his youngest son, E. P. Kitzmiller. 

Mr. Kitzmiller was formerly a Democrat, but of 
the anti-slaver}' t3pe. .Since the formation of the 
Republican part}- he has been a firm advocate of 
its principles, and his five sons and two sons-in- 
law follow ill his footsteps as regards their [loliti- 
cal affiliations. Not only has ou" subject been 
greatl}' instrumental in promoting the moral and 
religious interests of tlie community, but he has 
aided in advancing education as a valued member 
of the School Board, with which he was connected 
nine years. He reciived his appointment as Post- 
master at Girard from the hands of President Har- 
rison, and entered upon the duties of his office 
January 20, 1890. His selection for this important 
position gave universal satisfaction, as he is held 
in great esteem, and it was believed that no more 
scrupulous, faithful or efficient official could have 
been found for the place. 

A lithographic portrait of the Rev. Mr. Kitzmil- 
ler is presented in connection with this biograjihical 
notice. 

S^^- 

OHN E. PERROTTET, assistant Supervisor 
of Carlinville Townshiii, was born in Switz- 
erland, August 11, 1836, where he spent his 
"Jj boyhood days. His parents were John D. 
and Anna M. Perrottet who upon their arrival in 
the United States took up their abode in St. Clair 
Count}', ill., afterward removing to Macoupin 
County, where they died, in 1857, their son, John 
E., removed from St. Clair to Macoupin County, 
and has since resided in Gillespie and Carlinville 
Townships. He has given his attention mainly to 
the cultivation of the soil, whcreb}' he has gained 
an independent support. He operates some two 
hundred and fifty acres of land situated on sec- 
lion 12. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORJ). 



451 



Our subject was married in St. Clair County to 
Miss Anna M. Staliier, the date of whose hirlli is 
May C, 1843. The hoiiscnold consists of f.slher 
and niotber and eleven chihlieii — Angust, Anna, 
Sophia, Louis, JNLary, .lolin, Louisa, Clara, Willi.'ini, 
Victor and Adella. 

Mr. Perrottet h:;s lilled the olliceof Tax Collector 
of Gillespie Township. He is an earnest advocate 
of the Democratic [larl}' and both he and his wife 
are members of the German Lutheran Church. 
Mr. Perrottet is a man brave and independent in 
spirit and has fought life's battles as they have 
come, never knowing fear or shrinking from the 
duties which (ill his every-day life. His integrity 
and his devotion to his family have won for him 
goUlen opinions in the community where he lives. 



'IF^.EV. .lAMKS .1. HAVCKAFT. Among the 
ilt^ prominent and successful Inisiness men of 
tii \\\ Medora who are selected for representation 
\i^ in this Rkcohd is the Rev. .]. J. Haycraft, 
whose work as minister and business man has done 
much to aid the [irosperity of the county. His resi- 
dence within its bounds dales from New Year's 
Day, 1844, at which time, a young man of twenty 
years, he came hither. He was born in Hardin 
County, Ky.. January 20, 1824, his parents being 
John and Hannah (Parker) Haycraft, nalivcs of 
Kentucky and Virginia respectively. The father 
had fair school advantages and was an earnest stu- 
dent, and became very proficient in mathematics. 
He taught school for some time, but after bis re- 
moval to this county, in 1846, he gave his attention 
to farming in Chesterfield Township until he re- 
tired from active life, lu 1863 he sold out and 
removed to Fidelity, where his wife breathed her 
last. He afterward became an inmate of tliC home 
of our subject, and died at Medora. The parental 
family consisted of eight sons and daughters, all of 
whom grew to maturit}'. 

Our subject is the eldest member of the parental 
family. His early education was received with his 
father as tutor and he subsequently attended school 
at Elizabelh^own, the county seat of his native 



county, the school being known a.s the Robert Hunt 
High School. From it many statesmen and other 
leading men of Kentucky were graduated. Among 
the classmates of the Rev. Mr. Haycraft were 
George anil Hardin Helm, sons of Gov. John M. 
Helm, and grandsons of the Hon. Benjamin Hardin, 
the noted criminal lawyer. After his education 
was completed Mr. Haycraft engaged to teach 
school but before entering upon his professional 
labors he came to this .Slate and within two years 
he was married and had established his home on a 
farm. 

Mr. Haycraft located in Jersey County not far 
from Medora and gave his attention to tilling the 
soil and dealing in live-stock. He remained at that 
point fifteen years and then became a resident of 
Medora. In 1858 he built a steam flouring mill at 
Fidelity, which he operated until July 15, 1803, 
when it was destroyed by fire, causing a loss of 
|!2V",000. Mr. Haycraft had no insurance, but 
friends and bankers offered to raise i!5,000 within 
twenty-four hours after the catastrophe and urged 
him to accept the mone3' and rebuild. He refused 
the kind offer, as he had never .iccepted a dollar, 
but subsequently his bankers Dorsey ife Cheney 
of Jersey ville, voluntarily furnished him the money 
to rebuild and after doing so he operated the mill 
two years. 'J'lie mill site was valuable but the 
bankers would neither take a mortgage or note, so 
much confidence had they in Mr. IJaycraft's honor. 

Mr. Haycraft soon recovered from his losses and 
engaged in mercantile pursuits, soon having a com- 
mercial standing of ^45,000. AVIien he came to 
Medora he bought a home, and rented a mill which 
he carried on while also running a store and deal- 
ing in grain and stock. He aftervvard built a mill 
which he operated two years, then moved it to Al- 
sey, .Scott County, on the railroad, added au eleva- 
tor, and there carried on an extensive business. 
He sold his property after some j'ears and returned 
to Medora where he carried on mercantile pursuits 
two years, then removed to Palmyra and for eight- 
een months was similarily engaged there. He 
again came to Medora, and in May, 1889, entered 
upon the business he is still conducting — the sale 
of groceries, notions and gentlemen's furnishing 
goods, lie has prospered in business affairs not- 



452 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



withstanding tlie fact that he has met with some 
losses, and he has given two of liis daughters well- 
improved farms and purchased fur the husband of 
another a mill in Palmyra. 

The marriage of Mr. Haycrafl was solemnized 
October 15. 1846, his bride being Miss MatUda 
Rhodes, daughter of Josiah Rhodes. The bride 
was born in Kentucky April 13, 1826. To Mr. 
and Mrs. H.aycraft nine children have been born, 
six of whom died in infanc\- or childhood. The 
living are Melissa, now the wife of H. C. Kemper: 
Emma, wife of Francis Watson; and Ella A'., who 
married D. W. Rhodes. 

Mr. Hay craft belongs to the M.asonic fraternity, 
having been initiated in Fidelity Lodge, No. lo'i, 
A. F. & A. M., in 1858. He was Chaplain of that 
lodge twelve years. Politically he is a Democrat 
and he has frequently held local offices. In religion 
he is a Baptist and in 1876 lie was ordained to tlie 
ministry and has since given considerable time to 
Ihe work of the Gospel. He had charge of Big 
Spring Church, Scott County, organized Liberty 
Ciuirch, near Carlinville, and was the pastor in 
cli.nrge there three years. He resigned to go into 
the field as an evangelist, i)reaching in different 
churches, and subsequently with the Carrollton 
associate carried on one of the most successful meet- 
ings ever held in the church at Fidelit\'. Twenty- 
six members wei'e added and so much life was 
infused into the congregation that a commodious 
liouse of worship w.as soon undertaken and com- 
l)lcted. 




./\\ ESHACK •]•. ALFOKl), one of the most 
important and progressive farmers of 
North Palmyra Township, resides on sec- 
tion 30, where his splendid farm and excel- 
lent buildings are an ornament which attract the 
eye of every passerb}-. His worthy father, Charles 
Alford, was born in North Carolina and his mother. 
Mar}' Tipton, was a native of the mountainous re- 
gions of Tennessee. After marriage this intelligent 
couple emigrated from Monroe County, Tcnn., to 



this county, in 1851. The}' made their hume in 
Scottville Township and there resided iinlil death 
called them hence. Charles Alford died March 
17, 1858 and his wife followed him to the grave 
February 18, 1863. 

Five sons and two daughters, made up the happj- 
home of this i)ioneer couple, and our subject is the 
fifth in t)rder of birth. He had his nativity in Se- 
vier County, Tenn., May 23, 1S2'5. When he was 
about three years old he removed with his father 
to Monroe County, ami there grew to man- 
hood. In that county he found his bride in the 
person of Rebecca Edwards, and they were mar- 
ried May 20, 1848. Sho was born in Roan 
County, January 17. 1831. The young couple set- 
tled in Monroe County, Tenn., and in the fall of 
1850 migrated with Mr. Alford's family to Mac- 
oupin County. The}' settled in Scottville Town- 
ship and resided there until March, 1867, when 
they removed to North Pr.lmyra Township and 
made"their home on section 30, where they now 
reside. 

Nine children were sent to share the parental 
love and care of Meshack and Rebecca Alford. 
Those who are now living are: William C, who 
married Mrs. Ella Helmick; Charles F., who mar- 
ried Helena Rice; Robert E., who married May 
Ballard; and Caleb C. The other children died 
when quite young. The mother of these excellent 
and worthy young people wsis taken from them 
by death at the home in Palmyra Townshi)), June 
20, 1869. 

Our subject was a second time married in Scott- 
ville Township, November 28, 1869, to Miss Susan 
M. Searcy, who was born in .Spencer County, Ky., 
August 14, 1846. They have seven children, 
Sarah R., who is the wife of William Yogel, Mar- 
tha A.. Rosa P., Bertha L., Joseph M., John S. and 
Cleveland H. Mr. Alford finds in his children the 
comfort and solace of h's advancing years. He is 
the owner of three hundred and seventy -five acres 
of rich and arable land upon which he h,as erected 
a handsome home and a good set of farm build- 
ings. The ofHces of School Director and Ilighw.ay 
Commissioner have been offered to him and he 
has carried on their duties with success, giving 
therein great satisfaction to his neighbors and the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



453 



communiU' in general. Mi-s. Alford is an earn- 
est and ilevoted member of llie Missionary Baptist 
Cliureli. Such a family as this is in every way a 
benefit to tlie community in which they reside as 
their industry and enterprise add to its mateiial 
wealth and their uprigiitness of character and in- 
toliisonce malce tlieni leaders of thouglit and action. 



-^^ 



II 



<;f;OriN II. ARNETT. Among the public- 
spirited men of Southern parentage who 
have helped lo make Macoupin County 
what it is to-day. we are pleased to note 
the gentleman whose name appears at the head of 
this sketch, who is now Postmaster of Del.iy ami 
was for some time Supervisor of Bird Township. 
Ills father. Thomas Arnett, was born in North 
Carolina, and his mother, Elizabeth Reader, was a 
native of Tennessee, where they were married and 
made their first home in Overton County. At 
that time many residents of Tennessee and Ken- 
tucky were emigrating to Illinois, and they fol- 
lowed the tide. Coming hither in 18.34- after living 
for a few months in Morgan County, they settled 
in the s^jring of 1835, in Bird Township, this 
count}'. This they made tiieir permanent home 
until their death. The mother was called from 
earth in August, 18()4, and her loss was deeply 
felt, not only Ijy her iiusband and children, but by 
her friends and neighl)ors. Her b?i'e.ived husband 
survived her for nearly teji ^ears, passing aw.ay in 
February, 1874. 

Our subject is one of a large family of seven 
sons iind five daughters, of whom he was the seventh 
in order of birth. His birth took place in Bird 
Township, this county, September 28, 1838. Here 
he grew to manhood and has made Bird Townshi[) 
his home continuously, with the exception of a 
short time spent on the Pacific Coast. In 1863 he 
went to California and was absent in that State and 
Oregon until 18C5. He has made farming his 
ciiief business in life and adhered to it until 1888, 
when he rented his farm to a tenant and came to 
Delay, wliere he engaged in the business of general 
merchandising. In the spring of that year he received 



the appointment of Postmaster, which office he still 
fills. He owns a fine tract of three hundred and 
nine acres, most of which is in Bird Township. 

Mr. Arnett was married May 21, 1874, in Mem- 
phis, Teun., to Miss Hannah Mills, who was 
born in Carlinville. Her parents were Charles and 
Mary A. (Castle") Mills, natives of P^ngland. Mr. 
Mills was a blacksmith by occupation and an ex- 
pert in his calling. He and his good wife are now 
residents of California. Mr. Arnett is a public- 
S|)irited man and is ever alive to the interests of 
the community, and especially active in forward- 
ing all movements which he believes to be for the 
best good of the agricultural community. He has 
filled for three terms the oflice of Supervisor of 
Bird Townshij), and has been Treasurer of the 
township for twelve ye.'irs, and Justice of the Peace 
for two terms. Political affairs interest this gen- 
tleman deei)ly and in them he takes an active part, 
working earnestly for the [)rosperity and progress 
of the Democratic part3^ 



EPHRAIM BELDAM is living on a good 
farm on section 15, Bunker Hill Township, 
' about one mile north of the city of Bunker 

Hill, at which pl.ace he recently' settled and where 
he owns seventy acres of good land well improved. 
Dr. Beldam formerly lived in the city of Bunker Hill. 
He has lived in the county for fifteen years .-uid 
has owned different farms and conducted them suc- 
cessfully. Dr. Beldam came to Bunker Hill from 
Kansas Cit}- where he was v.iriousl}' engaged dur- 
ing eight years in the poultry and egg business and 
dealing for a time in horses. 

Dr. Beldam is a native of p]ngl."nd. born in 
Cambridgeshire at Staunton, !March 29, 1841. His 
father, Thom.as Beldam, was born in England and 
was a dealer in swine and successful in that line. 
The father married an English lady. Ann .Smith. 
After the birth of part of the family Thomas Bel- 
dam, wife ami children left London in 1848, on a 
sailing vessel. They were out at sea five weeks and 
five days, landing in Xew York Cicy and thence 
coming to Cleveland, Ohio, where they lived for 



454 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



some years, coming later t« Englewood, Chicsigo, 

in about 1860. It was here that the father and 
mother died, the former from a cancer when just 
fifty-five years of age. The latter died some years 
later at about sixty years of age. Mr. Beldam was 
a Methodist in belief and the mother a Baptist. 

Our subject was a boy of only about seven 
years when his parents came to the United States 
and he reached his majority- after they had settled 
in Chicago. III. He was here a horse-dealer, buying 
and selling. He has a brother George in the city 
of Chicago who is a prominent liveryman, owning 
two stables. Another brother. Thomas, is also a 
prominent horse-dealer. The subject of this sketch 
was married in Bunker Hill to Miss Si»phronia H. 
Sherwood. She was born October 7. 1850, in the 
American Bottoms. Madison County. 111., and was 
the youngest of the family. With her uncle East- 
man T. Irish, she moved to Bunker Hill. M.icoupin 
County. Here she was reared, and etlucated at 
Greenville College. She is now the mother of one 
child. Bertha, who lives at borne and is a bright 
and accomplished young woman. Mrs. Beldam is 
a member of the Mellicdist Episcopal Church. Mrs. 
Beldam's parents die<l when she was young and 
she knows nothing of their history. 



'if; OSEPH B. HACKNEY, a successful farmer 
residing on section '2b. Hilyard Township, 
has a well iroprovetl and highly cultivated 
farm which has been his home most of the 
time since the beginning of the '50s. His military 
and mining experiences are truly notable. He is a 
veteran of the Mexican War and saw some hard 
fighting, especially toward the close of the condict 
when he was engaged in fighting the bushwhackers, 
being a member of Capt. Little's Cavalry Company, 
in which ho did excellent service .is a private. 

Our subject returned home in 1848 after his dis- 
charge from the arrcy and the following spring he 
joined a companv which was organize<l in Jersey- 
ville to cross the plains to the gold regions of the 
Pacific Slope. This company embrace*! some twen- 
ty-five' teams and wagons and their first objective 



point was St. Joseph, Mo. From there they took 
the Mormon trail over the plains to South Pass, and 
thence to Ft. Hall. an<l crossing the Humboldt 
reached a mining camp on Bear River. Here Mr. 
Hackney spent some time and then went to Sac.-a- 
mento. and later to McCallam River and worked in 
the Angeles and Murphy mines. Late in the fol- 
lowing spring he went to the head waters of the 
Yuba River and there found some good diggings. 
In the summer of 1850 he returned with his brother 
who had accompanied him. and coming to Macou- 
pin County, they invested in land in Hilyard Town- 
ship, upon which they have since lived and made 
of it an excellent farm. 

March 20. 1S29. was the natal day of Joseph B. 
Hackney, and Troy, N. Y'. the place of his nativitv. 
His father. William, who was born in that State, 
came of Scotch parentage. His father and mother 
emigrated from the old country to New York and 
spent their last days there. Their son William 
learned the trade of a blacksmith and furnace man. 
and h^d an excellent reputation as a skille<i work- 
man. He came West in 1836 and settled upon a 
tract of land in Jersey County, this State, but still 
continued to carry on his trade. Later he removed 
to Macoupin County.where he live<l until his death, 
at the age of eighty-six. His wife. Margaret Kellogg. 
a native of Albany. N. Y. was of Hollaml stock. 
Slie came West with her husband, dying in this 
county when eighty-four j-ears old. She was a true 
and faithful wife and an affectionate and devoted 
mother, and her memory is revered by all who knew 
her. Both Mr. and Mrs. William Hackney were 
devout and active members of the Presbyterian 
Church. Mr. Hackney was a Jacksonian Democrat 
in his political views and had l>een a soldier 
through all the War of 1812. entering as a pri- 
vate and later becoming a Corporal. 

The subject of our sketch is one of the younger 
members of his father's f.amily. antl his two older 
brothers were also in the Mexican War. one. James. 
belonging to the militia, and Matthew being 
in the uavy. They are still living. .Joseph 
was marrieii in Chicago, in 1864, his bride being 
Mrs. Mary (Hackney) Lyman, a native of New 
York, of Connecticut parentage. Her first husband 
Williara Lyman, to whom she w.as unitetl in Con- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



455 



necticut, enlisted in the array at Ihc time the War 
of the Rebellion in 1861, and was one of the firet 
to fall at the liattle of Newburn, N. C. He was 
uniler the command of Gen. Burnside, and was 
shot dead by the enemy, being in the prime of life. 
His young widow w.as left with one child, George 
W., now living in Wichita, Kan. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hackney are the parents of the fol- 
lowing children: Fred W., who took to wife Lil- 
lian Roberts and resiiics upon a farm in Hilyaril 
Township; Paul, who resides at home, and is a 
farmer and tlie Township Collector; and Alherl, 
Raymond and Lotta, wlio are all three at home. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hackney are truly representative 
members of the farming community of this town- 
ship, being enterprising, intelligent, industrious and 
successful. Their reputation as worthy and upright 
citizens and as genial and kindly neighbors, gives 
them a genuine popularity. Mrs. Hackney is an 
active and devoted member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Ciuirch, in which she finds a broad field of 
labor and influence. The Democratic party claims 
the hearty allegiance and co-oi>eration of Mr. Hack- 
nev and his .adult sons. 




WILLIAM HEIDEMANN, the leading 

general merchant of Brighton, establisheil 
business at that place in October, 1868. He 
began on a small scale and has steadilv worked his 
w:iy upward, enlarging his stock .is the volume of 
his trade increased until he now has the most im- 
portant business in the place. His store is well 
supplied with all kinds of merchandise and by his 
untiring eflforls, his pleasant manner and his fair 
dealing he h.is secured a liberal share of the public 
patronage. 

Mr. Heidemann was born in Faren Haultz Dep- 
niolt, Germany, on the 10th of February, 1834. 
and is a son of Fred Heidemann who spent his en- 
tire life in the Fatherland, dying at the age of fifty- 
one years. T'hc mother, whose maiden name was 
Florentena Karnaman, long survived her husband 
and at the age of eighty-two crossed the Atlantic 
with a son and daughter, locating in Brinhtou in 



1880, where she died two years l,iter, at the ad- 
vanced .age of eighly-four years. Both Mr. and Mi-s. 
Heidemann were members of the Evangelical 
Church. 

The subject of this sketch aquired a good educa- 
tion in his native tongue and when abont eigliteen 
yeare of age startetl out in life for himself. Soon 
he obtained an excellent position in the home of 
one of tiie millionaires of Bremen, being for seven 
years in the employ of Mr. Oelrench of the German 
Lloyil steamship line. For some lime he was at 
the head of that gentleman's household affnirs, and 
in 1859, when he decitled to emigrate to America, 
Mr. Oelreach gave him a pass.a2:e upon a sailing 
vessel bound for New Orleans. After a voyage of 
seven weeks he first set foot upon America soil and 
coming up the Mississippi River made his first lo- 
cation at Brighton but after a short time went t<> 
Madison County, where for a time he worked as a 
farm hand. About 18G1, he went to St. Louis, 
where he secured a position in the" well-known dry 
goods house of Scruggs, V'andervoort & Barney. 
He was a trusted and faithful salesman in that housf 
for several years, during which time lie acquired an 
excellent knowledge of business raetho<ls and by 
economy procured a capital sufficient to embark in 
business for himself. He then returned to Brigh- 
ton and opened a general merchandise store in this 
place, where he has since carried on a successful 
business. 

While residing in St. Louis, Mr. Heidemann w.as 
united in marri.age with Caroline Gaegel, a native 
of the Fatherland, born in 1841. She came alone 
to America in 1859, ami made her home in St. Louis 
until her marriage. She hsis been a true helpmate 
to her husband and has faithfully watched over the 
interests of the household, while Mr. Heidemann 
h.as labored to support the family. Unto them 
were born thirteen children, nine of whom are now 
living — William, a comnierical traveller employed 
by the Martin Clothing Company of St. Louis; 
Emma who is at the hea 1 of her father's store in 
Brighton, being a young woman of excellent busi- 
ness ability; Amelia at home; Henry, a liveryman at 
Brighton; Adolph, who is edm-ating iiimself for a 
mechanical engineer and is now engaged with the 
St. Louis Screw Company ; Henrietta, who is .assist. 



456 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



W 



ing her father in the store; Anna, Helena and 
Hulda at home. The parents of this family- are 
leading members of the Evangelical Church, Mr. 
Heidemann having given more than any one else 
for tlio erection of their house of worship. He is 
also regarded as a valued and enterprising citizen 
and has served as Coucilman for two years. In 
politics he is a reliable and stalwart Republican. 



ACOB L. PLAIN, ex-Sheriff of Macoupin 
County, is a prominent and well-known citi- 
zen of Carlinville, where for many years 
be has been engaged in the real-estate busi- 
ness, and he has been a potent factor in its grovvth 
and prosperit}'. He was born in Muldenberg 
County, K}'., April 2,5, 182.S, and is a rein-esenta- 
tive of the early pioneer families of this section of 
the State. 

David Plain, the father of our subject, was born 
in 1796 in that i)art of Frederick County, Md., 
which is noiv included in Carroll County, and his 
father, John Plain, was a native of the same place. 
The father of the latter was a farmer, and it is 
supposed tiiat he spent his entire life in Maryland. 
The grandfather of our subject was bred to the 
life of a farmer, and his whole life was passed in 
his native State. His son David was reared in the 
count}- of his birth, and removed thence to Green- 
briar County, \'a.,and later to Muhlenberg Count}', 
K}'., where he followed his trade, that of a cabinet- 
maker. He resided there until 1828, when he came 
to the wilds of Illinois to seek a new home, mak 
ing the removal the entire way with o.K-teams. He 
was accompanied hither by his wife and Dve chil- 
dren, and brought with him all his household 
goods. He first located on Indian Creek, in Mor- 
gan County, but in March, 1831, came to Ma- 
coupin County, and became one of the first settlers 
of Shaw's Point Township, where he at once se- 
lected a tract of Government land. He cut poles, 
and putting the ends in the ground, letting the 
tops come together, he covered them with boards 
rived by hand, and thus made a temporary shelter, 
which the family occupied while he erei-ted a 
hewn log house. For many years after he came 



here there were no railways in Illinois, and Alton, 
thirty-six miles distant, was the nearest market 
and depot for supplies. The people were chiefly 
home-livers, and the women spun and wove all the 
cloth with which they dressed their cliildren. 

The father of our subject devoted his time prin- 
cipally to farming, and made his home at Shaw's 
Point Township until his death, in 1873. He h.ad 
been twice married. The maiden name of his sec- 
ond wife, mother of our subject, was Ann Landes. 
She was born in Botetourt Count}', Ya., and was 
a daughter of Daniel and Catherine Landes. She 
died in 1868. In the parental family there were 
ten children. 

Jacob L. was but an infant when his parents 
brought him to Illinois, and consequently he has 
no remembrance of other than his adopted State. 
He attended the |>ioneer .schools of Shaw's Point 
Township, which were first taught in log houses, 
the furniture being of the most primitive kind. 
The benches were made by splittmg logs and Irmv- 
ing one side smooth, and thcLi inserting wooden 
pegs for legs. There were no desks, but holes 
were bored in the logs on either side of the house, 
wooden pegs put in. and a board laid on them, 
and this contrivance served as a desk for the larger 
scholars to write upon. Yet in those rude log 
houses many of the most noted men of the country 
obtained the rudiments of an education which 
fitted them for the most responsible and exalte<l 
positions in life. As soon as able our subject com- 
menced to assist in the duties of the farm, and 
made his home with his parents until he was 
twenty-two years of age, when he started in life on 
his own account, and even with the world. He 
had been reared to habits of industry, and found 
no difficulty in obtaining employment on a farm. 
An intelligent, energetic young man, bearing an 
excellent reputation, he was selected for the office 
of Deputy Sheriff in 1851, under William M. 
Snow. He served in that capacity until 1854, 
when he was elected Sheriff of the county, so well 
h.ad he done in the subordinate office, and he held 
that position one term at that time. In 1858 he 
was again elected to that office, and retained it 
urtil 1860. 

From 1856 to 1858 Mr. Plain was in the mer- 




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V 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



459 



cantile business, carrying a stock of general mer- 
chandise. Later Lie engaged in llie real-estate 
business, and also ii> making abstracts of titles, 
which he has since continued. He has a pleas- 
ant home at Carlinville, and to the wife who pre- 
sides over it he was married in 1856. Mrs. Plain 
was formerly Miss Mary A. J. Dick, and she is a 
native of this Slate, her birthplace being in San- 
gamon County. 

Politically Mr. Plain has alw.iys been a stanch 
Democr.'^t. As before stated, he hekl the office of 
Sheriff two terms. He also has served eighteen 
years as Justice of the Peace, and for three terms 
was Mayor of the city. He is at present a member 
of the ISoard of PkUication. Fraternally he is a mem- 
ber of Carlinville Lodge, No. 350, L O. F. Dur- 
ing his long residence in the county Mr. Plain 
has always been actively identified with its inter- 
ests, and has promoted the welfare of the city and 
county in various ways, both as a citizen and in 
tlie various high officts that he has held, and he 
is greatly esteemed b^' all with whom he has busi- 
ness or social relations. 







jjOBERT J. MrrCHELL, M. D., of Girard, 
is a [ihysician of high standing and repu- 



A \\\ tation among the members of his profes- 
sion in this county. He was born on a farm 
near Lancaster, Schuyler County, Mo., October 
30, 1843. His father, Isaac Mituhcll, was a native 
of England, born in the town of Harby, Notting- 
hamshire, March 1, 1815. His grandparents wei-e 
also both of English birib and antecedents, and spent 
'-heir entire lives in their native land. His grand- 
father, Richard Mitchell, had a farm near Harby, 
Nottinghamshire, where he died in 1840. The 
maiden name of his wife, grandmother of our sub- 
ject, was Susanna Chapman. She was born at 
Harliy, and died one year after her husband. They 
were the parents of seven sons and three daugh- 
ters. The father of our subject and his brother, 
William, were the only members of the family who 
came to America, and the latter settled in Greene 
Count}'. He married in his native country, and 



I reared a family of five sons and two daughters, 
ami in the ripeness of time passed to his final 
rest. 

Isaac Mitchell was young when his fatlier died, 
and at an early age he was thrown on his own re- 
sources to obtain a living. In 1837, in the prime 
and vigor of the opening years of his manhood, 
he emigrated to this country, and coming to Illi- 
nois, located near Carrollton, Greene County, 
where several English families had established 
themselves previously. He found employment on 
a farm, and in the winter season attended school. 
Very soon after his marriage, in the fall of 1841, 
he went to Missouri, and became one of the early- 
settlers of Schuyler County. He bought a squatter's 
claim, and later, when the land came into the mar- 
ket, purchased it from the Government. There 
was a log house on the place, partly completed, at 
the time he bought it, and after pnisliing it, he and 
his wife made it their home for some years. In- 
dians lived in that region when he went there, and 
deer, wild turkeys and other game abounded for 
a long time after. There were no railways, and 
the towns on the Mississipin River, seventy miles 

. distant were the nearest markets. 

Mr. Mitchell improved quite a tract of land in 
Missouri, and continued to live there some time, 
when he came back to Illinois and leased a farm in 
Madison County, near Upper Alton. Eight years 
later he came to Girard and lived retired from 
active life until his death. May 21, 1865. The 
maiden name of his wife was Sarah Underwood, 
and she was born in August, 1811, near Cynthiana, 
Harrison County, Ky. Her father, Francis Under- 
wood, was born in Shropshire, England, in 1767, and 
was the son of another Francis Underwood, who 
spent his entire life in England. Tiie grandfather 
of our subject came to America in his youth as a 
soldier in the British army. He deserted from the 
ranks, and ever after made his home in the United 
Stales. 

Locating in the wilds of Kentucky, Mr. Mitchell 
was married in Lafayette County, that State, in 
1799, to Margaret Jarvis. She was bom in West- 
moreland Count}', Pa., in 1784, to Robert and Mar}' 
Jarvis, natives of Dublin, Ireland, of English pa- 
tents. On coming to America, they resided for a 



460 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



time in Wnstmoreland County, Pa., and thence 
went to Lafayette County, Ky., and from there to 
Troy, Ohio, where they died. In 1839 Grand 
faliier Underwood came to Illinois, journeying 
hither witli teams. He settled seven miles west of 
Carroilton, where lie bought a tract of timber land 
wliicli he developed into a farm ; in that place lie 
and his good wife dwelt until life's close, he 
dying .June 20, 1853, and she August 20, 1860. 
Tiiey reared four sons and five daughters. The 
parents of our subject had four children, as fol- 
lows: William F., a practicing physician of 
Lancaster. Mo.; John M.,a soldier in the Twenty- 
first Missouri Infantry during the late war, who died 
in the service; Robert J.; and Maiy J., who resides 
at Girard. 

Our subject received his early education in dis- 
trict schools, and sui)plemented it by an excellent 
course of study a^ .Slmrlleff College, from which 
he was graduated in Ihe Class of '69. Imrae- 
iliately after graduation he commenced the study 
of medicine wiili his brother, and in the fall of 
1869 entered Rush Medical College at Chicago. 
He attendeil that institution until the following 
spring, and then resumed his studies with his 
brother. In the fall cf 1870 he again entered 
Rush Medical College, and was graduated with the 
Class of '71. A few weeks after leaving college 
he came to Girard seeking a suitable location to 
establish himself in his profession, and since that 
time has been a resident physician of this place, 
acquiring during these twenty and more j'ears a 
lucrative practice that extends far beyond the lim- 
its of the city. He is justly held in high esteem 
by his patients for his professional knowledge 
and practical ability in applying it in all cases that 
come under his consideration. 

Dr. Mitchell was married in 1873 to Miss Julia 
A. Bennion, a native of Wales. Her parents, 
Handle and Augusta S. Bennion, were also of 
Welsh birth, and came from Denbigshire, North 
Wales, to the United States in 1849. Two children 
complete the household circle of our subject and 
his wife, Mabel and Yinnie. 

The Doctor leads a busy life, for, notwithstand- 
ing the demands made upon him b3' his profession, 
he is identified with the liusiness interests of the 



city as Vice-President of the Girard Building and 
Loan Association, and he also has borne an honor- 
able part in the public life of Girard as a member 
of the City Council and of the Board of Educa- 
tion, with which he is still connected. Politicall3' 
he was formerly a Republican, but he has of late 
given his support to the Democratic party. He is 
a member of the Macoupin County Society for 
Medical Iini)rovement, of the State Medical So- 
ciety, and of the American Medical Association. 
He is a member of Girard Lodge, No. 171, F.& A. 
M., and of Chapter 132, R. A. M. 

A lithographic portrait of Dr. Mitchell apjiears 
on another page of this volume. 




^\ RS. ELIZA J. (TRABUE) BOGGESS, 
a well-known resident of Girard, has lived 
in this county for fifty-six years and has 
been an intelligent witness of its growth 
and development from the wilderness to its present 
condition as a prosperous and flourishing commu- 
nity. She is of an old pioneer famil}' and is a 
descendant of distinguished French ancestry. She 
was born in Logan County, Ky., May 29, 1820. 

The father of Mrs. Boggess, Haskins Trabue, 
was born near Richmond, Va., in 1V90, and was a 
son of Stephen Trabue, who was a native of the 
same locality. From the best information at hand 
we learn that the great-grandfather of our subject, 
whose name was John James Trabue, was a ^'irginian 
also, whose parents were born in France and came 
to America in Colonial times, locating in Virginia, 
where he spent the remainder of his life. The 
maiden name of his wife w.as Olympia Dupu}', and 
she was a native of Virginia. Her father, Barthol- 
omew Dupuy, was born in Saintgue, France, in 
16.54. He was an officer in the household guards 
of Louis XIV. He was a Huguenot and there is a 
romantic story connected with his coming to Amer- 
ica, a self-exile, to escape religious persecution in 
his native countrj'. In 1684 he married Susanna. 
Countess Davillon, and the king graciously gafre 
him leave of absence to spend his honeymoon at his 
villa. While there he learned of the revocation of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



461 



tlie Edict of Nantes find immediately took meas- 
ures to flee to Germany to escape the doom he well 
knew to be awaiting one of liis ieiiu;ious belief. 
He ordered a suit of clotiies for his page, who was 
the size of his wife, and with his bride attired as a 
page, witli two of his horses and all his money and 
jewels, he started for the frontier. He managed to 
pass the guards successfully until near the line be- 
tween the two countries, when he was fired upon, 
the bullet lodging in a i)sulm-book in his wife's 
bosom. He showed a pass signed by the king, and 
without giving llie guards time to see the date, de- 
manded a guard the rest of the way. He arrived 
in Germany in safety and after remaining there 
two years emigrated to America and settled at 
Jamestown, Va., among the colonists, and passed 
bis remaining days in quietness and peace. 

Stephen Trabue the paternal grandfather of our 
subject, married Jane Haskins, a native of Virginia. 
After marriage he removed to Kentucky, going 
thither with teams and flat-boats. lie settled in 
(Jreene County, of wliich be was an early pioneer. 
He secured quite a tract of land there and operated 
it by slave labor. He finally removed to Logan 
Count}', where he bought a much larger quantity' 
of land than he had first purchased and he resided 
there until deatli closed his earthly career. 

Mrs. Boggess' father was reared in Kentucky and 
after marriage he settled on land given him by his 
father in Logan County. In 183.T he, too, became 
a [)ioneer, coming to Illinois, accompanied b}' his 
wife and seven children. The removal was made 
with teams and the family took with them their 
household goods and cooked and camped by the 
way. After two weeks' travel they arrived in what 
is now Brushy Mound Township, where the father 
entes'ed a tract of (Jovernment land. He erected 
a small log house, making the roof of rived boards, 
the floor of puncheon and the door of clapboards. 
There were but few signs of civilization apparent 
in this county at that time, as the settlers were few 
and far between and there were no railroads or 
markets ver}- near, Alton being the most accessible 
point where the settlers sold their inodncts and ob- 
tained their supplies. 

In 1837 Mr. Trabue built a carding mill, the Hist 
carding mill erected in the county, and he ;:lso gave 



his attention to farming and developed a choice 
farm. His death in 1860 removed a valued citizen, 
one who had closely identified himself with the in- 
terests of his community and had been a useful pi- 
oneer in developing the resources of the county. 
His wife, whose maiden name was ()l3mpia Wil- 
son, also died in the same year thai he did, her 
death occurring on the home farm. She was the 
mother of nine children. 

Mrs. Boggess was in her fifteenth year when she 
came to Illinois from her early Kentucky home and 
she has a vivid recollection of pioneer life in this 
State. She lived with her parents until their death 
and was a stay and comfort to them in their old 
age. In 1864 her marriage was solemnized with 
Mr. Barnabas Boggess, who is represented elsewhere 
in this work. 

-S^^^' 




RS. MARTHA (MAZE) BATES. Our 

readers will be b(jth pleased and profited 
to read a life-sketch of this mother in Is- 
rael who has for so many years exerted an 
influence for good, not only in her liome and church, 
but throughout the whole communitj'. Her devo- 
tion as a wife and mother and her long and faithful 
membership in the Shiloh li.Tjttist Cliurch, which 
has lasted almost fifty years, as well as her active 
interest in pnl)lic affairs, have placed her in the 
fore front of the women of Macoui)in County. She 
still resides at the old homestead which her husband 
had established on section 22, Bird Township. 

The father of Mrs. Bates was John Maze, a na- 
tive of Virginia, and her mother, Sarah Morrow, 
was liorn in E.astern Tennessee, in the mountainous 
regions. This couple emigrated from Tennessee to 
Greene County in this State early in the '30s and 
afterward lemoved to Barr Township. It was while 
they were living there that Mr. Maze went on busi- 
ness to Kentucky and there met his death. Ills 
widow continued to make her home in Barr Town- 
siii|» until she jiassed from life. 

Mrs. Bates was the fifth child of her father's 
family and was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., 
July 17, 1816. She came with her parents to Ma- 
coupin County, and was married in Barr Townshi|), 



462 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



March 25. 1836. The gentleman to whom she was 
wedded and with whom she spent more th.tn a half 
century of happy wedded life, was VTilliam J. 
Bates, a son of Hampton and Jane (Bryson) Bates. 
He was born in Jeflferson County, Tenn.. October 
20, IS 13. Their earliest married home was in 
Western Mound Township, where they lived for 
upwards of sixteen yeai-s. after which they re- 
moved to Bird Townshi|), where Mr. Bates died 
September 16, 1890. This long life together w.as 
one of unusu.al harmony and congenialitj', and was 
filled with .act* of unostentatious goodness and the 
quiet fulfillment of duty. 

Mr. Bates made substantial improvements \i\K)n 
his farm and left it in an excellent condition. He 
had been a member of the .^hiloh Baptist Church 
for more than fortj'-five yeai-s, and was a power in 
it for good, .'^ix children crowned this union, 
namely: George W., who married Miss Agnes 
Adams: Sarah J., who w.ns the wife of John Morris, 
and died June 26. 1859; John H.. who took to wife 
Catherine McAliuej': James C Frances M.. who 
married William Adams, and Addison, who raar- 
rie«l Ellen B. Barr. To this faithful mother these 
children owe much, not onh" in the Influences which 
tended to form their characters, but also their social 
standing and their worldly success. She is a 
woman who is deeply interested in the affairs of 
to-daj' .and keeps herself fully informed of public 
movements. Not oaly her children, but all who 
know her. rise up to "call her blessed." 

ENJAMIX F. KABLE. Among the rep- 
resentative citizens of North Otter Town- 
f»J))J| ship, prominenl in Imsiness and religious 
circles and honored by everyone for his 
noble war record, we are proud to place high the 
name which we have just recorded. He is the 
eldest son of James Kable and was born in Greene 
County-, C>hio, April I, 1840. In his native home 
he grew to manhood and received the usual educa- 
tion and training which is given to a farmer's boy 
in an intelligent ami practical family-. Later in his 
boyhood he was a resident of Miami County-, Ohio, 




and remained there until the war broke out. He 
was early interested in the struggle to maintain the 
honor of the old flag, and when he had barely 
reached his majority joined the army and nobly 
did his share in the struggle to maintain the insti- 
tutions whic'i were established by our forefathers. 

The young man enlisted January 31, 1862. in 
Comiwny I, .Sevent\--first Ohio Infantry. He served 
for nearly four years and did not take his discharge 
until 1866. Some of the important engagements 
in which he took part were Shiloh, Franklin and 
Nashville, Tenn. At the battle of Shiloh he was 
slightly wounded in the foot and at Clarksville. 
Tenn., he was taken prisoner by the rebel forces, 
but was not kept "in durance vile" as long as were 
many of his companions. He was soon sent to 
Camp Chase, Ohio, where he remained until he was 
exchanged. 

It w.as in Januarj", 1866, that the young soldier 
returned, bronzed by exposure and with honorable 
scars, to take up the pursuits of peace. He settled 
in North Otter Township. Macoupin County, and 
h.as since made this his home. He now owns about 
seven hundred acres in this township, which he is 
cultivating in a most thorough and systematic 
manner. On another jiage is presented a view of 
his home, which is a delightful one within and at- 
tractive without, and the excellence of his barns 
and sheds speaks whole volumes in praise of the 
man who can work as well as he can fight. Nothing 
in his wliole life so sincerely gratifies this noble 
man as to review his days of hardship and suffering 
upon the battlefield and the march. His devotion to 
his country w.is a whole-hearteil one and he grudges 
nothing of all that he gave in time and strength. 

Soon after his return from the war Mr. Kable 
was united in marriage with the woman whose true 
heart had followed him through all his wanderings 
and marches. His wedding was solemnized in 
North Otter Township, May 3, 1866. the bride 
being ElizHbelh Mayer. She had the happiness of 
presenting her husband with one child. Theodore 
and then dietl M.ay 10, 1868. leaving the little one 
to mourn the irreparable loss of a mother. 

The second marriage of Mr. Kable took place in 
North Otter Township. November II, 1872, his 
bride being Miss Anna Freeman, b^- whom he has 




RESIDENCE or B. F. K AB LE , 5EC. 3., ,\C = "■-. OTTER TR, MACOUPIN CO., ILL. 




.-:-;- 


>-. 


- 1- -■' 




' - - ^ 



a-^-^ 



nZc.Di.CE OF T. r. COULTAS ,5EC.6.,V1RDEN TP.,MACOU 



PORTPvAIT AND BIOaRAPHlCAL RECORD. 



465 



five cliililren, namely: M.aiy Alice, .Tames F., Rus- 
sell t'., Charles II., and Nellie A. The mother of 
these children was horn in Chatham, Sangamon 
County, 111., and is a lady of unusual culture and 
rcQnenieiit as well as ability in managing the affairs 
of her household and trainina: her children with 
wisdom and discretion. 

Our subject has been .Justice of the Peace for 
four years and h.as also filled the office of School 
Director and Highway Commissioner. He is a Di- 
rector in the F'armers' Mutual Aid Association of 
Virden and North Otter. He has also been one of 
the School Trustees and takes an active part in po- 
litical movements, being a Republican in his con- 
victions and working for the interest of that party. 
The Methodist Church is the religious body with 
which our subject is connected and where he is an 
active worker. He is also prominently identified 
with the John Baird Post, No. 285, G. A. R. 



7=^ T>->^irN~^' '-• 

r^^^HOMAS FOSTER COULTAS. The beau- 
tiful home and delightful surroundings 
j^fJ mark the farm of Mr. Coultas as one of the 
most attractive to be found in Virden Township. 
It is no more charming, however, in its exterior 
than in its Interior, as it is the happy home of those 
who know how to enjoy life and how to make it 
happy for others, an<l their true hospitality brings 
every guest into harmony with the surroundings. 
A view of the commodious residence is presented 
to the readers of the Recokd. 

Mr. Coultas was born in what is now Scott 
County, 111., September 24, 1832. His father, 
James Coultas, and his mother, Mary Foster, were 
both natives of Yorkshire. They came from F^ng- 
land about 18.30 and made their home in what is 
now Scott County, 111., where they continueil to re- 
side until they were called hence by death. Two 
sons and one daughter constituted their little fam- 
ily circle and the son Thomas was the second in 
order of age. He grew to manhood in his native 
home, remaining there until March, 1867, when he 
removed to this county and settled on section 7, 
Virden Township. 

Young Coultas early chose as his life calling th.c 



pursuits of agriculture and with general farming 
has mingled stock raising, although he has not 
made a specialtj' of that line. Upon his home he 
has erected a No. I set of farm buildings and he is 
the proud possessor of a beautiful farm of four 
hundred acres, all in the township where he makes 
his home. 

The happy marri.age of Thomas Foster Coult.as 
and Elizabeth J. Loud took i)lace in Macoupin 
County, February 4, 1855. This lady was horn in 
York County. Me., March 16, 1835, and is the daugh- 
ter of the late Rufus W. Loud, who was a ship- 
builder by trade, but who after coming to Illinois 
followed farming. Her mother was Jane Scam- 
mon and this worthy couple came to Hlinois in the 
latter part of the '30s and thus did much pioneer 
work. Mr. Loud died at Ft. Scott, Kan.; Mrs. 
Loud lived to be over seventy years of age and 
then met her death by a sad calamity. She was 
driving in a buggj' when the horse took fright 
and she was thrown out and killed. 

Seven bright and blooming children have blessed 
the home of Mr. and Mrs. Coultas and they are by 
name: Ellen, Horace W., Rufus J., Alvin F., 
Franklin E., Annie and Emma J. The eldest 
daughter is married to Mr. Daniel Organ. This 
happy and united family are foremost in every 
good word and work, being all, father, mother, 
and children, united in tlie faith of the Chris- 
tian religion and members together in the Pres- 
byterian Church, to which Mr. Coultas has 
been .attached since he was twenty-one years old 
and where he fills the office of Elder. Mr. Coultas 
has largely forwarded the educational affairs of the 
township in his office as School Trustee. He lias 
also done excellent service in making more con- 
venient and useful the roads of the county while 
serving as Highwav Commissioner. 



-53i^^- 



AMUEL E. HETTICK. The ancestral his- 
tory of the gentleman whose name heads 
this sketch presents many incidents of in- 
terest. His father, Stephen, was the son of 
Andrew Ilettick whose father, Christian, was a na- 




466 



PORTKAIT AMU BIOGKAI'HICAL RKCORD. 



live of Germany who settled on llie Pennsylvania 
frontier and was murdered by the Indians when 
the son Andrew was a little lad of six years. The 
child was in captivity to the savages for three years 
l)ut was finally rescued by the soldiers and returned 
to his mother. She had married a second time and 
he was reared by her and bis step-father and every- 
thing done to remove the cloud of sorrow which 
had been brought upon him by the terrible scenes 
through which he passed. The scars which he re- 
ceived at the time of his capture went with him to 
his grave. After a few years he started out in life 
for himself and became a pioneer in Fayette County, 
Ohio. 

After going to Ohio, Andrew llettick raisetl stock 
and drove it to market across the mountains to 
Haltinjore and Philadelphia. In 1816 he removed 
to what was then the Territory of Illinois, making 
his journey in a keelboat on the Ohio and Missis- 
sippi Rivers. Me bouglit two liundred acres of land 
in Rlonroe County and there made his home until 
1820, when he removed to Greene County. After 
living for live j'ears in Carrollton he removed to 
Scottville Townsliip, Macoupin County and became 
the first actual settler in what was afterward this 
township and one of the first in the county, wiiicli 
was then a part of Greene County. He settled upon 
a tract of Government land, built two log houses 
and a log stable and broke thirty acres of land. 
He was unable to buy as he was entirely without 
means, but this land was properly entered by a 
would-be settler who gave Mr. Ilcttick $100 as a 
compensation for the work he had done and with 
that money he was able to enter eighty acres and 
secure a home of his own, upon which he built a 
hewed log house, which was his home until his 
death in 1853. 

.Stephen Ilettick, one of the sons of Andrew, 
grew to maturity amid the piimitive scenes of i)io- 
neer life and before his marriage entered eighty 
acres on section 28, Scottville Township, where he 
built a log house preparatory to housekee|)ing. He 
was married December 24, 18o;3, to Delilah -Sharpe 
who was born in Clinton, Tenn., May 14.1817. 
She is a daughter of William and Sarah (Kirk) 
Sharpe, and of the children born to her the follow- 
ing are now living: F.raily, wife of Henry Ruyle; 



Melinda, wife of J. W. Neighbors; Andrew, John, 
Stephen A. Jesse B. and Samuel E., our subject. 
The parents are earnest and consistent members of 
the Baptist Church. 

The subject of this sketch was born on the home 
farm in Scottville Township, June 12, 1859 and 
commenced to assist on the farm as soon as large 
enough to lend a hand. He also attended the dis- 
trict school and took the best advantage that he 
could of the opportunities given him for an educa- 
tion. He resided with his parents until his mar- 
riage, wliich occurred December 11, 1877, when, 
he w.as united in marriage with Nancy A. Walker, 
a native of Scottville Township, who was born 
April 30,1860. This daughter of James and China 
(Owens) Walker. 

After marriage Samuel Hettick took charge of 
the home place for some time and finall}- settled on 
the farm which he now owns and occupies. This 
land is situated on sections 24 and 25, of Scottville 
Township and comprises two hundred and fifty 
acres of rich prairie soil suitable for tillage and 
pasture land. He has placed it in a first-class con- 
dition and its appearance is a credit to the town- 
ship. He is a thorough and systematic farmer but 
devotes himself largely to stock-raising, not only 
raising a good grade himself but buying stock, 
which he feeds and ships to market. 

Four children have blessi^d this happy home — 
Clara M., Nellie, Ruth and Opal, whose future is 
bright and promises well not only for their own 
happiness and well-being but also for u|)liol(ling the 
high reputation vvhich this family- has sustained in 
the past. 



'^1 OHN W. HETTICK, the owner and operator 
of fine farmland in Scottville Township, was 
born there August 22, 1845. The history 
of the ancestral line is not without incident^ 
of romantic interest and thrilling excitement. 
Christian Hettick, a native of Germany, emigrated 
to America and settleil on the Pennsylvania fron- 
tier. He was murdered by Indians when his son 
Andrew was a lad six years old and ihe child was 
tiken captive and held three years. He was then 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



467 



rescued by soldiers and taken to liis old home. The 
scars froni wounds lie re(-eived at the time of his 
capture were borne by him until his death. During 
his captivity his raotiier married a second time and 
he remained with her and his step-falhei a few 
years onlj', then started out to battle for himself. 
He went to Ohio and settled in Fayette County, 
where Indians were more numerous than whites 
and where all the trials of typical pioneer life beset 
his way. 

Andrew Hettick was in the liabit of driving his 
stock across the mountains to Baltimore and Phil- 
adelphia, there being no railroad communications 
with the Eastern States. In 1816 he removed to 
what was then the Territory of Illinois, performing 
the journey on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers 
in a keelboat. He stopped in wliat is now Monroe 
County and bought i-.vo hundred acres of land on 
the American bottoms. There lie made his home 
until 1820, then became a resident of Greene 
County, living near CarroUton five 3'ears and at the 
conclusion of that period taking up his abode in 
what is now Scottville Township, this county. He 
was the first actual settler in the township and one 
of tlie first in the county, which was at that time a 
part of Greene County. His means were very lim- 
ited and although the land sold at $1.25 per acre, 
lie could not buy a farm. He "squatted" on a tract 
uf Government land, built two log houses and a 
log stable and broke thirt}- acres. The laad was 
properly entered b3' a would-be settler, who gave 
Mr. Hettick §100 as a compensation for the work 
he had done, and with tliat monej' be was able to 
enter eighty acres on section 27, ami secure a home 
of his own He built a hewed log house and lived 
tliere until his decease in 1853. 

In the famil}' of Andrew Hettick was a son, 
Stephen, who was born in Fayette County, Ohio, 
July 2t, 180'J, and who was one of the five chil- 
<lren brought by the parents to this State in 1816, 
He grew to maturity amid the primitive scenes of 
pioneer times. He vividly remembers those days 
and recalls with interest the fact that for several 
years after the removal hither there were no rail- 
roads in this part of tlie country and St. Louis was 
the most accessible and important market. The 
scattered families lived almost entirely upon the 



products of their farms, and coffee was one of the 
luxuries seldom found in tlieir dwellings. He and 
his brothers and sisters wore homespun made by 
their mother's hand, she having a thorough knowl- 
edge of all the processes b}' which flax or wool was 
converted into clothing. He grew to a vigorous 
manhood, having but little opportunitj- to pursue 
the knowledge found in the text books, but ac- 
quiring a good understanding of practical affairs 
and imbibing, as from the air around him, the 
sterling principles which were generally characteris- 
tic of those bred on the frontier. Before his mar- 
riage he entered eighty .acres of land I'n section 28, 
Scottville Township, and liuilt a log house in which 
he subsequently began iiousekeeping. He split 
logs for flooring. He has lived on the same farm 
since his marriage, but has changed its appearance 
so much that it would hardly be recognized as the 
same propertj^ The old log cabin has been re- 
placed by a more modern dwelling and substantial 
buildings of various kinds have risen near. Mr. 
Hettick bought other land at different times and 
held the title to upward of two thousand acres at 
one time. » 

Stephen Hettick was married December 24. 1853, 
to Delilah Sharpe.who was born in Clayton County, 
Tenn., May 14, 1817. She is a daughter of Will- 
iam and Sarah (Kirk) Siiaipe, and her earl}- train- 
ing was such as to fit her for the position which 
she occupied as the wife of an early settler. Of 
the cliildren born to her the following are now liv- 
ing: Emily, wife of Henry Ru^-le; Melinda, wife of 
J. W. Neighbors; Andrew, John, Stephen A., Jesse 
!>.. Samuel E. *nd Sarah, Mrs. Angelow. 'J"he par- 
ents belong to the I'nited Baptist Ciiurch. 

The subject of this biographical sketch began to 
assist his father on the farm as soon as his streufth 
would permit. He attended school as opportunity 
offered and became well versed in the more prac- 
tical branches of an Englisii education, and from 
time to time added to his store of knowledge by 
the varied means opened to all observing and 
thoughtful minds. He remained with his parents 
until his marriage at twenty- three 3'ears of age, 
then settled near the present site of Hettick Sta- 
tion. He lived there sixteen years, then took pos- 
session of the farm he now operates selling his 



468 



POETRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



other property and buying here. Following the 
example set before him bj' his honored ancestors, 
lie has worked diligently and carefull3% and is 
classed among the best farmers in tliis section of 
llie country. He votes tijo Democratic ticket, and 
he and his wife belong to the Baptist Church in 
which they have good standing, as tliey have 
tliroughout the community. 

The marriage of our subject to Miss Martha K. 
Calhoun occurred Aprd 8, 18G9. Tlie bride was 
born in Casey County. Ky., where her father, 
James Calhoun and her grandfather, William Cal- 
lioun. also opened their eyes to the light. In that 
county Jame.s Calhoun married .Tulia Wood, daugh- 
ter of Abrani and Martha Wood, and thence they 
came to this State in 1851. Mr. Caliioun died in 
Scottvillc Townsliip tiie year after his arrival. Ills 
widow subsequently tnarriod .lohn S. McColom, 
(deceased), and is now living in Bnrr Township. 
Mr. and Mrs. Mettick have seven children, named 
respectively: James I, Stei)hen L., Cora E., Julia 
D., Charles ().. Ola May nnd Frank. 



_^5^^., .>9,-?o<^..b^>>i^ ,._^^_ ; 



OSES BRUBAKER, a resident of Girard, 
has acquired sufficient wealth in the exer- 
cise of his vocation as a farmer to enable 
him to live retired from active labor, 
though he still retains possession of bis finely im- 
proved farm. A native of Roanoke County, Va., 
our subject was born Octf)I)er 5, 1860. His father, 
whosfi given name was Joel, was a native of the 
same count.y, and was a son of Ilenr^' Brubaker. 
who was a Pennsylvanian by birth. He in turn 
was a son of John Brubaker, who was born in Ger- 
many or in Pennsylvania of German parentage. 
He went fi'om there to Virginia, and was an earl^' 
settler in that part of Botetourt County, now in- 
cluded in Roanoke County, where he passed the re- 
mainder of his life in the pursuits of agriculture. 
He was a stanch member of the German Baptist 
Church. His wife, whose maiden name w.as Annie 
Myers, also spent her last years on the old Vir- 
ginia homestead, and now rests beside her hus- 




band in the cemetery on their old farm, located 
four miles northwest of the village of Salem. 

Henry Brubaker was young when his |)arcnts re- 
moved to Virginia. He inherited a portion of the 
old homestead, anil resided on it until liis death, in 
1848. The maiden name of his first wife, grand- 
mother of our subject, was Christiana Flory. Her 
last years were spent in Franklin County, Va. The 
maiden name of his second wife was Salome P^ler. 
B^' his first wife there were seven children that 
grew to maturity, and bj' his second marriage he 
had ten children. 

The father of our subject was a lifelong resident 
of his native State. His father assistcil him to bu}' 
a farm near his early home. He was prosperously 
engaged in raising stock, grain, tobacco, etc., until 
his death, in January, 1853. His wife, who bore the 
maiden name of Betsy Fisher, came to Illinois after 
his death to live with her children, and died at 
Virden, in 1865. She was a native of Franklin 
County, Va., and a daughter of Peter Fisher, who 
is supposed to have spent his entire life in Xh- 
ginia. The parents of our subject were God-fear- 
ing peoi)le, and among the most faithful members 
of the German Baptist Church, rearing their chil- 
dren to the same belief. They were the i)aients 
of ten children, who are named Sally, Mary, 
Susan, Magdaline, P^lizabeth, Catherine, Moses, 
John, Noah and Peter. Sally and Magdaline are 
dead. 

Our subject received his education in his native 
county, and amid its pleasant scenes grew to man's 
estate. After his father's death, he being the eld- 
est son, the care of the home farm devolved upon 
him, and he had charge of it until he was twenty- 
four years old. At that age he went to Ohio, and 
bought a farm in Clarke Count}', near Enon. He 
devoted himself to its cultivation for a number of 
years, but finally disposed of it in 1864, in order 
to take up his residence in this county, as he was 
very favorably impressed with its genial climate 
and with the surpassing fertility of its soil. He 
purchased one hundred and sixtj- acres of land in 
Virden Township, and ten acres of timber in South 
Otter Township. At that time a set of frame 
buildings stood on the place, including a small 
frame house and a stable. He constantly made 







y iyA.ec c^c^ 



'Cjtyl^ 



PORTRAIT AND HIOORAl'DJCAL RI'XJORU. 



471 



improvements, and unik-r iiis caroful management 
llie farm iniM-eased in worth and became a valualilc 
|iicce of properly. In .lanuary, 187!), ho rented 
his f;utii,and coming to Girard, hoiight ids present 
comfortable residence, whidi he and liis amiable 
wife and family make the cenUT of pleasant 
hospitality. Tlie^- and all their children, except 
one, are influential members of the German Bap- 
tist ChMrch,and they are greatly esteemed in their 
neighborhood for their many fine traits of char- 
acter. 

.Mr. Hiiibaker has been twice married. January 
27, 18.00, h(! was wedded to Miss Susan Brubaker. 
.She was born in Clarke County, Ohio, April 0, 
1839, a daughter of Jonathan Brubaker. She died 
December 10, 18G8, leaving behind her a good 
record as a faithful wife and loving mother. Four 
children are living that were born of that marriage 
— Mary, Peter, Elizabeth and Jonathan. The sec- 
ond marriage of our subject, which took place June 
20, 18G9, was with Miss Lizzie Hasler. She is a 
native of Noble County. Ind.. and a daughter of 
Henry ami Margaret (Studebaker) Basler. Her 
mother was a native of Pennsylvania, and a daugh- 
ter of .lohn and Hannah Studebaker. Mr. and Mrs. 
Brubaker have four children, namely: Elma. Asa, 
Susan and Lydia. 



^ €^-^^ 



z 



PACHARIAH THACKEK. one of the largest 
landholders in this section of the .State, 

^ stands among the foremost of the success- 
ful fanners and stock-raisers of this county, who 
have been such important factors in its develop- 
ment. Hold in veneration and esteem by all who 
knov, him, he is now living in pleasant retirement 
in his home in Ndwood, where he is enjoying his 
wealth al leisure. The reader will be pleased to 
notice his |)ortrait on the op|)osite page. 

Mr. Th.aeker is a native-born citizen of this 
.State, his liirtliplaee was in Ivlwards County, and 
the (late of his birth October 4, 1820. His father. 
whose name was Thomas Thacker, was born either 
in Virginia or in one of the Carolinas, a son of 
one, Zachariah Thacker. who, as far as known, 



spent his last years in one of these States. Tlie 
father of our subject w.os but an infant when his 
parents died, and an older sister took charge of 
him. On her removal to Kentucky she took him 
with her, and ho was reared in Mulhenberg County, 
that .State, where he married. 

.Soon after that event Mr. Tiiacker emigrated to 
the wilds of Indiana, where he resided a short 
time before coming to Illinois in 1818, and lo- 
cating among the pioneeis of Edwards County. 
He made a claim to a tract of Government land, 
but did not have money enough to enter it until 
he worked to earn it. He was very industrious 
and toiled incessantly to make a home for his little 
family. His prospects were good, but his career 
was suddenly terminated by his untimely death, 
while in the very prime of life, in 1821. He left 
his widow in limited circumstances with two small 
children to care for. 

After the death of the father the mother re- 
turned to Kentucky with her children, and lived 
with a brother some seven years. At the expira- 
tion of that time she married again, becoming the 
wife of Elijah Ash, and soon after the family re- 
tuined to Illinois and settled in St. Clair County. 
After a two years' residence there they removed 
(o that part of Morgan County now included in 
Scott County', where our subject was reared on a 
farm. When he was eighteen years old his siep- 
fatlier agreed to give him the money to enter 
forty acres of land if he would help him to grub 
and clear his farm. 

Mr. Thacker acco[)ted the offer, ,anfl ninained 
with .Mr. Ah!i, who in about a year gave him the 
l)romised money, and he entered his land in Greene 
County. He continued to assist Mr. Ash awhile 
longer and during that time sold his forty acre 
tract and entered eighty acres in the same county. 
At the age of twenty years he started out in 
life for himself, his father giving him a colt 
valued at ^20. He was ^18 in debt, but he h.ad 
his eighty acres of wild Land to begin with. He 
first assisted his brother in grubbing a piece of 
land, intending to put in a crop of buckwheat, 
but could not do so, as his brother and family were 
taken sick and he gave up his time to caring for 
them. 



472 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RPXORD. 



After that Mr. Thacker found emplo5'ment in 
the harvest field at $1.25 a da^-, an<l the same fall 
he went to Madison County and procured a job to 
eliop wood at seventy-five cents a cord. He linally 
located on his land, and after grubbing and break- 
ing a few acres sold it for *300. In 1842 lie 
came to Macoupin County' and made a claim to a 
tract of Government land in Palmyra Township. 
He at once broke twenty acres of the land and put 
in a crop of wheat, and in 1844 sohl his claim at a 
good advance on the purchase price. He next 
came into possession of eiglii.y acres of timber and 
brush land and of fifteen acres of clear timber: 
and he resided on that place some jears. After 
that he removed to Nilvvood Township, where he 
bought land and activel3' engaged in farming and 
in buying and clearing other land until 1887. He 
then removed to Nilwood, where lie has since lived 
retired from active labor in one of its most com- 
fortable homes. He has been marvelloualj' pros- 
[)ered in his transactions, showing more than ordi- 
nary forethougiit, keenness and business tact in his 
operations, and at one time he owned upwards of 
twenty-five hundred acres of fine farming land, 
the greater part of which consisted of rich prai- 
rie in the best part of Hlinuis. He has provided 
liberally for his children, and still holds large tracts 
of land in this county. 

Mr. Thacker was married, in 1841, to Miss 
Nancy, daughter of Israel Walker, and a native 
of Kentuckj'. For many years they passed life 
hap|)ily together, and she was all to him that a 
true woman can be to her husband, wise in coun- 
sel and helpful in all things, and her death in the 
home that she had lieli)ed him to build up on the 
farm in Nilwood Township was a grievous loss to 
her household. She was a sincere Christian in 
word and deed, and for many years was an earn- 
est member of the Baptist Churoh. Seven children 
were the fruit of that marriage, as follows: Caro- 
line, wife of Thomas Tolbert; Thomas; Elizabeth, 
wife of Samuel Garst; Leander; John W.; Edna, 
wife of Harvey Tietsort; and Fanny, wife of John 
Duncan. 

Mr. Thacker is a fine type of our self-made men. 
possessing, as he does, an active mind, an indomi- 
table will, firmness and honesty of purpose, to- 




gether with other qualities that insure success, 
command respect in the business world, and gain 
the trust an<l consideration of neighbors and asso 
ciates. The worth of his citizenship is unques- 
tioned, and in him the Baptist Church finds a zeal- 
ous member. His children also belong to the same 
denomination. 

«,|.^»^^, ... 

^^ETER HEINZ, who was formerly identified 
with the business interests of Carlinville, 
^' as a manufacturer of furniture, is now liv- 
ing in honorable retirement, in the enjoy- 
ment of the ample income that he secured by in- 
dustr3' ^""^ by excellent management. He was 
born in Bavaria, Germany, December 28, 1826. His 
father, Henry Heinz, was a native of the same vil- 
lage, and was a son of Kprl Heinz, who was born 
ill the same district, and was the proprietor of a 
glass factory. The great-grandfather was a pioneer 
of Saxe-Coburg, settling there in the wilderness. 
He and his father received [lermission from the then 
reigning duke of that province to use all the wood 
that they wished, and they thereupon established a 
glass factory in the German forests. 

Henry Heinz was a glass blower by trade, and he 
followed this occupation both in Saxony ^and Ba- 
varia, dying in the latter country' in 1860. His wife, 
whose maiden name was Carolina Morgendlium,was 
born at the capital city of Saxe-Coburg. Her father 
was body guard to the Duke of Saxe-Coburg. and 
resided at the seat of government many years, be- 
ing a pensioner during the latter part of his life. 
The [larents of our subject reared three sons and 
two daughters. One of their sons died in his na- 
tive land in 1852, and another in the spring of 
1891. 

Peter Heinz grew to man's estate in the Father- 
land, and received an excellent education in its 
public schools, which he attended from the age of 
six years quite steadily until lie was fourteen years 
of age. He then went to school onlj- a part of the 
time and the rest of the time was employed in a 
slate factory. After he was eighteen ^ears old he 
worked in the slate factory coutinuouslj- for some 



POHTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



473 



3'ears. Thinking tii;il his |)ros|)ects of aciiieviiig 
snccess in life would be "i-eaLly enhanced if lio 
were to eraignile to the United States of America, 
he eanie hither in 1852. lie set sail from Bremen 
on the ship "(iusiav", and landed at New Orli^ans 
on the ;51st of December, after a long and 
stormy' voyage. From that city he went to St. 
Louis on the steamer '-Uncle Sam", and from there 
came to Macoupin County' to join his sister. ALs. 
Caroline Kerr, in Chesterfield Townshiji. 

After coming here Mr. Ilein/ found employment 
with a farmer in Chesterfield Township, and con- 
tinned thus engaged until 18.34, when he suffered 
so from chills and fever- that he was obliged to give 
up work. For thirteen months he was unable to 
do anything and had to spend all his hard earned 
savings to pay his expenses during tliat long ill- 
ness, lie therefore had to begin life anew, and 
coming to Carlinville in 1855 he commenced vvork 
at the trade of a carpenter, and was employed by 
one man a year an<l a half. Here he met with fur- 
ther diseouragenient in his attempts to become in- 
de[)endent, as he lost all his wages. His next move 
was to establish himself as a contractor in Spi'ing- 
lield, and from that time his affairs flourished and 
everything went well with him. He staid in 
Springfield but a few months and then returned to 
Carlinville. He took a contract to erect three build- 
ings in this town, and continued ouisness in that 
line fo; a year At the expiration of tbat time he 
began the manufacture of furniture, commencing 
in a small frame shop, and as his business increased 
he added to the building, and finally erected in 
1872, the commodious brick structure now occupied 
by his sons. It is located on West Main Street, is 
two stories high, and is 30x100 feet in dimensions. 
Mr. Heinz continued actively engaged in the man- 
ufacture and sale of furniture until 1883, when, 
well satisfied with the competence he had secured, 
he turned the business over to his sons who are 
still carrying it on successfully. 

Our subject was married in 1856 to Miss Johanna 
Knapner, a native of Bavaria, and a daughter of 
Kai 1 Knapner, and in her he has a true and de- 
voted wife. They have four sons and one daughter, 
as follows: Fredericka, wife of John Kistner; 
Charles, Henrj', Albert A. and Gustav. j 



The fine business and financial qualities displayed 
1)3' our subject in the management of his own af- 
fairs have brought him into prominence in public 
life, and he has held many important civic olHccs, 
in all cases showing himself to be animated with 
true ))ublic spirit and an honest desire to promote 
the best interests of city and county. He was a 
member of the City Council in 1860-68-69; he was 
Collector in 1871-72; and in 1876, 1882 and 1883 
was Mayor of Cailinvillc. In 1885 he was elected 
to the responsible olHce of County Treasurer, and 
managed the finances of the county with character- 
istic sagacity and honesty, holding the ofiice until 
1890. Our subject is still identified with the mon- 
etary interests of Macoupin County, as he is Vice- 
President of the Carlinville National Bank, to which 
office he was elected when that institution was or- 
ganized in 1890. Politically, our subject has always 
been in sympathy wiih the Democrats. Religiousl}', 
he was reared in the Lutheran faith, and has always 
remained true to the religion of his forefathers. He 
helped to erect the first Lutheran Church in this 
city as one of its organizers, and has always been 
one of the most ardent and devoted members. 



'-^^S^iVUt^^^'^^ 



RIEDRICK REINEKP', a prosperous farmer 
> who makes his home on section 31, Bird 
Township, was born in Brunswick, Ger- 
many, November 11, 1838. His father was Chris- 
toph Reineke, and his mother bore the maiden 
name of Anna D. Schroeder, both being natives 
of Brunswick, Germany. They emigrated to 
America in January, 1848, and landed in New Or- 
leans. From there they came to St. Louis, where 
they resided for a short time and where the father's 
days were ended. The mother is still living at an 
advanced age, and is tenderly cherished by her 
children. She and her departed husband were the 
jjarents of six children, of whom our subject was 
the second. He was a young man when he came 
with his parents to this country, and until the 
death of his father he remained with them. He 



474 



PORTRAIT AND B10(JRAPH1CAL RECORD. 



tlien came to Macoupin t'ounty, where he worked 
out by the month for fanners for about two 
years. 

The subject of tliis skctdi finally engaged in 
farming on his own account in Polk Township, 
this count\% and after four years purchased one 
hundred and sixty-five acres in Bird Township, 
wliere he now resides, and where lie has made his 
home from that day to this, with the exception of 
about a year an:1 a half when ho lived in Dubuque 
County, Iowa. He is one of the most energetic 
and industrious farmers in (he township, and with 
German thrift and frugality he improved his farm 
and makes every acre pay for itself. He has 
erected u pleasant and conimodif)us residence ami 
excellent farm buildings. His farm of three hun- 
dred and thirty-five acres is a valuable and attract- 
ive piece of property. 

The union of Mr. Reineke with Miss Mary A. 
Rafferty was solemnized in Polk Township, June 4, 
1852. His bride is a daugliter of .Tames and Nancy 
(Booth) Rafferty. The parents were of Southern 
birtli, Mr. Rafferty being born in Virginia, and his 
wife in Kentucky. They came from the latter 
Slate to Macoupin County in 1834. and spent the 
remainder of their days in Polk Township. Mrs. 
Reineke is the youngest in a large family of ten 
children. Davis County, Ky., is the place of her 
birth, and November 7, 1S33, was her n.atal daj'. 
Her education and training in domestic duties were 
in Polk Townshi[), where she resided until her mar- 
riage. 

Nine children have blessed the home of Mr. 
and Mrs. Reineke. They are named Lois and 
Lewis P., deceased; Edgar F. ; Annie D., Mrs. 
Henry Jones; Nora M., and Walter O., deceased; 
Frederick W., Nancy M. and Adelaide. Edgar F. 
married Amanda E. Walton; they have four 
children, namely, Bertha, Addie, Maggie and 
Palmer. Frederick W. has taken to wife Mary A. 
Dunn. 

Mr. Reineke devotes his entire attention to stock- 
raising and agricultural pursuits. He is a public- 
spiriteil man, and takes a deep interest in all affairs 
of the coramunit}-, the county and the State. His 
interest in educational matters has led him to .ac- 
cept a position on the School Board, where he is 



ever .active and efficient. He is sincerely attached 
to the doctrines of the Democratic party, and ear- 
nestly advances its interests with his vote and liis 
voice. Both he and his excellent and intelligent 
wife are devoted members of the Shiloh Baptist 
Church. His daughters occupy a leading position 
in the social life of Bird Township, and with their 
mother form a nucleus around wlii".h gathers many 
a delightful com[)any. 

^^ HARLES PECK has been a resident of llli- 
[l( _ nois for half a century and more, and thirty 
^^^ of those years have been passed in this 
county, where he is still identified with its agricul- 
tural interests as the proprietor of a choice farm, 
though he is now living in honorable retirement at 
Carlinville. Born at Alexander, Genesee County, 
N. Y , March 14, 1821, was the date of his birth. 
He is descended from a sterling Massachusetts an- 
cestry that settled in that old Commonwealth in 
Colonial times. 

The father of our subject, who bore the same 
name as himself, was born in Berkshire, Mass., and 
was a son of Ele.azer Peck, who in turn was a son 
of Dr. Charles Peck, who is also supposed to have 
been a native of the old B.ay State, where he spent 
his last years. He was a practicing physician of 
much local repute, .and he was a surgeon in the 
Continental Army during the French and Indian 
War. The grandfather of our subject was a farmer 
and removed from Massachusetts to the Western 
wihls of the State of New York in 1805, and be- 
came one of the first settlers of Genesee C-'ounty, 
the removal thither being made with teams. He 
bought a tract of heavily limbered land in Alexan- 
der Township, six miles south of Batavia. F^or 
some years there was no market in that section un- 
til after the settlement of Rochester, forty miles 
distant. The grandfather of our subject cleared a 
farm, upon which he lived many years, but his last 
days were spent with his son Gains in Bennington 
Township, which now lies in Wyoming County, 
his death occurring at the .advanced age of ninety- 
six years. His wife, a native of Massachusetts, 



I'ORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



475 



whose maiden name was Maiy Brooks, lived to be 
even older than he, lengthening out a long life of 
ninety-seven years, dying at the iiome of their son. 
They were the parents of these five children, Jabez, 
Charles, iSarah, Deborah and Gains. 

The fatlier of our subject grew to manhood in the 
state of his nativity, and was there manicd to 
Mary, daughter of William and Abigail King, and 
likewise a native of Berkshire County, Mass. He 
(llie father of our subject) preceeded his father to 
tlie State of New York, and bought a tra^t of for- 
est-covered land of the Holland Purchase Com- 
pany. The log house that he built upon it, which 
was the birthplace of our subject, was his home 
until l(i3G. He then sold his possessions in New 
York with a view of becoming a pioneer once again 
of a newly settled country, crossing the i:itervening 
Stales with a team until he arrived in Indiana, 
making the removal with teams, and wiiere to-day 
the iron horse travels in every direction not a rail- 
road tract was then crossed in the entire journey. 
Mr. Peck settled at Sugar Creek Grove in the 
woods of Benton Count}', two miles east of the Illi- 
nois State line, and five miles from anj' neighbor. 
He bought a squatter's claim to a tract of Govern- 
ment land, and when it came into the market went 
to the land office to enter it, but found that the 
section on which it lay formed a part of an Indian 
reservation. In 1840 he again disposed of his 
projjorty, and coming to Illinois bought at Con- 
cord, in Iroquois Count}-, and the ensuing four 
years kept a hotel. At the expiratioi; of that time 
he resumed farming, and continued that occupation 
and his residence in that county until his demise in 
September, 185'2, deprived it of one of its most 
useful and practical pioneers. His wife had pre- 
ceeded him in death, dying in Benton County, 
liid., in 1838. They reared four children, named 
as follows: Abigail, Laura, Mary I-Crasta and 
Charles. 

Charles Peck obtained his education in the (lis 
trict schools of his native county, which were con- 
ducted on the subscription plan. After the removal 
of the family to Indiana he was of great assistance 
to his father in clearing his land. He remained an 
inmate of the parental home until he attained his 
majority, when he commenced life on his own ac- 



count working on a farm in Iroquois County. In 
1843 he went to McHenry County, where he bought 
a quarter section of land in Algonquin Township, 
the improvements upon it consisting of twenty 
acres of the land under cultivation, and an unfin- 
ished frame house. There were no railways there 
for a number of years, anil Chicago, forty-three 
miles awa}', was the nearest market. Deer and 
wolves were plent}', and betokened the wild state 
of the country, which was still in the- hands of the 
pioneers. 

Mv. Peck resided there until 18.58, when he re- 
moved to Jersey County, whence he came to this 
county in 1861, and settled in Shipman Township 
on a tract of one hundred and seventy acres of fine 
farming land that he purchased, seventy-five acres 
of which were under cnllivation, and the [)lace was 
provided with frame buildings. He devoted him- 
self to the further imi)rovement of his farm, and 
resided on it until 1881, when he rented it advan- 
tageously, and coming to Carlinville boaglit his 
present place of residence. 

The marriage of Mr. Peck witii Miss Hannah 
Eliza Snook, took place in 18.51, and h,^s been as 
full of contentment and happiness as usually falls 
to the lot of mortals. They have one son, George. 
He married Ella Sparlding, and tiiey have a daugh- 
ter named Zoe. Mrs. Peck is a native of Rensse- 
laer County, N. Y., and a daughter of John T. 
Snook, who was also a native of that county, as his 
father, Tunis Snook, is also thought to have been, 
he being of German antecedents. Tiie latter car- 
ried on his occupation as a farmer in that part of 
New York in Sand Lake Township, where in the 
course of time he died. The maiden name of his 
wife was Catherine Snyder, and she is likewise 
supi)osed to have been born in Rensselaer County, 
where she died. 

Mrs. Peck's father was reared on a farm, and 
continued to live in the county of his nativity un- 
til 1848. In that year he came to Illinois and set- 
tled among the pioneers of Algonquin Townshi[), 
McHenry Countyl where he actively entered upon 
the improvement of a farm, upon which he dwelt 
until his demise in 18.52. in the month of Septem- 
ber. Mrs. Peck's mother bore the maiden name of 
Eliza Maria Hulseapple. She was born in Dutchess 



476 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



County, N. Y., and was a daughter of Nicholas 
Hulscapple. a native of the same county, whieli was 
also the biilliphiee of his father. Garret Ilulseapple, 
so far as known, he being of German antecedents. 
He owned and managed a farm, and passed his last 
j-ears in Greenbush Township. Tlie grandfather 
of Mrs. Peck removed to Rensselaer County, and 
located on land that his father gave iiim in Green- 
bush Township, and tbere he was prosperously en- 
cased in farming until death claimed him. Mrs. 
Peck's mother, who has attained a venerable nge, 
makes her liome with lier. 



<jf] OHN IIOECKER is doing a good business at 
Carlinville as a harness maker. He was 
born on a farm in Prairie I)u Long Town- 
ship, St. Clair County, 111., May 1, 1847. 
His parents were Abraham and Kate (Ensenauer) 
Hoecker, and they were natives of Germany, as 
were also their forefathers for many generations 
back. The paternal grandparents of our subject 
were life-long residents of the German Fatherhmd. 
The father of our subject was reared on a farm, 
and adopted the calling of a farmer when he be- 
came self-supporting. He carried on his vocation 
in the old country- until 184G when he emigrated to 
America with his wife and the five children that 
had been born to them in their old home. Coming 
to Illinois he bought a partly improved farm in 
Prnirie Du Long Township, nnd resided there un- 
til 1865, when he sold his property there anil came 
to this county, where he lived with his oldest sou 
until his death. To him and his wife were born 
these six children: Kate, Elizabeth, Christina, 
Peter, Alteser, and John. 

The latter, who forms the subject of this sketch, 
was the only child of the family born in America. 
lie attended school whenever opportunity offered, 
and also assisted his father on his farm when ho 
was a boy. At the age of fourteen he commenced 
to learn the trade of a harness maker at Belleville, in 
St. Clair County. He served an ap|)renticesliip of 
three years, and at the expir.ation of that lime went 



to St. Louis to do journey work, and was thus em- 
pIo3'ed there six months, and then engaged in 
business in the .Southern States. Two years later 
he returned to St. Louis and worked in that city 
one j'ear, and then we next hear of him at Boon«- 
ville, Mo., where he was employed as a journey 
workman sis years. After that he established 
himself as a maker of harness on. his own account 
at Arrow Rock, Mo. He remained there until 
1879, and in that year came to Carlinville to open 
a harness manufactory here, which iie has success- 
fully managed ever since. 

Mr. Hoeckerand Aliss Mary E. Stickmann united 
their lives and fortunes in 1868. Mrs. Hoecker 
was born in St. Louis, and is of German parent.age. 
Her marriage with our subject has been blessed to 
them by the birth of these four children: Addie, 
Louis, Ernest and Nellie. Mrs. Hoecker is in every 
respect a thorouglih' good woman, whom to know 
is to esteem, and she is a consistent nicniber of the 
Presbyteiian Cnurch Mr. Hoecker is a capable, 
straightforward business man, and his credit is 
good wherever he is known. He takes an intelli- 
gent interest in iiolilics. and gives his .illegiance 
to the Republican part3-. 



^¥r 



I 



(f)^ RS. HENRIETTA E. (DYSON) YIRDEN, 
widow of Arcliiliald L. \'irdeii, a pioneer 
14) merchant of Yirdon, has Iteen a resident of 
this county for many years, and her manj- 
fine traits of character mark her as a true woman, 
whose kindly- presence anil friendly disposition 
have won her a warm ])lace in the hearts of all 
about her. Mrs. ^'irden is a native of Montgom- 
niery County, I\ld., liorn January 8, 1827. Her 
father, William Dyson, was born in the same 
county, and was a son of John Dyson, who is sup- 
posed to have also been a native of Maryland, and 
to have been a descendant of an old English fam- 
ily. He was a farmer, and died on his farm in 
Montgomery County. 

Mrs.Yirden's father was reared on the old home- 
stead in Mar3'land, and he continued to live in his 
native State until 1842. In that year he left his old 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



477 



home, and taking with him his seven children, 
started for Illinois with teams. After a journey of 
seven weeks he arrived at his destination in Christ- 
ian County, and identified himself with its pioneers, 
buying a tract of land near Tajdorville and devot- 
ing )iis time to its development until his premature 
death, in 1845, cut sliort liis busy caieer, and de- 
prived that eountj' of a useful citizen, who was 
doing good service in helping to promote its agri- 
cultural interests. His wife, the mother of our 
subject, preceded him in death, dying in their old 
Maryland home in 1836. She was a native of 
Montgomery County, tliat State, and her maiden 
name was Annie Darnall. She was a daugliter of 
Thomas and Henrietta (Fish) Darnall. who were 
natives of Delaware. 

Mrs. Virden was fifteen years old when she came 
with her father to Illinois, and she lived with liim 
until her marriage, at the age of seventeen years. 
August 18, 1844, she gave her hand and liearl to 
Archibald L. Virden, in a marriage which was a 
harmonious and happy union from beginiiing to 
end, a period covering nearly thirty-six years, 
lacking but a few days of the anniversary of the 
occasion vvhen the}' were made one. 

Archibald Virden was l>orn October 27, 1823, in 
Ross County, Ohio, of which his father, Isaac Vir- 
den, was a pioneer. The latter was born .lanuary 
10, 1779, and removed from Maryland to Oliio in 
an earl}' <l.ay of its settlement. He was there ma''- 
ried to Amelia Saddler, who was born in Ohio in 
1791.. lune 10, and was a daughter of one of its 
first pioneer families. In 1839 Mr. Virden's ])a- 
rents also became pioneers, coming to Illinois and 
locating among the few settlers that had preceded 
them in llie wilds of Christian County. The 
father bought land, which he improved intoafarm, 
upon which he made his home until death called 
him to a higher sphere. He and his good wife 
reared a family of ten sons and one daugliter. 

Their son Archibald was sixteen years old when 
the family came to this State, and he continued to 
be an inmate of the parental household until his 
marriage with our subject. They began their 
wedded life in Christian County, then went to San- 
gamon County, where they lived two vears. Mr. 
Virden then bought a place near Auburn, in Chris- 



tian County. In 1852 he sold his property there, 
and coming to tids county, was one of the leading 
citizens of Virden from that time until his decease, 
August 8, 1880. The village had just been laid 
out by his brother .Tohn. in whose honor it was 
named. The suiroundini> country, which was 
sparsely settled, was still in the hands of the pio- 
neers, and deer and other wild game had not yet 
fled before the advancing steps of civilization. Mr. 
Virden bought village property, and in the years 
that followed was active in the commercial inter- 
ests of Virden, and was potent in promoting its ad- 
vanoement, materially, socially and morally. He 
at once opened a grocery store, being one of the 
first merchants of the village. He managed that 
successfully a few years, and then entered the drug 
business, in which he continued until his death. He 
was a very capable business man, prompt and sys- 
tematic in carrying on his business, using only the 
most honorable methods in his dealings, and build- 
ing up an extensive and lucrative trade. He was 
not many years jjast the meiidian of life, and was 
at the height of his usefulness, when death closed 
his career and removed from Virden an honored 
and valualde citizen, who had always been true to 
all the obligations imposed upon him in all the re- 
lations of life that I'e had held towards others. A 
loving husband, a tender father, a kind neighbor 
and a faithful friend was lost to his family and 
C(jmmunity when he closed his eyes in llie dream- 
less sleep of death, and the Presbyterian Church, 
of which he was a consistent member, was deprived 
of one of its most generous supporters. 

Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Virden these two are left to comfort their 
mother's declining jears^.Vnnie M. and Ed- 
gar L. Annie married 0th. > Williams, and they 
have tliree children, named Mariel, Archie Mrden 
and Lamira. Edgar, who married IMiss Jennie 
Piper, is a resident of Cincinnati. William, Mrs. 
Virden's second child, was born June 28, 1852. He 
married Sarah Wilcox, and died in December, 1882, 
leaving three children — Homer W., Henrietta E. 
and Archie L. 

Mrs. Virden is vc.y pleasantly situated in one of 
the cosiest and most attractive of \'irden's homes. 
She presides over it graciously, and all who cross 



478 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 




its tliresbold are welcomed to comfort and true 
liospitalil}'. Our subject is a member of Ibe Pres- 
bi'terian Cluircb. and carries lier religion into ber 
every day life vvitb true Cbrislian spirit. 



5iJ<:TER W. LORRNZ is a representative of 
tbe valiant soldiers of tlie Union Army in 
tbe late war, wbo tiiough of foreign birtli 
displayed true patriotism and unselfisb de- 
votion to tlie interests of tbeir ado()ted country 
sucb as bas scarcely been paralleled in tbe annals 
of any otber land. Our subject bas also sbown 
bimself a good citizen in otber ways, and be is 
highly esteemed by the lesidents of Carlinviilo, 
where be is conducting a prosperous grocer) busi- 
ness. 

Mr. Lorenz was born in Cranipa, Holstein, Ger- 
many, Dcceml)er 17, 1832. Bcrnliard Lorenz, his 
father, wbo w.as born near Holstein, was a shoe- 
mal<er and tanner by occupation, and gave bis at- 
tention to those trades all bis life. He always 
lived in the land of his birth, and his death oc- 
curred in 1858. Nine of the fourteen children 
born to liiui and his good wife grew to maturity, 
and these six came to Aracirica; Annie, Margaret, 
Bernhard, John, Lucy and Jacob. 

Our subject was well educated in tlie excellent 
schools of bis native country, which be attended 
from tlie time he was six years old until he was 
fourteen. When his school days was over he 
served an apprenticeship of four and one-half 3'ears 
to learn the trade of a harness-maker. While yet in 
the prime and vigor of early manhood ho deter- 
mined to seek that Eldorado of so many of his 
countrymen, the United States of America, as he 
thouglit his chances of attaining prosperity would 
be much better here than in the land of his nativ- 
ity. In .accordance witb this resolution he set sail 
for Hamburg on the first da}' of March, 1857, in 
the steamer "Sa.xonia," and on tbe 20th of tliesaiue 
mcintli found himself in tbe leading metropolis of 
this great country. He not only had no capital 
with which to begin his new life in a strange land, 
but he was indebted to bis brother to tbe sum of 



$40. He sought work, and was employed at his 
trade at Tarrytown one month. He then retcrned 
to New York City, but could not find employment 
there. We next bear of him in this county, in 
Carlinville. wliitbcr became in March, 1858. Here 
he worked for bis brother until tbe rebellion broke 
out. 

Our subject was one of tbe first to respond to 
respond to tbe call for trooi)^ made by the Gov- 
ernment when hostilities commenced between tbe 
Nortii and South. He enlisted in A|)ril, 18G1, for 
three months in Company K, Seventh Illinois Infan- 
try. He was honorably discharged with liis regiment 
tbe following Jul}', and returned home. Two 
weeks later our subject again entered tlie service to 
help defend tbo stars and stripes, enlisting in the 
First Missouri Cavalry for a period of three years. 
He furnished his own horse, and went forth to bat- 
tle well equipped. I"or three years and two months 
he did good service in tbe army, and was with his 
regiment in all its long marches, and in the battles 
in which it took part in Missouri, Arkansas, Ne- 
braska and Texas. At tbe expiration of their 
term of enlistment be and his fellow-soldiers were 
discharged at Little Rock, Ark., and mustered out 
at St. Louis in October, 1864. 

After leaving the army Mr. Lorenz returned to 
Carlinville and worked at his trade until failing 
eyesight compelled him to abandon that calling, 
and he subsequently opened a restaurant and gro- 
cery. He managed both together three or four 
years and then gave up the restaurant, and has 
since confined himself exclusively to the grocery 
business. He has a fine, well fitted up store, car- 
ries a choice lot of groceries and a nice line of 
crockery, glassware, etc. By pursuing strictly hon- 
est methods and supplying his customers witii the 
best, be h.is built up a good and profitable trade, 
and has placed himself among the solid men of the 
town. Mr. Lorenz is a firm supporter of tlie Re- 
publican party, politically; socially he is a member 
of the Dan Merrick Post, No. 339, G. A. R. 

In 1865 our subject and Miss Johanna Miehr 
were married, and of their happy wedded life six 
children have been born to them. — George, 
Charles, Frank, Clara, Anna and Willie. Mrs. Lo- 
n^nz is a native of Hanover, Germany, and came 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



481 



to America in 1848 with ber parents, Henry and 
Elizabeth Miehr, who were also natives of Han- 
over. Both Mr. .ind Mrs. Lorenz are members in 
high stantlins; of llie German Evangelical Church. 



^ 



E^^ 



>^1 HARLES DIX, one of the representative 
( ^ citizens of Suutli Otter Township, is active- 



c 



ly interested in every measure promising to 
promote the general welfare. The portrait pre- 
sented on the opposite page will be recognized by 
the majority of our readers as that of the energetic 
proi)rietor of a fine farm located on section 12, 
South Otter Township. Mr. Dix is of New Eng- 
land birth and education. His father, the late 
Thomas Dix, was born in Ilariford County, Conn., 
and his mother was Mary VV^eber, whose birthplace 
was Weathersfield, Conn. From that State they 
came to Illinois in an earl^- day and settled near 
Waverl}', Morgan County, in which place they 
lived for twenty years. They then removed to 
Woodson County, Kan. , where the father died; the 
niolher still survives. Eight children were at once 
the joy and care of the parents whose lives were 
fraught with the earnestness necessary to pioneers. 
Of these eight children, six were sons and two were 
daughters, our subject being the second of the 
family. 

Mr. Dix was born in Hartford, Conn., July 8, 
1842. His father's removal to this county occurred 
when our subject was about nine yeais of age. He 
located witii his parents in Waveily, Morgan 
County, and here grew to manhood, receiving a 
good common-school education in the district 
schools of the county. In 18G1 when there was a 
call for volunteers in all parts of tiie country to 
come 10 the aid and protection of the flag, Mr. 
Dix at once responded and enlisted in Comjjany I, 
of the Fourteenth Illinois Infantry-. 

Mr. Dix served in the war for three years, which 
were fraught with experiences at once terrible and 
interesting; terrible because of the fact that brother 
was fighting against brother, and that blood was j 
shed on both sides for a cause in which neither 
right nor equity held any place; interesting be- 



cause of the fact that never have militar}' maneu- 
vers been so complicated as during the late war, 
nor has generalship stood so severe a test of ability 
and leadership. Mr. Dix participated in some of 
the most desperate battles of the war, being present 
at the battle of Shiloh, the siege of Vicksburg, the 
battle of Hatchie's River, also Champion Hills, the 
battle of Jackson, Miss., and Holly Springs, Miss. 
Our subject met with several narrow escapes, 
having at one time his haversack cut off, and two 
bullets passed through his left coat sleeve. A bul- 
let struck liis gun and rebounding struck his near 
neighbor, killing him instantly; this occurred at 
the battle of Hatchie's River. Mr. Dix returned 
from the army with impaired health, and the rest 
that farm life offered was the only thing tliat 
seemed to promise recovery. He first went to 
Morgan County, and later came to South Otter 
Township, Macoupin Count}', where he remained 
until 1867. After \liis he went South, locating in 
Jackson, Miss., and there he engaged in raising 
cotton. He spent two years thus occupied and 
then returned to South Otter Township, settling 
upon his present farm where he has since lived. 
He operates three hundred and twenty acres of 
land and devotes himself to general farming, be- 
sides giving his attention largely to raising stock 
for city markets. 

The first marriage of Mr. Dix was solemnized 
in South Otter Township and his biide was Miss 
Helena Davidson, a daughter of Alex Davidson, 
who died in the army at Bolivar, Tenn. By thi.s 
marriage Mr. Dix became the father of one child, 
Bessie K , who has since bec-ome the wife of Her- 
bert Lancaster. Mrs. Helena Dix passed away 
from this life December 9, 1878, and was laid 
away in Grand Cemetery. She was a lovely char- 
acter and her Christian example was such as to 
leave a deep impression upon the minds of those 
with whom she came in contact. She was a mem- 
ber in good standing of the Ba,:tist Church at the 
time of her death. 

The present wife of Mr. Dix was known in 
maidenhood as Miss Drucilla Rutherford, and is a 
daughter of Juliusand MelissaA. (Landon) Rutlier- 
foid. The father died in Nilwood Township, and 
the mother afterwar<l married David McGhee, who 



482 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



is since deceased. Mrs. Drucilla Dix was born in 
Nil wood Townsliip, November 19, 1853, and Iier 
marriage to our subject was celebrated in Girard. 
She lias presented her husband with one child, a 
son, nameil Charles J. Mr. Dix has taken an active 
interest in political affairs and is an ardent Repub- 
lican, casting an unqualified vote for party. Both 
he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church 
ami he is a member of the Luke Mayfield Post, G. 
A. R., in the village of Girard. 



B.^ 



mm 



^ACUARLVH HARRIS. On the 7th of 
July, 1830, the home of Pendleton and Jane 
(Mallard) Harris was gladdened by the 
advent of the subject of this sketch. Pendleton 
Harris, who was at that time living on a farm eight 
miles northwest of Greenville, Bond County, III., 
was a native of Tennessee, and a son of Zachariah 
Harris. The latter was born in North Carolina, 
and was there reared and married. He removed 
from his native State to Tennessee, and was a 
pioneer of tiiat commonwealth, locating on Duck 
River. He took up a tract of timber land, where- 
on he dwelt until 1828, when he became a pioneer 
of this State, journeying overland with his family 
and taking his household goods with him to his 
future home on the frontier. He located in Fay- 
ette County, where he bought land and improved a 
farm, upon wiiich he lived until his eyes closed in 
death. 

Tlie father of our subject was a young man at 
the time of tiie removal of the family to Illinois. 
He had been reared to agricultural pursuits, and at 
the time of his marriage settled on a tract of wild 
land in Bond County that he had bought. He 
and his bride commenced housekeeping in a log 
house in which their son of whom we write was 
born. After improving quite a tract of land in 
that vicinity Mr. Harris sold it and came to this 
county in 1840, and located near Bunker Hill, 
where he engaged in farming. After a residence 
there of ten years he removed to Cahokia Town- 
.ship, and buying a tract of wild prairie, built a 
dwelling and other necessary buildings, and active- 



ly worked at improving his land. He is still a 
resident of the same township, and though he has 
attained the venerable age of eighty-three years, is 
still in the enjoyment of good health. Jane Mal- 
lard, his wife, was born in Kentuck}', where her 
fpther, who was a pioneer of the State, spent his 
last years. The name of his wife before marriage 
was Savage, and she was a Virginian by birth. 
She was left a widow with four daughters to care 
for, and removed with them to Bond County, HI. 
of which she was a pioneer. She bought a home 
there and occupied it until her demise at the age 
of eightj'-five. The mother of our subject was a 
3-oung woman when she came to this State with 
her mother. She early learned to spin and weave, 
and in the first years of her married life made all 
the cloth in use in the family. She is still living 
at the advanced age of eighty-two years. 

Zachariah Harris was one of six childicn, he 
being the elilest, and when a young boy he assist- 
ed his mother in her household duties, and also 
learned to spin and weave. He gained his edu- 
cation in tlie pioneer schools, and as soon as old 
enough was set to work on the farm. When he 
was twenty-two years old he left the parental home 
to establish one of his own with the capable assist- 
ance of Miss Nancy Duncan, his bride, their mar- 
riage taking place in 1853. She is a native of 
Indiana, and a daughter of Nathan anrl Elizabeth 
Duncan. 

At the tune of his marriage Mr. Harris bought 
forty acres of wild prairie in Cahokia Township, 
and after erecting a comfortable frame house, pro- 
ceeded to develop his land into a farm, which 
under his skilful raaoipulation became one of the 
best cultivated and improved pieces of property in 
the neighborhood. In the fall of 1877 he was 
elected County Treasurer, and removed to Carlin- 
ville to enter upon the duties of his office, and has 
resided here continuously since. In 1883 he 
formed a partnershii) with J. B. Liston to engage 
in the manufactuie of brick and tile, and has since 
been identilied with this interest. They have three 
commodious kilns, two of them with a capacity of 
45,000 brick and the third of 22,000. 

Aside from his prominence as a business man in 
this county Mr. Harris has long been a conspic- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



483 



uous figure in its public life, as his undoubted 
ability nnd the genuine woilli of his character 
have pointed him out as a suitable man for civic 
ofHce. For five years he held the responsible office 
of Treasurer of Macoupin County. For fourteen 
years he was Justice of the Peace, and he also 
served as Constable in Caliokia Township. He 
was Mayor of Carlinville for one term, and man- 
aged the affairs of the city in a manner most satis- 
factory to all parties. Fraternall3-, Mr. Harris is 
a member of Mt. Nebo Lodge, No. 7G. A. F. & A. 
M. Politically, he is a devoted adherent of the 
Democratic party, and has been ever since he cast 
his first Presidential vote for Franklin Pierce. 






1|U, ENRY FERGUSON, one of the highly re- 

Jli 8peeted and progressive farmers of Staunton 
Township, living on section 20, has tlie 
C^) honor of being a native-born citizen of 
Macoupin County. He was horn on the old F'er- 
guson homestead in the township where he yet 
lives, April 25, 1841, and is a son of .1. II. Fergu- 
son, who was a native of Ireland and of .Scotch- 
Irish descent. Upon the Emerald Isle he grevv to 
manhood and married Miss Sarah Swan, wiio like 
her husband came of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Ac- 
companied by three cliildren they came to the 
United States, landing in New York Cit^' and 
thence madetheir-way by canal and river to Alton, 
where Mr. Feiguson left his family while he walked 
across the prairies to Staunton Township, where he 
secured a wild and unbroken farm on what was 
commonl)' known .13 the Prairie Swamp. However 
he drained his land and where once was a wild 
waste, waving fields of grain soon delighted the 
eye of the passer-bj'. Upon the excellent farm 
which he there developed, Mr. Ferguson and his 
wife resided until his death. He passed away 
Februar3- IC, 1883, at the age of eighty years. He 
was a man possessed of remarkable energy and 
force of character, was honest in the extreme and 
won the confidence of the entire communit)'. Prior 
to the war he supporteil the Democratic pari}' but 
when Ft. Sumpterwas fired upon his political views 



changed and he became a Republican. His wife is 
yet living at the advanced age of eighty-six years, 
making her home with their daughter in Staunton 
Townsliip. Like her husband she lias been a life- 
long member of the Scotch Presbyterian Church. 

The entire life of Henry Ferguson lias been 
passed in this county. Ilis early days weie spent 
amid its pioneer scenes and wlien he had attained 
to mature years he chose his native county as the 
stage of his future actions. He has inherited the 
good qualities of his Scotch-Irish ancestry and has 
become a valued and prominent citizen of the 
communit}'. He was united in marriage in Tower 
Hill, Shelby County, III., with Miss Margaret 
McKittrick, a native of County Down, Ireland, 
born in 1H41. Her parents, William and Margaret 
(Quarrel) McKittrick, were also born in the same 
county and three children there came to bless their 
home. In 1859 Mr. McKittrick and ills family 
sailed for the United States, stopping not in their 
journey until they had reached Eilwanlsville, 
Madison County, III., where tliey made their home 
for seven years, removing tlience to Shelby County 
where the wife and mother died at the age of sixty- 
four. Mr. McKittrick died some years later at the 
home of his daughter in Moultrie County, and his 
remains were taken i).ick toShell)y County nnd laid 
by the side of his wife. He was then seventy-six 
years of age. Botli were members of the Presby- 
terian Church. 

Mrs. Ferguson was tlie third in their family of 
ten children, and by her parents she was carefully 
reared, remaining at home until her marriage. 
She is a lad}' possessed of energy, industry and 
good management and the assistance wliicli she 
has given her husband has been no unimportant 
factor in liis success. Hy their union ten children 
have been born: Martha,!., wife of Richard Lip- 
poldt, a farmer of .Jersey County; Margaret, Julia 
M., Francis V., William II., JNIary L. and Samuel 
F. at home; and Sarah A., Susan F., and .John H., 
who died in childhood. 

Mv. and Mrs. Ferguson are faithful members of 
the Presbyterian Church, give liberally to its sup- 
port and are active workers in its interests. He is 
a supporter of Republican principles and has held 
a number of local offices, being now Commissioner 



484 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of Highways. The duties of these positions have 
been ever ably discharged, winning credit to him- 
self and his constituents. He is owner of one of 
the best farms in Staunton Townshi[), a one hun- 
dred and iiftv acre tract, upon which he lias resided 
for a quarter of a century. He has made it what 
it is, having developed il from a wild waste into 
rich and fertile fields and placed all the improve- 
ments thereon. It is well stocked with good grades 
of horses, cattle, sheei> and hogs and the barns and 
outbuildings furnish ample shelter for them. In 
addition to the home place Mr. Ferguson owns 
cight3"-five acres elsewhere in Staunton Township, 
forty acres near Mt. Olive and a two-thirds interest 
in a farm of one hundred and twenty acres on Sil- 
ver Creek, this county. 



JOHN GOODWIN is numbered among the 
early settlers of 1850, his residence in this 
county covering a period of forty-one con- 
secutive years. During this time he has 
resided upon only one farm, his present home which 
is situated on section 35. Bunker Hill Township. 
He there owns an unusually well-improved tract of 
land consisting of two hundred acres, and a tract 
of one hundred and sixty acres in Penn Township, 
Shelby County, also pays to him a golden trib- 
ute. Besides this i)roperty he has four farms in 
Johnson Countv, Mo., which aggregate four hun- 
dred and eighty-two acres. 

Mr. Goodwin is a native of England, born in 
Statior<lshire. June 27. 1828. of English parentage. 
His father, Thomas Goodwin, was also a native of 
Staffordsliire, as was his grandfather, Thomas 
Goodwin, Sr.. who spent his entire life in that 
county, and there died at the age of sixty years. 
He was a flint grinder in the large pottery works in 
that counti'. Ho ninrried a Staffordshiic lady, and 
in their family was a son. to whom the}' gave the 
name of Thomas. He grew to manhood in his na- 
tive land and learning the business his father fol- 
lowed, became foreman in the department for 
preparing material for the manufacture of crock- 
ery. He married Miss Jane Chappel, who was born 



in that locality, and w.as a daughter of Jobu- Chap- 
pel, a Staffordshire farmer, who lived to be eighty 
j'ears of age. 

Eight children were born to Thomas and Jane ^ 
Goodwin in P^ngland, but one died prior to thel! 
emigration of the family to America. Willi his 
family, Thomas Goodwin in March, 1844, sailed 
from Liverpool on the three-mast vessel "Clarissa 
Andrews," which after a voyage of seven weeks 
dropped anchor in the harbor of New Orleans. 
The family proceeded up the Mississippi River to 
St. Louis, and by packet boat to Alton, locating 
soon afterward upon raw land in Moro Township, 
Madison Count}', wiierc Mr. Goodwin spent the 
remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1854. 
At the time he had labored so indust'iously that 
the greater part of his farm was already improved. 
He was fifty-three j-ears of age when called to his 
final rest. Mrs. Goodwin afterward c'me to live 
with our subject and died at his home in 1884, at 
the age of eighty-one years, in the faith of the 
Christian Church, of which she had long been a 
member. The family circle was increased by the 
birth of one child after Mr. and Rlrs. Goodwin 
came to the United .States, and of the nine children 
six of thein are yet living. All are married and 
have familicj and are residents of Illinois. 

The first sixteen j-ears of his life John Goodwin 
spent in England and then came to America 
Upon his father's farm he attained to mature years 
.and upon the farm which is still his home he was 
united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth M. Wood, 
who in a little log cabin near the site of her present 
home first ojiened her eyes to the light of day, 
February ;>. 1835. .She is a daughter of William 
R. and Martha C. (Wood) Wood, natives of Ken- 
tucky, and of English descent. Their families were 
founded in this coinitry by an English ancestor, 
Samuel Wood, who crossed the Atlantic in 1755. 

William R. AVood was born in 1803. and in I8I4 
came with his parents, .Samuel and Naomi (Ren- 
frow) Wood, to Illinois, the f.amil}- making a set- 
tlement near Troy, ^Madison County, where they 
lived in true pioneer style. .Samuel Wood and his 
wife there died, both having attained to the age of 
seventy-five years when the\' departed this life. The 
parents of Mrs. Martha C. Wood were Abraham 




' RESIDENCE CF J. L. NOEL , SEC 18., DORCHESTER TR, MACOUPIN CO., ILLS. 




( RESIDENCE OF JOH U GOODWI tJ , SEC 35., BU W KER n! LL TR, MACOUPIN CO., I LLS. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



487 



nnd Polly (Huiit) Wood, wlio eraii;rated from 
I\eiitiRky to Illinois in 1834, locating in Plainview, 
Mafoiipin Count}', liut wife anrt mother was not 
long permitted to enjoy licr new home, ber death 
occuiTlug a few months afterward. Abraham 
Wood su'vived his wife some years and died in 
Bunker Hill Towiishii) in 1862, when about eiglit}'- 
one j-ears Oi age. 

Tiic father of Mrs. Goodwin. William R. Wood, 
grew to manhood in Madison County, and served 
in the Black Hawk War. It was there he was mar- 
riecl the first time and there his first wife died 
leaving three children. After that he returned to 
Kentuck)', where he wedded Miss Martha C. Wood, 
his kinswoman, in 1833. Tliey came to Illinois in 
October, 1834, and settled in Macoupiu County, 
on the tract which now constitutes the home farm 
of our subject. It continued to be their place of 
residence until the}' were called to the home be- 
yond. Mr. Wood died of consumption at the age 
of forty-one, the disease probably having been 
contracted during the Indian War, as the papers 
slated that he w.as exempted from duty on account 
of pains in the breast. This was probably the be- 
ginning of the malady which terrain ited Ins life. 
His wife survived him some years pjid died at the 
age of sixty-six. 

Mrs. Goodwin was the only child born to that 
worthy couple, but by her union she has become the 
mother of twelve children, nine of whom are yet 
living — Henrietta, wife of Ernest Shrier, a farmer of 
Ceiiterview, Mo.; George E.. who wedded Emma 
Cruickshanks, and is now living on a farm in John- 
son County, Mo.; John, who married Sarah A. 
Maguire, and follows farming near Centerview, 
Mo.; Emma J., who is the wife of James Hale, also 
a farmer in that locality: Frank A., who wedded 
Josie Moore, and is now living in Johnson County, 
AIo., where he is farming; Alvin L. and William 
W., who aid ilieir father in the operation of the 
home farm; Mary E. and Anna C, who complete 
the family. The deceased are James H. and Ber- 
tie, who died in childhood, and Lillie JI., who died 
at the age of eighteen. 

On the 22nd of December. 18!I0, was celebrated 
the fortieth wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. 
Goodwin. With mutual love and confidence they 



have traveled life's journey hand in hand, sliaring 
its joys and sorrows, and their union has been 
blessed with a large family of children, who have 
become i-espected men and women and do them 
honor. Mrs. Goodwin is a member of the Baptist 
Church. Mr. Goodwin and his sons are Democrats 
in politics. Farming has been his life work, and 
his pleasant home with its neat surroundings indi- 
cates his thrift and enterprise. 

Elsewhere in this volume appears a view of the 
pleasant home of Mr. Goodwin. 

~^^ - ^fj - cj ^ s, — 



OHX L. NOEL. The Blue Gr.ass region of 
Kentucky has long claimed supremacy in 
stock-raising, maintaining that the elements 
in the soil conduced to better physical con- 
dition of stock than can be attained elsewhere in 
all the world. The Central Stales have begun to 
contest this claim by producing horses that vie in 
strength, beauty and deetnefs with any that Ken- 
lucky boasts. What is more beautiful than a large 
farm, divided into paddocks where are grazing the 
mild-eyed, fiery nostril, light-lirabRd bearers of 
burdens. One of the most attractive of these farms 
in Macoupin County is owned by John L. Noel 
who has one hundred and sixty ,acres of fine land 
all under cultivation, and which is known as the 
Plain View .Stock Farm, located on section 7, Dor- 
chester Township. 

Mr. Noel was born in Adaujs County. July 20, 
1849. He came of Penn.sylvania parents, of whom 
a full history mny be found under the biogiaphical 
sketch of J. Quincy Noel. He has lived in this 
county since he w,as twelve years of age. He had 
been a farmer of Dorchester Township prior to go- 
ing into the livery and stock-breeding business. It 
was after he came here that he set out for himself. 
When he arrived at man's estate, Mr. Noel wooed 
and won Miss Louisa Etta Line, who was born in 
Madison County, this State, not far from Foster- 
burg. She was reared there, her parents having 
located at that place several years before her birth. 
Her father and mother died while she was yet a 
small child, about six years old, and she was 



4SS 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



adopted into a family where slie was treated with 
all the affection of an own child. Her foster par- 
ents, William Bahr and wife, lived in Macoupin 
and Madison Counties until she became of age. 
Mrs. Noel is a true wife and helpmate to her hus- 
band, and the words of the Wise Man might well 
be applied to this estimable \in\y. 

Our subject is the proprietor of Percherou and 
Norman imported horses, and owns many breed- 
ing animals, including a very fine Spanish Jack. 
He has made himself an enviable reputation as a 
breeder of fine stoclv. Prior to his entry in this 
business, he was engaged for fourteen years in the 
livery- business in Bunker Hill Cit}\ 

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Noel has been blest 
by the birth of seven children, all of whomaie liv- 
ing and at liome, except the youngest, .Tames Ed- 
ward. Their names are Frank W., Louisa, John 
L., Charles A., Cecelia A. and Joseph. Mr. ai.d 
Mrs. Noel are devoted members of the Catholic 
Church, and Mr. Noel is a sound Democrat In poli- 
tics. 

The attention of the reader is invited to a view 
on another page of the attractive stock farm Of Mr. 
Noel. 



yil MLLIAM LOVE, who for tiie past seven 
/ j'ears has successfully conducted a meat 
market in Gillespie, was born in Connecti- 
cut on the lOlh of January, 1)S34, and comes from 
a good New England family, which in Colonial 
days was established in America. His paternal 
grandfather, Leonard Love, was a native of Rhode 
Island. He spent almost bis entire life on a farm, 
which bordered on the boundary- line between that 
Stale and Connecticut, Jiud there died at the ad- 
vanced .age of eightjf-one years. He came of Eng- 
lish ancestry, .and at the early age of seventeen 
years was drafted into the Colonial arm}-, serving 
his country faithfully until independence was 
achieved. In his native State he married a Miss 
King, who w.as also born, reared and died in Rhode 
Islund. Leonard Love, the father of our subject, 
grew to manhood upon his father's farm, and spent 
the greater part of his life upon the old homestead 



in Rhode Island, where he passed away in March, 
1890, at the .age of eighty years. He was a prom- 
inent and influential citizen of the community in 
which he resided, was a faithful member of the 
Baptist Church, and in political sentiment was a 
Democrat. He married Mahala Knox, a lad}' of M\ 
Scotch descent, who slid survives him and is liv- 
ing on the old home in Rhode Island, at the age of 
sevent\'-nine years. She, loo, is a member of the ■ 
Baptist Church, and a lady of many excellencies of 
character. 

William Love, whose name heads this sketch, is 
the fourth in order of birth of their family of nine 
children, of whom four sons and three daughters 
are yet living. He is the only one who makes his 
home in the West. When a young lad, his parents 
removed from the Nutmeg State to Rhode Island, 
where the days of his boyhood and youth were 
spent. He learned the trade of a carpenter in the 
in the city of Providence, and after coming West, 
engaged in that occupation to some extent. The 
J ear 1857 witnessed his arrival in Bunker Hill, 
Macoui>in County, where for four 3-ears he engaged 
in carpenter work, and then carried on a meat mar- 
ket in connection with farming for five years. The 
succeeding nine years of his life he devoted his en- 
tire energies to agricultuial pursuits, living upon 
his farm in Bunker Hill Township, whence became 
to Gillespie some seven years since. Again he 
opened a meat market, which he yet carries on, 
having an excellent trade. Hi? business is there- 
fore in a flourishing condition — the natural result 
of his persevering efforts. He is genial in manner, 
and by his fair dealing and desire to please his pa- 
trons he has secured a liberal share of the public 
trade. 

In Bunker Hill Mr. Love was united in marriage 
with Miss Mary Ilillier, who was born in England, 
and when a young lady, came to America with her 
father, Thomas Hillier, and his family. They lo- 
cated in Bunker Hill, where the parents lived for 
some j-ears, and then removed to Shipman, where 
the father died at the age of sevent}', and the 
mother in her sixty-eighth year. The}' were mem- 
bers of the Episcopal Church. Mrs. Love was 
carefully reared by her parents and received the 
educational advantages afforded by the excellent 



PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



4S9 



schools of Bunker Hill. By her marriage she has 

become the mother of five children, four of whom 
are yet living — Henrietta L., Adelaic'e J., Nellie J. 
and Gertrude 1). The last two have taught in tlie 
district schools of the county', and possess consid- 
erable ability in this direetion. All are educated 
and relincd young ladies who figure prominently 
in the social circles of this community. One 
daughter, Ida M., died in childhood. 

In |)oliiics Mr. Love is a stalwart Democrat who 
keejjs himself well informed on the |iolitical issues 
of the da3'. and has held several i)ositions of public 
trust, having been a member of the Village Board 
and Mayor of Gillespie since coming to this place, 
llis wife and daughters are members of the Episco 
pal Church. He ranks high among the business 
men of the tovv'u, and is regarded as one of the en- 
terprising and progressi'/e citizens of tiie commu- 
nity. He owns one of the fine brick residence 
properties of Bunker Hill. 



"If/ AMES WILSON is one of the large land- 
owners of this county, his possessions 
amounting to six hundred and eighty acres, 
(^^// all except twenty in Honey Point Township 
He lias been more than ordinarily successful in 
prosecuting agricultural affairs, ns may be seen by 
his large holding of real estate. His land is well 
improved and his home is one of the most attract- 
ive rural residences in this pa.-t of the State. Mr. 
Wilson, who is now quite advanced in years, is 
not obliged to exert himself, as he has all that 
heart can wish of material comforts, and can, b\' a 
wise oversight of his property, derive an income 
amply sufficient for all his wants. 

Mr. Wilson traces his descent from one John 
Wilson, a native of Scotland, who removed thence 
to Londonderry, Ireland, and spent his last years 
there. His wife was Martha Caldwell and in their 
family was a son, George, who was born in Scot- 
land, but grew to man's estate in Ireland. That 
gentleman was married in the Emerald Isle to Jane 
Donelson, a native of Londonderry and a daughter 
of Andrew Donelson, »vbo lived to the extreme 



age of one hundred and two years. He was an Irish 
farmer, but was of Scotch ancestry and his wife, 
Molly Jackson, was a sister to the grandfather of 
the famous Confederate General, ••Stonewall" 
Jackson. About 1812 George Wilson emigrated 
to America and settled in New Jersey, buying a 
tract of land near Newton, the couhtj'-seat of 
Sussex County. There he and his wife si)enl the 
remnant of tlicir days and died strong in the Chris- 
tian faith, both having been members of the Pres- 
byterian Church. They had seven children, but 
one daughter died when twelve years old and 
another still earlier in life. Those who grew to 
maturity were James, Rebecca, Margaretta, George 
and .Martha. 

James Wilson was born in Sussex County, N. 
J., December 16, 1813, and was reared and ed- 
ucated there. He remained vvith his parents until 
he was twenty-three 3'ears of age ami he was then 
empIo3'ed to run a stationary engine at the Stan- 
hope Iron Works in that county. He remained 
there nearly seven years and left his position in 
1849 in order to come to the Mississippi Valle3^ 
With his wife and three children he started for 
Iowa, traveling by rail to Pittsburg and then on 
the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to Burlington. He 
set u|) his home in Lee County', buying a tract of 
liarlly-improved land, fourteen miles north of Ft. 
Madison. (Jn this property there was a small 
farmhouse, in which he established his little family-. 
He also bought a half section of raw prairie land, 
adjoining the partly-improved property-, and later 
secured an entire section. He lived in Lee County 
until 1862, then sold his propert}' there and came 
hither, buying the land on which he has since made 
his home. 

February 5, 1826, Mr. Wilson was united in 
marri.age with Miss Rebecca Barr, a native of 
England, and a daughter of Andrew and Sai'ah 
(English) Barr. She shared his fortunes until 
1876, when she was called from time to eternity. 
Of the ten children born of the union, eight grew 
to maturity, namel}' : John, James B., Edwin H., 
George A., Robert D., Jane Flliza, Rebecca and 
Martha A. Rebecca is now deceased, having died 
in 1869. After living as a widower several years 
Mr. Wilson made a second marriage, Apiil 25, 



490 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1881, liis brifle on this occasion heing Mrs. Maggie 
Kamilton, nee Wager. This lady was born in 
Smithlanrl, Ky., is A daughter of Benjamin Wager 
and is an estiraal)lc lady. Her first Imsband was 
H. H. Hamilton, by wliom slie liad one child, 
Fannj' B. 

Not onl}' ii.as Mr. Wilson l)een exceptionally 
fortunate in agricultural work, but he has kept 
himself well informed of passing events and has 
built up a character that entitles him to the respect 
of his acquaintances. His political allegiance is 
given to the principles of Democracy. He is a 
member of the Presbyterian Church and his wife is 
a Methodist. 




iICHARD CROMWELL, deceased, was one 
of the prominent citizens of Bunker Hill, 
where he die<l on the 3()th of .June, 1889, 
}^ respected by all who knew him. He was 
born in Washington County, Md., January 30, 
1810, and traced his ancestry b:ick to the great 
English i)rotector, Oliver Cromwell. His father, 
Richard Cromwell, was born in this country of 
English and .Scotch parentage and became a prom- 
inent farmer in Washington County, Md. He was 
a second cousin of Oliver Cromwell, and his death 
occurred in Mar3'lanc| in 1821. His wife, whose 
maiden name was Susan McLaughlin, was a native 
of Washington County, Md., born of Scotch an- 
cestry, and after her husband's death she lived a 
widow for about fifty years. In the meantime she 
removed to Greene County. Ohio, where for a long 
time she made her homo with her son-in-law, J. B. 
Hawkins, dying at that place February 20, 1872, 
at the age of eighty-nine years. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Cromwell were members and active workers in the 
German Reformed Church. Their family numbered 
six children, three of whom are living near Xenia, 
in Greene County, Ohio. 

The early life of Richard Cromwell, of this 
sketch, passed uneventfully, he spending his days 
in the county of his nativity until he had arrived 
at the age of twenty years, when he accompanied 
his parents to Greene County. Ohio, where after- 



ward he was united in marriage with Miss Caroline, 
daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Fout) Eiehel- 
berger. She was born in Frederick County, Md., 
August 24, 1817, and her parents were natives of 
Germany. They ciirae to America when young, 
locating in Maryland, where they grew to manhood 
andwomanhood and were married in 1806, in Freder- 
ick County, where for some years they lived upon a 
farm. Mr. Eichelberger died in that county in the 
prime of life. His widow, accompanied by her 
eight children, afterward emigrated to Greene 
Connt^', Ohio, where she became the wife of John 
Cramer. She died in Bellbrook in the faith of the 
German Luther.an Church, of which Mr. Eichelber- 
ger was also a member. Of the seven children 
born unto that worthy couple Mrs. Cromwell is the 
fifth in order of birth and the only one now living. 
She was about twelve years of age when her father 
died and had attained to her twenty-first j-ear when 
the family removed to the Buckeye State. In 
1842, with her husband and four children, she 
came to Illinois. They settled in Hilyaid Town- 
ship, Macoupin County, where they began their 
life in the West in true pioneer style upon a rented 
farm. As Mr. Cromwell was successful in his un- 
dertakings, he afterward became able to jjurchase 
land, and at the time of his death his possessions 
aggregated two hundred and eighty .acres, two hun- 
dred of which were comprised in the home farm. 
He was enterprising, industrious and persevering, 
and by good management he won a comfortable 
competence. Following farming until 1880 he then 
laid aside business cares and removed to Bunker 
Hill, where he lived a retired life. His death occur- 
red June 30, 1881), being caused by a fall from a 
moving wagon driven by a neighbor. Mrs. Crom- 
well is 3"et living in Bunker Hill, where she has 
many friends and acquaintances. She is a mem- 
ber of the Lutheran Church and a good Christian 
woman. 

Nine children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. 
Cromwell, and all are yet living, have married and 
p.re prospering in life. John D., who wedded Miss 
Mary C. Hutton, is living on a farm in Honey 
Point Townsliip; Susan M., is the wife of James 
White, an extensive and successful farmer of 
Montgomery County; Margaret A., is the wife of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RPXORD. 



493 



Matthew Hayes, who is cngagerl in agricultural 
pursuits in Gillespie Township; Comfort C, widow 
of VV. J. Baird, resides in St. Louis: Satnautha M., 
is the wife of Charles Lork^er, a resident fanner 
of Hilyard Township; Sarah C, wedded David A. 
Smalley. a successful agriculturist of Spivcy, 
Kingman County, Kan.; Mary E., is the wife of 
Kugciie R. Smalley, also a f&rraer of Kingman 
County; Joseph ().. wedded Mary Klliman, and is 
farming in Ililjard Township, autl William A. is 
engaged in the same pursuit in Hunker Hill Town- 
ship. He wedded Mary Roberts, but his wife is 
now deceased. The sons are all Demociats in 
politics and all the children have become useful 
men an<l women, and respected members of soci- 
ety. 

Mr. Cromwell was also a stalwart supporter of 
Democratic principles, and for some years served 
as Supervisor of Hiljard Township, proving an 
etticicnt officer. In religious belief he was a Uni- 
versalist and lived an upright life which won him 
the conlidence and regard of all. By those who 
knew him he was highly respected for his sterling 
worth, and no man is more worth)- of a re[)rcsen- 
tation in this volume. 



n^ 



ROK. THOMAS K. MOORE. County Super- 
intendent of Schools, is known throughout 
-^ the State as an intelligent and progressive 
\ educator who is eminently fitted for the im- 
portant office of which he is an incumbent. He is 
a native of this county, born in Honey Point 
Township, September IG, 1847. He is a son of 
Thomas D. Moore, a native of Danville, Ky., win) 
was an early pioneer of this section of Illinois and 
bore an honorable part in its development. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, William 
Moore, was born in A'irginia and was a son of an 
emigrant from the North of Ireland who was de- 
scended from Scotch ancestry and who came to 
this country in Colonial times. He first settled in 
Virginia, whence he went to Kentucky ami was one 
of the early pioneers of Danville, where he died. 
He was a .stanch Presbyterian, religiousi)-. The 



grandfather of our subject was reared in Virginia, 
and going to Kentucky in early manhood he was 
there married to Ellen Duncan, a native of Fau- 
quier County, Va., and a daughter of William Dun- 
can, who was also a Virginian by birth. Grandfather 
Mooic was a farmer and after his removal to Dan- 
ville, Ky., he devoted himself to his calling in that 
place tlie remainder of his life. 

Thomas D. Moore resided in his native State 
until 1834 and then at the age of twenty years he 
started out in the world to try life elsewhere, go- 
ing forth from his old home well equip|)ed for the 
struggle that lay before him in a pioneer country. 
His mind was well Ir.ained by the excellent educa- 
tion he had received at Centre College, and his 
early training had given him good habits and firm 
principles. He came io Illinois and cast in his lot 
with the few settlers that had preceded him in the 
little hamlet of Carlinvillo, where there were then 
but a few log houses. He had learned the trade of 
a carpenter, and as he found men of that calling iii 
demand he activel)' set to work at it for a time, 
and assisted in building the first frame house that 
was ever erected in this place. 

Mr. Moore was unmarried when he came here, 
and his mother kept house for iiim a year. At the 
expiration of that time he returned to his native 
State to claim his promised wife, Julia Dickerson, 
a native of Jessamine County, born near Nicholas- 
vilie in 1813. After marriage he came back with 
his bride on horseback-, and tiiey passed the first 
few years of their weildcd life in the village of 
Carlinville \nVn- to tiicir removal to Honey Point 
Township, where Mr. Moore entered l.ind from the 
Government. He erected thereon a log house that 
was the birthplace of all his children. It was built 
of hewn logs anil was quitp a commodious affair 
for those times, comprising five rooms. 

For a few j'ears after taking up his residence 
here Mr. Moore worked at carpentering a part of 
the time and devoted the remainder to the devel- 
opment of his farm. He subsequently gave his 
entire attention to the care of the homestead, where 
he continued to live until his useful and honorable 
life was rounded out at a ripe age by his death, 
October o, 1883. His wife, who had walked at his 
1 side nearly half a century preceded him in death the 



494 



PORTRAIT AND DIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



same year, <1ying January 15. They roared a fam- 
ily of six cbiidreii, namely: Kllen, Loretla, Julia, 
Thomas E., Charles and Elizaljelb. The parents 
were both jirominent members of Ihe Presbyterian 
Chiireb. The Moores hart been devoted adiierents 
of that faith for many generations, and the father 
held strongly to it until the day of his death. He 
was Elder of the church of that denomination 
which he had joined when it was organized. He 
was a great worker in the .Sunday-school also and 
was for many years Superintendent of the branch 
school in Hone3' Point Township. 

Thomas Moore laid the foundation of his educa- 
tion in the schoolhouse that liis father erected 
on his own farm. Tliere was no sawed timber used 
in the construction of the building, the timber be- 
ing hewed and the boards rived by hand. In 1867 
our subject entered Blackburn University ; he there 
attended and taught alternatel}' until he was grad- 
uated in 1877. In the meantinae he studied law in 
the office of Judge William R. Welch and was ad- 
n)i'-ted to the bar in 1873. The j-ear that he was 
giaduated from the University he was invited to 
become Principal of the Preparatory Department 
of that institution, and for the ensuing six years he 
filled that position verj' accc|)tably, teaching con- 
stitutional and international law and logic, tlic lat- 
ter part of the time. 

In 188.3 Prof. Moore severed his connection with 
the Univeisit}' and became Principal of Bunker 
Hill .School. After filling his position two terms 
he went to Tavlorville and took charge of the city 
schools for one year. He then engaged in ihe West- 
ern Publishing Company as traveling salesman, 
introducing educational apparatus into the schools 
of Maryland; Pennsylvania and Ohio, and he was 
thus employed some three years ve.'y successfully. 
Inthefallof 1890 the ciliz.ens of Macoupin County 
elected him to his present oltice of County .Super- 
intendent of Schools. His selection for this respon- 
sible j)osition has proved to be a fortunate measure 
for the educational interests of this section of the 
.State, as since he assumed its duties he has thrown 
his whole energies into his work and has made a 
careful study of the requirements of the public 
schools under his charge, intrc^'ucing new methods 
where needed and instituting many wise reforms. 



As a gentleman of culture, unblemished character 
and higli personal standing the Professor is also an 
influence for raucli good in other ilirections, and 
we find his name associated with much that tends 
to strengthen and elevate the moral and social 
status of the community. He and his wife are 
members of the Presbyteri.nn Church. In politics 
he is identified with the Democratic party. .Socially, 
he is a member of Bunker Hill Ltjdge, F. ifeA.M., 
and he is also connected with (Jrient Lodge. K.of P., 
of which he was a cliarter member. 

Prof. M(>ore was hap|)ily rairried April 24, 1875, 
to IMiss Mary E. Handlin, a native of Chesterfield 
Township, this county, and a daughter of Clayborn 
and Adeline Handlin. They live in one of the 
many attractive homes of Carlinville and their 
pleasant household circle is completed by their 
seven children — Charles H., Thomas L., Ruth Ar- 
melila, Olive and Mildred. Addie and Julia are 
deceased. 

A lithographic [wrlrait of Prof. Moore accom- 
panies this sketch. 



'*>'^^i:i;vv;:5<v*--- 




ICERO J. SOLOMON, a prominent and 
prosperous farmer of Bird Township, makes 
•^^^ his home on section 3. His father. James 
Solomon, w:is born in North Carolina, and his 
mother, Easter Lamar, w.is a native of Tennessee. 
After marriage they settled in Macoupin County, 
making their home in North Palmyra Township. 
Thence they removed to Montgomery County, this 
Slate and resided for four years, but made their final 
home in Bird Township where the father died Au- 
gust 29, 1881. He had been bereaved of liis faith- 
ful and devoted wife September 7, 1852, while liv- 
ing in North Palmyra Township. Three children had 
blest the union of .James and Easter Solomon. They 
were .lames who died when quite young; Cicero J. 
and .Serena C. This daughter is the wife of William 
A. Wright. 

The subject of this sketch first saw the light of 
life in North Palmyra Township, October 3, 1848. 
He was about six years old when his father removed 
to Monlgoniery County, and with the exception of 



POliTRAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



495 



the four j-ears that ihey resided tbere Macoupin 
County lias been his home to llie present time. Here 
he grew to manhood and was unilf'd in maniaire 
with Miss Harriet Ivesinger, a daughter of the hite 
John and Eliza (Adams) Kesinger. The mother of 
Mrs. Solomon died November 20, 1878, and iier 
father departed hfe December 6, 1890. They were 
tlie parents of nine ciiildren, their daughter Harriet 
being Ihirc] in order of birth. She was born in Bird 
Township, February 4, 1854. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Solomon was sol- 
emnized February 25. 1872. Tliey became the 
parents of six beautiful chilrtren, all but one 
of whom have outlived their early childhood. The 
surviving children are named Edgar J., Addie E., 
Eliza A., James, and Jennie I. Mr. Solomon owns 
the old homestead which his father occupied, a fine 
tract of two hundred and eighty broad and pro- 
dueiive'aeres. He also owned seventy-two acres in 
another section. The fine farm buildings and hand- 
some residence were erected by his father and he 
keeps them in first-class condition. He has always 
followed agriculture and made some little specialty 
of stock-raising. He has served his district as High- 
way Commissioner and School Director and his 
political affiliations are with the Republican party. 
His worthy and intelligent companion is an active 
and influential member of the Baptist Church and 
they both occupy a high position in the social life 
of the township. Our subject has been a member 
of the Masonic order since he was twenL3-one \cars 
of age, holding membership in Lodge No. 76, at 
Carlinville. 



} AMES WALKER, a man of myie than ordi- 
nary enterprise and ability-, stands among 
the foremost of the enlightened and prog- 
_ rcssive farmers and stock-raisers of tnis 
county, who have been instrumental in raising it to 
its present high position as a great and rich agri- 
cultural centre. He has an extensive and well-ap- 
pointed farm in Seoltville Township, which is 
considered one of the finest stock farms in this part 
of the State. 

Mr. Walker is a native-born citizen of this State, 



his birth taking place November 4, 1833. in the pi- 
oneer home of his parents in Mt. Era Township, 
Greene Count}', half a mile northeast of the town 
of Athens. John Walker, his father, was a native 
of Nelson County, Ky., born there January 15, 
1804. He was a son of Joseph Walker, who was 
born in Jlaryland and was a descendant of one 
of three brothers who came from Scotland to this 
country in Colonial times. The grandfather of our 
subject was a pioneer of Nelson County, Ky., 
where he bought a tract of land in the primeval 
forest three miles from the present site of Bards- 
town. He evolved a good farm from the wilder- 
ness and made his home upon it until his demise. 
The maiden name of his wife was Coons. 

The father of our subject was reared and married 
in his native county and dwelt there until 1829. 
In that year he became a pioneer of this State, com- 
ing here witii his wife and the two children that 
had been born to them in their old home. He was 
the fortunate possessor of a horse, which, with his 
household goods, constituted all his wealth. He 
hired transportation for his faraily and belongings 
and came here on horseback. He located on a 
tract of wilil land eight miles east of Jacksonville, 
Morgan County, and for two j-ears lived in tlie 
house that he built on the place. At the expira- 
tion of that time he sold that properly and bought 
one hundred and twenty acres of Government land 
in Ml. Era Townsiiip. He built a log house on the 
l)laco, riving the boards to cover the roof and siilit- 
ting puncheon for the floor, and in that dwelling 
bis son, of whom we write, w.as born. The sur- 
rounding country bore but little indication of its 
present development, as the inhabitants were few 
and had made but little headway against the forces 
of nature in redeeming it from its primeval state. 
There were no railways for years and the settlers 
had to go to Alton and St. Louis to market their 
produce and obtain supplies. At one time Mr. 
Walker took three loads of wheat to St. Louis and 
sold his grain at lliirty-seven and one half cents a 
bushel. The peoi)le lived principally on the pro- 
ducts of the farm and wild game, which was very 
plentiful. They were also clad in horaespuu made 
b}' the women. The mother of our subject was ex- 
pert in carding, spinning and weaving and her deft 



40(1 



PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



liands made all the elolli used in llic family. None 
but the most piiinilive machinery was in use and 
the grain, wliich was cut witli a sickle or cradle, was 
tramped out b}' horses or oxen instead of being 
threshed. 

Mr. Walker resided on his homestead in Greene 
County until I8G6, when lie disposed of his prop- 
erty in that section and removed to AVoodson 
County, Kan. lie was dissatisfied with that part 
of tlie country, however, and without even unload- 
ing his goods he returned to this State and took up 
his residence in the village of Scottville, which re- 
maine<l his dwelling-place until his death. May 15, 
1884, at a venerable age. The maiden name of his 
first wife, the mother of our subject, was Nancy 
Hall and she was a native of Nelson County, Ky. 
She died on the home farn? Februarj' 15, 1838. 
Five of her children grew to maturity, namely : 
Henry H., Nathaniel, Jane, James and Sarah. Mr. 
Walker's second wife was Elizabeth Sears. She 
died November 15, 1857. Four children were born 
of that union, as follows: Mary, .Samuel, Isabella 
and Christina. The maiden name of Mr. Walker's 
last wife wns Maitha Powell, and siie was a native 
of Scottville Township, a daughter of one of its 
pi(mcer families. 

James Walker passed his youth in his native 
eountj' and was educated in its public schools. He 
lived with his parents until 1852 and on Februar3' 
10, of that year he started on a momentous journey 
to the distant shores of the Pacific Ocean to join the 
army of gold-seekers in California. He went down 
the Mississippi River to New Orleans, where he 
embarked on a vessel bound for the Isthmus of 
Panama. But the good ship encountered a heavy 
gale, by which it was dismasted and it had to put 
into Balize for repairs. Forty of its passengers, 
including our subject, left the vessel with the inten- 
tion of crossing Central America to Acapuico, but 
found on inquiry that the distance was nearly a 
thousand miles and the route was through a coun- 
try inhabited by hostile savages. They then 
changed their plans and hiring a caravan of mules, 
crossed a narrower portion of Central America to 
Sausonate, where they embarked on a sailing-vessel, 
and seventy-eight da^'s later arrived in San Fran- 
cisco, one hundred and sixty -eight days from the 



time of our subject's leaving home. He went di- 
rectly to Eldorado County and actively engaged in 
mining there for some years. His thoughts, how- 
ever, were never long absent from the old home 
and friends of his youth, and finally tiring of the: 
rough life of the camp, he started on his return toi 
his native State, April 12, 1855, emliarking at San 
Francisco on the mail steamer "Golden Age." 
But, as on his way out, his passage was not destined 
to be a smooth one, as the steamer was badlj' 
wrecked when within two hundred and ten miles 
of Panama. F'ortuuately other vessels came to her 
rescue and ho and his fellosv-passengers were landed 
safely at Panama. He pursued his journey across 
tiie Isthmus by rail, having to pay fifty cents a 
mile. Then he sailed for New York and in due 
tine arrived amid the familiar scenes of his boy- 
hood . 

In 1856 Mr. Walker came to Scottville Town- 
ship and bought the farm that he still owns and oc- 
cupies. He has been very successful as a farmer 
and from time to time h.is purchased other land 
until he had seven hundred and five acres of val- 
uable really in his possession. He has disposed of 
some of this, but he still has four hundred and 
eighty acres adjacent to the village of Scottville, 
which is conceded to form one of the best arranged 
and most desirable stock farms in the county. 

Mr. Walker was happily married January 4, 
1858, to Miss China Minerva Owens and their 
home is not only attractive in itself, but on ac- 
count of the genuine comfort and hospitality of 
which it is the index. Thej' have five children 
living: Nancy A., wife of Samuel E. Hittisk; Dora 
A., wife of A. C. Ogge; F\inny, wife of S. C. Han- 
kins; James A. and Vena G. The chief sorrow of 
the wedded life of our subject and his wife has 
been in the death of their son, Fiugene E., at the 
age of sixteen 3'ears. 

Mr. Walker is distinguished by aclearand vigor- 
ous intellect, marked force and decision of charac- 
ter and other high attributes that give him weight 
and influence in the community; and he is known 
to be a man of honor and unswerving integrity'. 
He has an aptituile for affairs and his enterprise 
and public spirit place him among the leaders in 
carrying out any plan that will be of benefit to the 



I 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



497 



county. He was prominent in tbe sclierae for 
buililino; the Baltimore & Ohio Railway, whicii 
proved to be a very unfortunate venture, for 
llie company failed and our subject was the loser 
by $25,000. It, however, served to bring out his 
honesty in a stronger light, .is he faced the situation 
with characteristic courage, energy and enterprise, 
and now, after eight years of labor, coupled with 
economy- and judicious management, lie has paid 
every dollar of that indebtedness, mostly from his 
farm, and begins to see the dawn of a brighter day 
in his finances. 

In his political beliefs Mr. Walker is a genuine 
Republican. He is prominent in social circles as a 
member of various organizations. He belongs to 
Panther Creek Grange. No. 818, is connected witli 
the Golden Band Alliance, No. 64; he joined the 
Jlasonic fraternity in 1864 and is a member of 
Scottville Lodge, No. 426; and also of Greenfield 
Chapter, R. A. M. 




RANK H. RUETER. The name at the 
head of this sketch is that of the senior 
member of the lirra of Rueter, Heimlist tfe 
Co., successful dealers in all kinds of general mer- 
chandise. They are doing a business that is most 
encouraging to the proprietors in a prominent lo- 
cation on the Main Street of Mount Olive. The 
present house was established in March, 1888. 
The firm occupies a good substantial structure, 
wliicli is nhicly feet long and twenty feet wide. It 
is well filled with first-class goods of all kinds suit- 
able to the country tr.ide. 

The firm of which our subject is a member has 
already made a reputation for straightforward 
dealings that is of great value to them in the coun- 
try. He of whom we write has lieen a resident of 
Mount Olive since the spring of 1882. On first 
coming to this ])lace he served as a clerk. He 
came here from Montgomery County with his 
mother when he was only six years of age, having 
been reared and educated in Montgomery County 
on a farm, and after finisliing his common school 



course he attended a business college in St. Louis 
for a time and later became a clerk for the well- 
known firm of Keiser, Niemeyertt Co. After mak- 
ing a reputation for himself with these firms he 
started in business for himself and was recognized 
as a young man of sterling business ability. He 
continued his business for two years and then sold 
out, after which he cleiked for some time with his 
old firm and then later he established the business 
tliat now runs under the present firm name. His 
partner was also a resident of the place for eight 
years and like himself was in the employ of the 
firm above mentioned for a period of five years. 

Mr. Rueter was born in Lousiana, Mo., Decem- 
ber 24, 1858. He is the son of Henry and Minnie 
Rueter, natives of Prussia, and came of pure Ger- 
man ancestry. Mr. Rueter, Sr., and wife met and 
married after they came to the United States, their 
bridal ceremony being performed in St. Louis, 
where Mr. Rueter was engaged as a carpenter for 
some time, and from which place he entered the 
army. The War of the Rebellion breaking out 
and a call for volunteers being made, he responded 
and enlisted in a Missouri regiment in the early 
part of the war. After serving as a private soldier 
and distinguished himself in several instances, he 
w.as captured and thrown into Andersonville prison, 
where he died after a confinement of several 
months from starvation and sickness. At tlie time 
of his death, he was in the prime of life. His 
widow was a second time married, to Henry Monke, 
and the worthy couple arc now residing on a farm 
in Montgomery County. 

Our subject is the second child born to his pa- 
rents, his sister, now Mrs. Mary Monke. of Mont- 
gomery County, being the first born. Mr. Rueter 
was married in this city to Miss Minnie Frerichs, a 
native of Madison County; her early youth was 
spent partly in her native count}' and partly in 
Macoupin County. The lady's father, Eiler Fre- 
richs, now lives on a farm in Madison Count}-. 
His wife died some years ago. jMr. and Mrs. Rue- 
ter are the parents of two children of whom they 
are justly proud. Their names are respectively, 
Henry and Bertha. Our subject and his wite, like 
the raajoi'ity of their countrymen, arc members of 
Lutheran Church. The original of this sketch is 



498 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



one of the leading young German citizens of the 
plate and be is universally recognized as a young 
man, who, unless accident sliould cut hini off, will 
attain a high degree of prominence among his fel- 
low-townsmen. 




|EV. LUKE DILLIARD, wlio resides on 
section 31, Gillespie Township, is numhered 
among the honored pioneers of the county. 
\tff\, few men have here so long resided. He 
came in 1838, and has since continuously made his 
home witiiin the borders of Macoupin Countj', 
where he has labored untiringl3' for the upbuilding 
of its best inteiests and promotion of those enter- 
prises whicli are calculated to enhance the general 
welfare. He comes of a race of farmers who for 
several generations had resided in North Carolina. 
His grandparents lived and died in that State and 
his father, Mark Dilliard, was also there born. He 
learned tlie cooper's tr.ade and in North Carolina 
married Milbery El"uner, who was also born of 
North Carolina parents. In later years Mark 
Dilliard and his wife witli their children emigrated 
to Middle Tennessee, and located uuon a farm 
where the husband and father died November 26, 
1826, the age of fifty-six years, ids birth having 
occurred March 20, 1770. Some five years later, 
in 1830, tiie widow emigrated with her farail}' to 
Logan County, Kj'., .and in 1831, took up her resid- 
ence in Todd County of the same State. Subse- 
quently she returned to Robertson Count}^ Tenn., 
and there lived during the great cholera epidemic 
in 1833, when man}' of iier friends died. In 1836, 
she again went to Logan County, where she made 
her home until 1838, when with her children, our 
subject and Mrs. Wells, she started for Illinois with 
a company of others. They left tlieir old home on 
the first Mond.ay in October and traveling in 
covered wagons at length reached Brush}' Mound 
Township, Macoupin County, on the last Saturday 
in November. At night thej' had camped out 
along the w.ay and bore the usual experiences and 
hardships of such a journey. 



Rev. Luke Dilliard was only three years of age 
when his father died and by his mother he was 
tenderly cared for until he was able to repay her bj' 
his care. There were five children in the family' but 
only our subject and his sister, Mrs. Wells, of Wilson 
County, Kan., who is now seventj'-five of age, are 
}'et living. After their arrival in this county thej' 
and the mother resided upon a rented farm until in 
1844, when Mr. Dilliard secured a tract of land in 
Gillespie Township to which the\' removed and he 
began the development of tlie farm which has 
since been his home. It is located on section 31, 
and consisted first of only fortj' acres but from time 
to time, as his financial resources had increased, he 
extended its boundaries until it now comjirises one 
hundred and thirty-eight acres which are under a 
high state of cultivation. He also yet owns sixty 
acres of pasture land and has other possessions 
wincli he has generously bequeatiied to his children. 
He owned a valuable tract of two hundred and forty 
acres which is now owned by his eldest son, M. H. 
Dilliird, also in Gillespie Township. Upon a forty- 
acre tract which he once possessed is a divide which 
separates the he.^d waters of two of the important 
streams which drain this and other counties and 
ultimately empty into the Jlississippi River. It is 
no e.asy task to develop a new farm but Mr. Dilli- 
ard worked industriously' from earl}' morning to 
late at night and each year saw an increased acre- 
age under cultivation. The usual trials and 
difficulties of pioneer life fell to liis lot but with a 
determination to win success he overcame all obs- 
tacles and won his way to a place among the sub- 
stantial farmers of the community. The farm 
which he now owns is under most excellent cultiva- 
tion, is well supplied with good buildings and the 
stock which he raises is of fine grades. 

Upon life's journey Mr. Dilliard has been aided 
by one who has proved a true iielpmate to him. In 
December 31, 1845, in St. Louis, Mo., he was 
united in marriage with Miss Nanc}' Adams, who 
was born near Cumberland Gap, Tenn., April 14, 
1829, and is a daughter of Giles M. and Filizabeth 
(Miller) Adams, natives of North Carolina and 
South Carolina respectivel}'. During ehildhocd 
they went with their parents to East Tennessee, 
where they were married and lived until after their 



PORTRAIT AND HJOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



499 



first two children were born. Mrs. Dilliar(l was 
about two months ohJ when the little family came 
overland to Illinois andsettleil in the wilderness of 
Madison County near the boundary line of Ed- 
wards County. In 1831, Mr. Adams secured land 
from the Government in Gillespie Township, Mac- 
oupin C^ounty, where in a log cabin home they 
lived the life of true pioneers. Their first dwell- 
ing vfns replaced in 1843 b}' a good frame house 
and the following year a frame barn was built — 
the first of the kind in all this section of the 
country. In after years, when quite old, Mr. r.nd 
Mrs. Adams left their homestead and went to live 
with their j'oungest son in Montgomery County, 
where they spsnt their last days, dying at an ad- 
vanced age. They were well-known jjioneers of 
Gillespie Township and highly respected people. 

Mrs. Dilliard is the eldest daughter and second 
child in their family of five children, of whom the 
eldest and youngest are now deceased. Almost her 
entire life has been spent in Gilles[)ie Townshi|) 
and among the people who have so long known her 
she has made many warm friends. Plight children 
have been born of the union of our subject and his 
wife, of whom they have lost two — Almcda who 
died in childhood and W. C. who died at the age 
of twenty-six yep.rs. Matthew, the eldest surviving 
member of the family, married Lulu Boyce and 
owns and operates a two hundred and forty-acre 
farm in Gillespie Township; (iilcs M., a farmer of 
Reno County, Kan., wedded Mattie McBriile; 
James I., who married Mattie M. Ni'cdlcr, now de- 
ceased, is manager of the Belt & Dilliard Bank of 
CoUinsville, 111.; Loienzo D., who has been blind 
from his birth, was educated in the Institute for 
the Blind at Jacksonville, and learned the trade of 
a brush-maker but has never followed it, being now 
engaged in theteaciiing of music. He is a skilled 
musician and has composed a number of pieces, dis- 
placing great ability; Edward, who wedded Cath- 
erine Roe, graduated from a medical college and is 
now successfully engaged in practice in Stillman 
Valley; Mary J., who graduated from the female 
college of Fulton, Mo., and was a successful teach- 
er before her marriage, is now the wife of William 
Mattox, secretary of the coal company of Sorento, 
111. Mr. Dilliard h.as ever been a warm friend to 



the cause of education and provided his children 
with excellent advantages. All but one are grad- 
uates of some college an<l they have become useful 
men and women, resi)ected members of society who 
do honor to their parents. 

Mr. and Mrs. Dilliard have long been faithful 
members of the Baptist Church. He united with 
the church on the fourth Sunday in October. 1840, 
and in 1843, was licensed to preach. Three years 
later he was ordained, since which time he has been 
more or less actively connected with the work of 
the ministry in thic county. The good which he 
has done cannot bo estimated. He li.as aided in the 
organization of some of the leading churches of 
the county and by precept as well as example has 
led man}- to a knowledge of the truth. The educa- 
tional interests of the community have been pro- 
moted through his efforts and since the winter of 
1844-45, when he taught his first school he has been 
a well-known educator in this county. One winter 
he taught school every day in the week, singing 
school for four nights out of every week and on 
Sunday occupied the pulpit. His upright life has 
won him the respect and esteem of all with whom 
he has been brought in contact and his many acts 
of kindness and charity have won him the love of 
many who have been the recipients of his bounty. 
He has many friends and few, if any, enemies and 
and no man is more deserving of a representation 
in this volume than the honored pioneer. Rev. 
Luke Dilliard. Ml'. Dilliard is a Master Jlason, he 
is a member of Bunker Hill Lodge No. 1.51. 



-^ 




HRISTOPHER H. RUTHER, one of the 
practical and progressive farmers of the 
county, living on section 29, .Staunton 
Township, is a native of Germany, lie was born in 
the Kingdom of Hanover, June 27, 1 839, and comes 
of a good German family. His father, Frederick, 
also a native of the same kingdom, was reared to 
manhood in the usual manner of farmer lads and 
after he had attained his majority was married near 
his old home. Miss Dora Grimm becoming his 
wife. Their union was blessed with four children. 



500 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



all boin in tlie Fatherland, and with their family 
they carae to the United States in 18J7. The voy- 
age across the Atlantic continued for nine weeks 
but at length they safely reached New York City, 
and by lakes and across the country thej- continued 
their journey- to Alton. The family' settled upon 
a partially improved farm about one and a half 
miles west of Fostcrburg, Madison County, where 
they ni.ide their home until 1851, when Mr. Ruther 
sold and came to Macoupin County, locating in 
Staunton Township. Clearing the wild land he 
here developed and improved a farm, upon which 
he made his home for many years, but he has now 
taken up his abode with our subject. He has at- 
tained the advanced age of eighty -one j-ears. His 
wife died in Madison County at the age of Bfty- 
five, in the faith of the Lutheran Church, of which 
Mr. Ruther is also a member. 

The subject of this sketch was a 'ad of only eight 
summers when he accompanied his parents to 
America. In the usual manner of farmer lads the 
days of his boyhood and youth were passed and 
such educational advantages were his as the district 
schools of the neighborhood afforded. Farming 
he has made his life work and in this pursuit has 
been eminently successful. He formed a matri- 
monial alliance with Miss Maria Ahlers, tbeir union 
being celeb;ated In Madison Count}'. The lady 
was born in the Kingdom of Hanover. Germany, 
and when a young maiden of twelve yeai's came to 
America with her parent.^. Albert and Margaret 
(Kercheck) Ahlers, the family' locating in Olive 
Township, Madison County, where the mother is 
still living at the age of seventy-one j'ears. Mr. 
Ahlers died on the old homestead in 1865 when 
past middle life. In their family were five chil- 
dren, four of whom are yet living. 

Tlie union of Mr. and Mrs. Ruther has been 
bleessed with eight children, of whom six are yet 
living and are still at home, namely: Wdliam, 
Anna, George, Henr3-,John and Benjamin. .Sophia 
and Albert both died in childhood. Their home 
is pleasantly situale<l in the midst of a fine farm on 
section '29. Staunton Township. Although he be- 
gan life without capiUal Mr. Ruther has steadily 
worked his way upward, overcoming by persever- 
ance the obsUides in his path and is now numbered 



among the substantial farmei"s of the community. 
His landed possessions aggregate four hundred and 
ninetj' acres, one half of which is under a high state 
of cultivation. He also raises an excellent grade 
of stock and has many fine improvements upon his 
land, such as are necessary to a model farm. For 
forty 3-ears he has been an eye witness of the 
growth and progress made in Macoupin County, 
having come here when the work of civilization 
seemed scarcely begun. The city of Staunton was 
then a mere village with no railro.ad facilities, much 
of the land was still in its primitive condition and 
it hardly seemed possible that within so short a 
time a wonderful transformation would take place 
and make Macoupin one of the leailing counties in 
the State. 




ENRY IMMENGA owns and operates 
one hundred and fift}- acres of valnable 
land on section 9, Cahokiu Township. He 
s now numbered among the substantial cit 
izens of the community, a position to which he has 
arisen by his own eflforts. Of German birth he was 
born in Amstersteckhausen, November 24, ISLS. 
His parents lived and died in that countr}', the 
father p.issing away at the age of seventy-seven, 
and the mother's death occurring at the age of 
sixty-six years. They were both members of the 
Lutheran Church, and were worth\- and respected 
people. 

Not unlike the usual manner in which farmer 
lads spend their time, our subject passed the days 
of his boyhood and youth, and when he had at- 
tained to mature years he wedded Miss Anna Col- 
man, who w.is born and reared in Germany, her 
birth occurring in 1830. Her parents, also natives 
of the same land, are mentioned in the sketch of 
W, G. Colman on another page of this work. The 
young couple began their domestic life on a farm 
near their childhood home, but after a short time 
the}' d*etei mined to seek their fortune in America 
and in 1858, embarked from Bremen on a sailing- 
vessel bound for New Orleans, where they arrived 
after a long and tedious voyage of thirteen weeks. 







'ommuL^ (^y/^f^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



503 



From tlie Crescent City they came up the Mississ- 
ippi River to St. Louis and Alton, and settled in 
JMoro Townsliip, INIndison County, near Bunlcer 
Hill, where Mr. Inimenga purchased seventy -se\'en 
acres of lanil wliicii he still owns, lie afterward 
removed to his present farm, which, as before 
stated, comprises one hundred and fiftj- acres of 
arable land, tt)o;etlier with forty acres of timber 
land. The former is under a hij>!i state of cultiv.a- 
tioii and improved with good buildings. It is now 
a fine properly and the neat appearance of every 
thing upon the plac^e gives evidence of the thrift 
and enterprise of the owner. 

Mr. and Mrs. Inimenga are [leople worthy of the 
highest esteem of all, for their lives have been such 
as to merit the greatest confidence. The}' are 
menihers of the Lutheran Church. Their family 
numbers five chddren, and death has not yet sev- 
ered the family circle. Frank, the eldest, was united 
in marriage with Miss Anna Martin, and they live 
nearcoal shaft. No. 3, in Cahokia Township; George 
F. is stdl at iiome and ai(]s his father in the opera- 
lion of the farm. Maggie is tlie wife of Gotleib 
Gates and tliej' live near her eldest brother; .John 
W. and Francis, why complete the family, are still 
under the parental roof. The sons, especially 
George, are a great help to their father, being in- 
dustrious young men who no doubt will make a 
success of their own lives. 



^ AMES KEVINS. Macoupin County boasts 
many men of substantial standing, in both a 
financial and political position. Of these 
none are more respected and honored than 
he whose name is at the head of this sketch and 
whose portrait is presented on the opposite page. 
He has a beautiful liome on section 12, North Pal- 
myra Tovvnsiii|). His farm is one of the most 
highly cultivated in the township and u[(on it are 
buildings tliat would be a credit to England itself, 
his residence being a comfortable and commodious 
dwelling, containing the improvements that are so 
indispensable in our modem way of living. 

Our subject's parents were William and Eiiza- 



bett (S.mms) Nevins. They came to Macouijin 
County about 1828 and settled in North Palmyra 
TownshiiJ, where they remained ever after. The 
niollier died about 1876; the father's death oc- 
curied in North Otter Townshi|). Nine children 
weie once the pleasure and care of their father, 
who was obliged to study diligently wa^'S and 
means to fill the hungr}- little mouths. 

Our subject was born in Overton County, Tenn., 
January 19, 1819. He tame to Macoupin County 
with his parents, growing to manhood on the farm 
in Nor'li Palmyra Township, where he has lived 
since first coming to this Slate. 

He has alw.ays been engaged in agriculture and 
at present is the owner of six bundled and thirty- 
six acres in Macoupin County and four bundled 
and seventy-four acres in Montgomery Count}'. 
His farm is furnished with the best of buildings 
and every improvement is to be found tiiereon. 

On the 25tli of November, 1840, Mr. Nevins 
was united to Miss Elizabetl Siinms, a daughter 
of George and Anna (Nevins) Sirams. The gentle- 
man who performed the ceremony upon that aus- 
picious occasion was John Scott, Esq. Mr. Nevins 
has never had cause to regret his choice, for his 
wife is distinguished by her amiable <lisposition and 
elegant, dignified manners. Mrs. Nevins' parents 
died in North Palmyra. She was the sixth in a 
family of nine children and her natal day was No- 
vember 22. 1832. After her marriage with our 
subject she devoted herself to making such a home 
for her husband as to leave nothing to be desired. 
Her children were always her first consideration 
and her care will ceriainly be rewarded at some 
future time by their rising up and calling her 
blessed. 

The litile ones tliat came to Mr. and Mrs. Nev- 
ins to gladden their hearts and create a better 
pur|)OSC for living, that they might be iirought up 
to be useful men and women, are: Lucy A.. Edgar 
and George W. Two children died in infancy; 
Lucy is the wife of Robert K. Aidrrson, who resides 
in North Palmyra Township; Edgar died when life 
w.as [iromising so much to him, at the age of twen- 
ty-one; George W. also died soon after he h.ad en- 
tereil manhood and it was a crushing blow to his 
father to have this son, from whom he had expected 



504 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and for whom he had planned so much, taken away 
in the flower of his manhood; he was but twenty- 
three years old at tlie time of his death. 

Mr. Nevlns has been elected to several positions 
in Palmj'ra Township and has discharged conscien- 
tiously and satisfactorily to his constituents the du- 
ties that have been given him. He was Supervisor 
of the township for two terms. In politics he is an 
adherent of the Democratic part}-, believing in the 
breadth of platform which that part}- claims. Mr. 
and Mrs. Nevins are active members of the Chris- 
tian Church and seize every op|)ortunity wtiere 
good may be done to suffering humanit}-, thereby 
fulfilling the first of all commandments. 



♦^^ 



E^ 



iRASTUS BANCROFT. Many intelligent 
families whose culture and experience are a 

benefit to anj' communitj" in which the\- 
may be called to live, are to be found in Macoupin 
County. Such people are in themselves an educa- 
tive force, and lielp to form the standard to which 
those less favored in the better advantages maj- 
look. Among such we are pleased to mention the 
household of which our subject was the representa- 
tive. His father w-as Timoth}- Bancroft, w-ho was 
born in Worcester, Mass., and his mother, Mary 
Clark, of the same city. Timothy was a farmer 
by occupation and died in the city of his birth. 
Their large family of twelve children received the 
best advantages both social and educational, and a 
thorough training for life's duties. 

Erastus Bancroft was born in Worcester County, 
Mass., July 16, 1834. He grew to manhood on his 
father's farm, and remained there until the spring 
of 1857. The Western fever had, however, at- 
tacked the j-oung man and he decided to emigrate 
to Carlinville, 111. Here for one year he was em- 
ployed at carpentry work and again in the same line 
for two J ears at Springfield. After that he returned 
to Carlinville and for eight years he held a contract 
from the Government to carr}' the United Stales 
mail between Carlinville and CarroUlon. 

In the spring of 1864 our subject made his per- 
manent home in Polk Township, and engaged in 



supplying wood to the railroad company^. He fol- 
low-ed that business for several years and at the ; 
same time improved his farm, and from that i 
time carried on agricultural pursuits. He erected 
excellent buildings upon his farm of three hun- 
dred and thirty-five acres. His marriage, April 30, | 
1868. at Carlinville, united him with a lady ' 
whose loveliness of character and thorough cul- 
ture made her a delightful companion and suit- 
able helpmate. He departed this life July 22, 
1891. Their wedded life was one which re- 
sulted in good to others, and happiness within 
the domestic circle. His wife bore the maiden 
name of Emeline B. Chandler, and she is a daughter 
of John W. and Lucinda G. (Roggers) Chand- 
ler, both natives of Wilson County, Tenn., where 
the father died. Mrs. Bancroft" is one of three 
children and was born in AVilson County, Tenn., 
February 28, 1844. To her have been born four 
children; tw-o have been taken from her arms by 
deai:h,and the two who survive are: Ida C. E., born 
June 26, 1871, and Hattie F., May 9, 1880. Agri- 
cultural pursuits engaged all of Mr. Bancroft's 
attention, although lie took an earnest and intelli- 
gent interest in both politics and religion, voting 
the Republican ticket and being with his good wife 
an active member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 



(^^ AMUEL L. LOVELESS. Any traveler wiio 
^^^ visits Bird Township is impressed with the 
((\/_3) beautiful condition of the rich and flourish- 
ing farms which are to be found there. 
Among the farmers of that township probably no 
one is more prosperous in his special line of busi- 
ness or more worth}- of consideration that the gentle- 
man whose name stands at the head of this brief 
life review. He is certainly w-orthy both in his 
life and in his external surroundings to attract the 
attention of the biographer, and is a man of sturdy 
principle who would staud by what he believes to 
be right without fear or favor. 

Our subject was born in East Tennessee, April 
24, 1833, being the second son and fourth child of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL llFX'ORt). 



505 



William and Jane (Bell) Loveless. For further 
minulia in regard to the famil>' history, the 
reader will refer to the hiogrophy of John H. 
Loveless. Samuel was about eiglit years ol<l when 
his parents came to this county, and here he 
grew to manhood upon liis father's farm in Bird 
Township, rcma'ning wiili his parents until 1854, 
when having reached his mnjority he concluded 
that it was time to set u|) a iiome of his own. He 
therefore entered tlie state of matrimonj' and 
settled near his father's homestead where he lived 
for two years, and then inirchased a tract of one 
hundred and sixty acres on sections 21 and 22. He 
made his home on the latter section and has ever 
since been a resident tliere. 

Mr. Loveless now has six hundred acres in his 
farm, and he has erected a very fine set of buildings 
which add greatly, not only to the beauty but to 
the practical utility of his estate. He has always 
given his attention lo liis business, and has studied 
thoroughlv the practical workings of farming and 
slock raising. His marriage in Biril Township, 
December 14, 1854, united him with Miss Elmira 
Comer, a daugliter of Aaron and Levina (Bell) 
Comer. Mr. Comer was a native of Virginia, and 
Mrs. Comer of Knox County, Tenn., being both 
of Southern blood. They came to Macoupin 
County, 111., in 1844, making their home in Bird 
Township. Mrs. Loveless was bereaved of her 
mother November 14, 1873. but her father is still 
living at a very advanced age. Of tlieir nine 
children, Mrs. Loveless was the third in order of 
age, and she was burn in Knox County, Tenn., .July 
24, 1837. 

Seven children blessed the union of Mr. and 
Mrs. Loveless. They have all (except one who 
died in infancy) grown to years of maturity, and 
have proved themselves not only the joy and com- 
fort of their parents but of v.due in the community. 
Aaron B. married Miss A. Duckels and resides in 
Chesterfield Townshii); Angeiine is the wife of 
H. W. Combs, of Carlinviile; Arthur W. married 
Miss May Clark of Brushy Mound Townshiii; 
Milo J. is a teacher in Bird Township; and Jennie 
L. and Hattie E., are at home with their parents. 

Bird Township has had the benefit of the public 
services of Mr. Loveless, as he has been Supervisor 



for three terms and ever takes an active part in 
public matters. He is interested deeply in political 
movements and is a stanch Republican. He is a 
De.icon in the Baptist Church, with which he and 
his lovely Christian wife have long been connected. 
Two of liis brothers J. II. and Hugli F., have also 
made their mark upon the history of tliis 
township. He is a public-spirited man and 
one of strong convictions of right and wrong, a 
true and loyal friend and a man of sterling char- 
acter in every direction. The family of our sub- 
je(-t abundantly rewards him for the efforts he has 
made to educate and bring them forward in the 
world. 



% AVID M. KITZMILLER. manager of the lum- 
ber business of J. W. Kitzmiller.at Medora, 
is one of the younger business men of the 
county who are doing much to increase its facilities 
and add to its financial standing. He was born at 
Girard, February Id, 1862, and is a son of Martin 
V. and Mary (Crouch) Kitzmilier. The reader is 
referred to the biogra|)hical sketch of his father 
for the ancestral history. Our sul)ject grew to 
manhood in the place of his nativity and acquired 
a good education in the home school, receiving a 
diploma after completing the course of study. 

After he had attained his majority Mr. Kitz- 
milier weni to Whitehall and worked in a lumber 
yard of F. F. VV^orcester four years. He then came 
to Medora and took charge of the lumber business 
that had previously been established by his brother. 
He is looking carefully after the interests of the 
yard and manages the business efflcientl^' and 
honorably, so that his dealings with all are of a 
nature to gain their good will and ensure an in- 
crease of trade. Mr. Kitzmilier belongs to the 
Modern Woodmen of America, and casts his vote 
with the Republican party. 

He has served as Village Clerk and was efficient 
in ofBce, being orderly in his keeping of records 
and careful in his inscriptions. 

Mr. Kitzmilier has a pleasant home, presided 
over by an intelligent and estimable woman who 
became his wife June 23, 1887. She was known 



506 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in her maidenhood as Miss Luella J. Vaiighan. 
The union has been blest by the birth of a son, 
who was named Frederick Fulton in honor of the 
faliier's employer at AVhitehall. 



^-^» 



VMLLIAM EMMEKSOX. We are gratified 
I to find in Macoupin County, a number of 
il British-American citizens, who have 
brouglit with them from the'r native island tlie 
stanch and sturdy character of tlic industrious 
Englishman and have grafted upon their original 
capabilities the breadth and liberality characteristic 
of the Prairie State. Among such is the gentle- 
man whose name appears at the head of this sketch, 
and who was born in Yorkshire, England, May 21, 
1822. 

John Emraerson, who is the father of William, 
died when forty-six years old in his native home in 
Yorkshire, in the year 1835, and was followed to 
the other world two years later by his faithful wife 
who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Oliver and 
who was a native of the same .shire. Farm duties 
engaged the attention of the subject of this sketch 
during his first fourteen years and he was then ap- 
prenticed to the trade of a wagon and cabinet- 
maker. Being then an orphan by the death of his 
father he was bound out for seven years to his mas- 
ter, and after the expiration of that time he worked 
at his trade for about six years at Hull. 

While living in Hull the young man, who was 
now doing well at his trade, decided to establish a 
home of his own and took to himself a wife in the 
person of JNliss Elizabeth Hill. Their wedding day 
was March 17, 1844 and the father of the bride was 
Robert Hill, a Yorkshire man, who spent his days 
in his native home. Mrs. Emmerson, who was born 
in Norton, Yorkshire, England, March 9, 18 22, 
lost her mother at an early age. 

In May, 1850 Mr. Emmerson, then havinga wife 
and two children, came with them to America, 
landing in (Quebec. He did not remain long in 
Canada, but came.on at once to the Prairie State, 
settling in Greene County, where for seven years 
lie was useful in the community, by following the 



trade of wagon-maker and carpenter. In those 
earlj' days a man with such acquisitions as his found 
abundant opportunity for work and was greatly in 
demand. After a residence of seven years in 
Greene County he came in 1857 to Macoupin 
County, making his home in Virden, where for 
seventeen years he carried on the business of 
wagon-making and blacksmithing. 

The year after his settlement in Virden he pur- 
chased forty acres in Virden Township, which he 
has carried on in connection with his work in the 
village and finally gave up his trade and devoted 
himself entirel3- to his land. He owns one hundred 
and sixty acres of rich and arable land, upon which 
he has placed first-class improvements, among 
which are a pleasant home, commodious barns and 
convenient outbuildings, such as are necessary' to 
the successful prosecution of farming. A view of 
the homestead is shown elsewhere in this volume. 

Mr. and iSIrs. Emmerson aie the parents of two 
children, namely: John who married Miss Martha 
Utt, and resides in Virden Township, and Mary 
Ann, who is tlie wife of John J. Cox, and makes 
her home in Virden. The parents are both earnest 
and consistent members of the Wesleyan Metho- 
dist Church with which the father has been con- 
nected since he was a young man of seventeen 
years. He takes an intelligent view of American ' 
politics, in which he is deeply interested, and to his 
mind the declarations of the Republican party an- 
nounce the doctiines which must be for the benefit 
and progress of the nation and for the best good 
of the citizens as a whole. He is a well-read man 
and one who keeps himself in touch with the popu- 
lar movements of the day. 



-He&si' 



<^ IVILLIAM GRAY. Pioneer life in Central 
\f\ll Illinois Licked many of the harsh features 
>^/^ of the same life in other regions that were 
not so favored in climate nor the lay of the land. 
Still, early settlers, no matter where they were, 
had a common experience as to necessary depri- 
vations and makeshifts that filled theordinar}' needs 
of daily life. Not all of these are unpleasant and 



v--.'-t>ge^i^y=yvJsg ' ^^^^*c?^?9:^^^-^:^\a^^ 




:tSlDENCEOr WILLIAM EM MERSON , SEC. 5. , VI RDLN TR, MACOUPIN CO., ILL. 







RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM G R AY , SEC. 34., NORTH OTT ER TP, MACOUPi N CO.^ILL. 



PORTRAIT AND BFOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



509 



in some are found a strong s'ein of the humorous, 
whih' the flight of time tinges tlic whole experience 
with a pleasant rosy light. 

William Gra_y, the owner of a farm on section 
24, North Otter Township, has a fund of experi- 
ences at his tongue's end that would delight the 
children of today who love stories of adventure 
in which silua'.ions that to them are novel and in- 
teresting. Mr. (iray was born in Edwards County, 
this State, December 2.5, 1834. He has. however, 
a tinge of Southern life and instinct. His father, 
the late Charles Gray, was a native of Virginia, and 
his mother, wliose maiden name w.as Lonisanna 
(Everly) Gray, was born in Kentucky. 

'J'lie first home of our subject's parents was Ken- 
lucky whence they removed to Sangamon County, 
III. They staid here but a short time, however, 
and then removed to Edwards County, where they 
remained until the father' death, which occurreil 
in Sangamon County while there transacting busi- 
ness. The mother died at her home in Ivlwards 
County. Only two children came to the parents 
and of these, our subject is tlu^ eldest. He 
was about three years of age when his father (lied 
and he continued living in Edwards County until 
he was eighteen years old, when he went to I'iUe 
County and there made his living b^' working on 
a farm by the month. He there continued for two 
yea''s and thence went to Greene County, where 
he was engaged in farm labor by the month for 
nearly' two years longer. 

The marriage of Mr. Gray took pl.ace while in 
Greene Countj'. The lady's maiden name was 
Elizabeth A. Butler and she was a native of the 
county wherein she was married. Mrs. Gray bore 
her husband three children, two of whom died in 
infancy. The surviving child, William O., is a 
farmer in Missouri. Mrs. Elizabeth Gray died in 
Greene County, in the fall of 18C0. 

The orignal of our sketch was again unileil in 
marriage to the lady whose maiden name was Elsie 
Heater. She also bore him one child who died in 
infancy and the mother too yielded up her life in 
Greene County in about 1867. For a third time 
he was united in matrimony to a lady whose maid- 
en name was Mary Ballard, who is a native of 
Greene County. By this lady Mr. Gray becatne 



the father of five children, who are, Minnie B., 
Charles 11., Arthur E., Lola V. and Estella V. 
The eldest daughter is now the wife of ?^zra D. 
Frantz; Charles H. died in childhood. 

Mr. Gray has always devoted himself to agri- 
cidture. He has two hundred acres of good land 
upon which are excellently built houses. His res- 
idence, a view of which is shown on another page, 
is an attractive and conveniently-arranged house 
in which his wife makes a comfortable home. Po- 
litically, our subject inclines to the principles and 
theories of the Republican party, by which party 
he has been elected to several responsible positions, 
among which is that of School Director. Mr. Gray 
is a member of the Masonic fraternit}'. His re- 
ligious views coincide with the Universalist Church- 

■JONATHAN BRUBAKER, a well-lo-do and 
highly respected citizen of this county, has 
made his money liy farming, and has built 
(J^J^ lip a substantial home on section 20, (jirard 
Township, wherein he and his amiable wife enjoy 
life free from tlie cares and toils of their earlier 
years. Franklin County, Va., is the birthplace of 
our subject, and there he was born September 14, 
1829, in the home of his parents, Jonathan and Bar- 
bara (Crist) Brnbaker, who were also natives of 
Virginia. 

The great-grandfather of our subject, .Tohn Bru- 
baker, was born either in Germany or in Pennsyl- 
vania of German parentage. He removed from 
that State to Virginia, and located in that part 
of Botetourt County now included in IJoanoke 
County. He secured a tract of land four miles 
northwest of Salem, which he developed in time 
into a choice farm, and all that is mortal of him 
now lies in the cemetery on his old homestead. His 
wife who bore the maiden name of Annie Myers, lies 
by his side. Their son Henry, grandfather of our 
subject, was born in Pennsylvania, and was young 
when his family moved to Virginia, where he 
grow to manhood. For some j'ears after he 
resided in Franklin County, but he finally re- 
turned to Botetourt County, and settled on a 



510 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



part of tlie old homestaad whicb he had inherited 
from his parents, and there he spent the rest 
of his days. He was twice married. The maiden 
name of his first wife, grandmother of our subject, 
was Christiana Flora. She is supposed to have 
been a native of Virginia, ajd died in Franklin 
County. The maiden name of Grandfather Bruba- 
ker's second wife was Salome Eler. He was the 
father of seven children by his first marriage and 
ten children by his second marriage. 

The father of our subject was born, reared and 
married in Virginia. He resided in Franklin County 
until 1832, when he removed to the wilds of Ohio 
with his wife and five children, journeying thither 
with teams, taking all their household goods along. 
He located on a tract of timber land eight miles 
west of Springfield, in Clarke Count}'. He erected 
a cabin of round logs as a shelter for his family, 
and at once proceeded to clear his land with char- 
acteristic energy and perseverance. At that time 
timber was of but little value as there were no mar- 
kets for it, and the pioneers had to resort to burn- 
ing it to get it out of the w.ay, large logs being rol- 
led together into great piles and set on fire. There 
were no railways in that section for some j'cars, 
and the people h.ad to go to Dayton to sell their 
pioduce and to obtain supplies. 

Mr. Brubaker cleared the greater portion of his 
quarter section, erected a set of frame buildings, 
and continued to live on his Ohio farm until 1869. 
In that j-ear he came to Illinois, purchased a home in 
the village of Girard, and here his life was brought 
to a close at a ripe old age in April, 1874. His wife 
had die<l in Clarke County, Ohio, in 1853. Thej' 
reared a famil}- of ten children, six sons and four 
daughters. 

Our subject was the fifth child horn to his par- 
ents, and he wfis but three years old when they 
removed to Ohio. His earliest recollections are con- 
nected with the rough, pioneer life of his youth in 
Clarke County, Ohio, where his education was con- 
ducted in a rude log house furnished with seats 
made of slabs, with no backs. The desk upon 
which the older scholars wrote was a plank rest- 
ing upon wooden pins that were driven into the 
logs in the side of the room. When very young 
the little lad commenced to assist his father 



in clearing his land and tilling the soil. He re- 
mained an inmate of the parental household until 
grown to mauhood. When he started in life for 
himself his father gave him a horse, saddle, bridle, 
plow and a plow harness, and for three j-ears he 
farmed on his own account as a renter. He 
then purchased fort}- acres of the land that 
he had been cultivating, but after living on it 
a few years he sold it and bought two lumdr-.d 
acres of land at Enon Station, Clarke County. In 
1860 he disposed of that place at a good price, and 
purchased another near New Carlisle, in the same 
county. He occupied that place until 1865, and 
in that year came to Macoupin County, to take up 
his permanent residence here. He invested in one 
hunilrei' and sixty acres of beauti'ul prairie land on 
section 29, Girard Township, and subsequently 
bought other land until he had at one time two 
hundred and fifty acres. He erected a neat and 
commodious set of frame buildings, pl.aced the land 
under a high state of cultivation, and in lime made 
j it one of the most desirable farms in the township. 
In 1890 he sold it for a round sum of money, and 
built his present residence on section 20, the same 
township. 

Mr. Brubaker was married March 20. 1850, to 
Susanna Frautz, and their welded life has brought 
them six children: Isaac S. ; Sarah, the wife of Isaac 
H. Crist; Diana, wife of Jacob P. Vaniman; Mary 
A.; Elizabeth, wife of D. C. Vaniman: Emma, wife 
of Abraham B. Gibbel and Henry D., who died at 
the age of four months. Our subject and his wife 
have reared their children to useful and U|)right 
lives, and have brought them up in the faith of the 
German Baptist Brethren Church, of which father, 
mother, son and daughters are all valued members. 
Mrs. Brubaker is a native of Clarke County, 
Ohio, born April 27, 1832. Her father, Benjamin 
Frantz, was a native of Virginia, and a sou of Dan- 
iel Frantz, also of Virginia birth, who removed 
from there to Ohio in the early years of its settle- 
ment, and was a pioneer of Clarke County. He 
settled four miles west of Springfield, and there 
sptnt liis remaining days. His son Benjamin was 
reared in Virginia, and was a young man when he 
went to Ohio. He located in Preble County, that 
State, and in due time was united in marriage with 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



511 



Elizabeth Florv. who wns. like himself, a Virginian 
53- birth. From there he went to Clarke Count3-, 
and buying a tract of land a mile and a quarter 
from New Carlisle, he developed it into a farm. He 
first built a log cabin for a dwelling, and later re- 
placed it by a more commodious residence and a 
neat set of frame Iniildings. In that home he and 
his wife passed their days in peace ami comfort 
until death called them hence. She was a daughter 
of Abraham Flory, who is supposed to have been a 
native of Virginia, whence he removed to Preble 
County, Ohio, of which he was an early pioneer. 

^ MLLIAM R O V I E , an industrious and 
\/\/ii enterprising farmer and stock-raiser who 
yxj^ owns and operates one hundred and sixty 
acres of land on sections 33 and 34, Staunton 
Township, is of German birth, and has resided in 
the United States since 1864. He was born in 
Westphalen, Prussia, in the year 1828, and is one 
of four children, two sons and tv.'o daughters, but 
all are now deceased with the exception of himself. 
His parents have also passed awaj'. The3' spent 
their entire lives in Prussia, where they followed 
farming and died at an advanced age. Both were 
members of the German Reformed Church. 

The subject of this sketch was reared under the 
parental roof and his education was acquired in 
the public schools. Later he enlisted in the reg- 
ular arm^- of his countr3- and for three 3-ears re- 
mained in the service, after which he returned to 
his old home and made preparations for his emigra- 
tion to America. Bidding good-bv to friends and 
native land, in the spring of 1864, he sailed from 
Bremen on a New York bound steamer and on land- 
ing at that metropolis made his way to Pittsburg, 
Pa. Subsequentl3' he came West, in 1868, and 
spent two years in St. Louis. Mo. The 3'ear 1870, 
witnessed his arrival in Illinois, and he located up- 
on a farm in Olive Township, Madison County, 
where he carried on agricultural pursuits for some 
time. He has resided upon his present farm onlv 
two years but it alread3- gives evidence of his care 
and management. The well-tilled fields and neat 



appearance of the iilace indicate his thrift and 
enterprise and the good grades of stock there seen 
proves him to be a progressive man who is never 
behind the limes. 

In the Keystone State, Mr. Rovie w.as united in 
marriage with Miss Katie Stegemeyer, also a native 
of Prussia, born in 1843. Her parents, after the 
birth of all of their children, crossed the Atlantic 
to America with their family and landed safel3' in 
New York, in the fall of 1866, going from thence 
to Pittsburg, Pa., where the3- made their first loca- 
tion. Some years later we find them in Illinois, 
Mr. and Mrs. Stegeme3'cr taking up their residence 
in Staunton, where the3- now make their home, 
both being about eighty j'ears of age. The3' are 
worthy old people, whose lives have been well 
spent and to them the respect of the whole com- 
munity is accorded. In religious belief they ad- 
vocate the doctrines of the German Reformed 
Church. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rovie are also members of the 
same church and contribute liberally- to its support. 
In politics he is a Republican who keeps himself 
well informed concerning the political issues of the 
d.ay. Unto them have been born seven children — 
Emma A., William H., Fritz W., Annie J. and 
Ernest, at home; Henr3- who died at the age of eight 
months; and Mar3- who died at the age of five 
years. The home of this famil3- is a comfortable 
residence and is well supplied with man}- of the 
luxuries of life which have been acquired through 
the industrj', perseverance and enterprise of the 
owner. 



vf^^HOMAS GOSCH. The German element 
l^\ ^""rsf'P'^ on our intense American life has 
Vgi/ produced the best results in the pursuit of 
agriculture. Thomas Gosch has been a successful 
farmer and dairyman in Bunker Hill Township, 
liviug on section 13, where he owns a fine property 
of one hundred and ninety-two and one-half acres, 
most of which is under cultivation and well stock- 
ed with milch cows. He has owned and lived on 
this farm since 1883. He came to Dorchester 
Township in 1866 ;*nd from there to this towq- 



512 



rORTKAIT AMD BIOGRArHICAL RECORD. 



ship, following farming with tlie exception of the 
first two je.irs when he «as a laborer in lUinker 
Hill City. 

Mr. Goseh was born in .Sclileswisr Holstein, Ger- 
many, on October 11. 1841. He is the son of Glaus 
Gosch whose history raay be found in tlial of Jolin 
Goscli in this vohninc. Our subject wag reared and 
erlucateil in his native province in (iermany and 
was there married to Miss Franka Thoda. a native 
of tlie s:iine province as her husband and of Ger- 
man ancestry. She also was reared, and educated 
in her own country. 

Mr. Gosch and wife soon after their marriage 
decided to emigrate to the United States, taking 
pass.age in 1S66 at Hamburg, Germany, in a Ger- 
man vessel "Teulonia" sailed to England and 
thence to New York City and at once came to 
Macoupin County. HI., where they have since lived. 
They are good citizens and successful farmers. 
Mr. and Mrs. Gosch are the ))arents of four clul- 
die.i — .lohn, who at i)resent lives in a farju in this 
township; Thomas, who aids his father at home: 
Henry and Otto F. who live at home, and one 
child who died young. Mr. and Mrs. Gosch were 
reared umb r the Lutheran religion and still incline 
to that faitli. Mr. Gosch and sons are slanch Re- 
publicans in politics. 



^ 



OHN F. JOHNS.SEN. Among the success- 
ful farmers of Staunton Township, there is 
probably none who is regarded more warmly 
by his fellow residents as a genial, whole- 
hearted and kindly neighbor then the gentleman 
whose name appears at the bead of Ibis iiarau;rai)h. 
He resides on section 23, his land, one hundred and 
five acres, on sections 22 and 23, which lies ad in 
one bod}", is all under the plow. Besides this, he 
owns fourteen acres of good timber lar.d in this 
township. 

This farm was formerly owned by the father of 
our subject, who came into possession of it when 
the boy was about nine years old. and it has now 
been his ovvn property since 1883. Here he was 
reared and educated, but his nativity- was in Alton, 



HI., February 27, 18.58. He is the third child of 
Fred .Johnssen, who was born and reared in Prussia, 
Germany. He became a farmer in his native 
countr}^ which he left when a single man of about 
thirty years, to emigrate to the New World. He 
sailed fjom Bremen and landing in New York, 
came to Alton, this .State, and resided there for six 
years. He then returned to the Old Country to 
secure as his bride the lady whose maiden was Eke 
Ross. Her |)arentage and training had been in 
Prussia. 

After they returned to America Mr. and Mrs. 
Fred Johnssen lived in Madison County for some 
lime and then came to Macoupin County and pur- 
chased their first farm, which is now owned by our 
subject. Here thej' lived, making it their home 
and putting upon it some good farm buildings, and 
here the husband and father died in August, 1886, 
having reached the age of sixty-eight years. He 
was a man of excellent reputation for integrity and 
industry and a thorough-going farmer. Both he 
and his excellent wife vverc faithful and earnest 
members of the Lutheran Church, and his political 
convictions led him to aliili.'vle with the Democratic 
party. His widow who is yet living, makes her 
home with her son John, and is now sixty-one 
years of age. She has bad six children, but the 
three youngest have been called to a better world. 
Lizzie and Frances, both married, with our subject, 
represent the family. 

The marriage of John Johnssen in Staunton, to 
Miss Katie Herring February 2(), 1883, united him 
with a companion who has been a helpmate indeed. 
She was born in Hesse Darmstadt, December 25, 
1S60, and is a daughter of Peter and Margaret 
(Engleter) Herring, natives of the same German 
Province, wliere they grew up as weavers. Mr. 
Herring was an overseer of a cloth factory and was 
for some time a successful manager, .as well as a 
skilled workman in that line of business. They 
resided in their native home until after taarriage 
and the birth of all their children, and then, in 
18S1, decided to come to America and on doing 
so, settled in Staunton, this county, where the}' are 
now living. They are still stout and active, 
although they have passed the limit of three-score 
years and ten. They are people of true Christian 



i 









PORTRAIT AND BJOGEAPHICAL RECORD. 



515 



character and devout mcmbei's of the Lutheran 
Church. 

Mrs. Johnsseii was a young woman vvhen her 
parents eaine to the United Slates and Macoupin 
County h.is been her only liome in this countr}'. 
Five ciiildren came to sliare the parental affection 
and cares of Mr. and Mrs. Johnssen, one of whom, 
William, has |)assed to the other world. Those who 
are now liviiiu; are Louisa, George, John and Clara. 
These children are being reared in the faith of the 
Lutheran Church, to the doctrine and service of 
which their parents jire attached. Tiie platform of 
the Democratic party embodies the political doc- 
trines, to which Mr. Johnssen gives his cordial con- 
sent. 



r/OIlN M. BUONAUGH. No L-itizcn of 
Virden is more wortiiy of respect than this 
gentleman, whose |)ortrait is presented 
(j^// among those of other prominent citizens. 
He was formerly connected with the Ijusiness in- 
terests of this city, and accumulated suflicient 
weakh to cnalile him to retire from an active life 
and enjoy his income at his leisure. He was boin 
October 22, ]814 amid the pleas-'nt scenery of 
Spottsylvania County, Va. His father, who bore 
the name of George Bronaugh, was a native of the 
same .State, and there passed his early life. In due 
time he took unto himself a wife in the person of 
Miss Sarah Martin, a Virginian b}- birth, and a 
daughter of Jphn Martin. Her father was a life- 
long resident of the Old Dominion, while her 
mother spent her last years in Kentucky with her 
children. 

In 1818 the father of our subject removed to 
Kentucky, taking his family and all household 
goods with te.".ms. He settled in Jessamine County 
six miles east of Nicholasville. where he bought a 
tract of land lying in the forests. After erecting 
a log-house, he actively entered upon the work of 
evolving a farm from the wilderness. At that time 
timber was almost valueless except for building 
purposes, as there was no market for it, and large 
logs were rolled together and burneil that to day 
would bring a good sum of money. I^Ir. Bron- 



augh resided on his homestead until bis death in 
1832, when his community lost a good citizen, who 
had been a help in its upbuilding. His widow 
survived him many years, her death finally occur- 
ring at Danville, Ky. in 186.5, at a venerable age. 
She reared five children, Iaicj' A., John M., James 
H., FAizn J. and Addison. 

John M. Bronaugh was a child of four years 
when his parents went to Kentucky, and he grew 
to man's estate amid the wild scenes of Jessamine 
County. There were then no free schools, as they 
were all conducted on the subscription i)lan, each 
family pa3'ing according to the number of scluilars 
Sent. Our subject early became helijful in the 
farm labors, and he continued to assist at home, 
until he attained his majority, when he left the 
shelter of the parental roof. In 1835 he too be- 
came a pioneer, coining to Illinois to cast in his lot 
with the early settlers that had preceded him in 
Greene County, making the journey to his destina- 
tion on horseback. He had *I,000 in cash, which 
gave him a good start in his adopted .State. He 
invested in a tract of (ifty acres of imi>roved land 
in South Richwoods Township, six miles from Car- 
rvUion. He established a tanyard, which he oper- 
ated the ensuing five years, and at the expiration 
of that time he sold and bought other land, upon 
which he farmed seven years. At tlie end of that 
lime he engaged in a new venture, going into the 
mercantile business at Woodville. There were no 
railways at tliat time in that part of the country, 
and all his goods were transported fi'om Columbiana, 
Alton, or St. Louis with teams. 

In 185.5, in the spring of the year, Mr. Bronaugh 
came to Mrden to engage in the grain business, 
which he abandoned in 186S to turn his attention 
lo farming on a large tract of land that he pur- 
chased in Lafayette County, Mo. Two years later 
he gave that place to his sons, and returning to 
Virden, resumed the grain business. He conducted 
is until 1889, when he surrendered it to his son 
Perry, and retired altogether from business. Dur- 
ing his active life he became well-to-do, and is num- 
bered among the solid men of this city who have 
been so potent in bringing about its financial pros- 
perity, and have in various waj's sought to enhance 
its welfare materially, morally, and socially. He i§ 



516 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



a man of high religious iiiinciples, who in all his 
dealings has been slraightfor«aid and honorable, 
and has always kept the right in view. For many 
years he was a member of the Baptist Church, but 
since the death of his wife he has connected him- 
self with the Christian Church, which finds in him 
a useful member and a generous supporter. In bis 
political sentiments he is a a downriglit Democrat, 
though in early life he w.is a Wliig. 

Mr. Brouaugh was united in marriage with Miss 
Louisa Poindexter in 1837. Siie was a native of 
Jessamine County, Ky., and a daughter of Thomas 
and Max ie (Wood) Poindexter. She died in 1882, 
leaving behind her the blessed memory of a thor- 
oughly good woman, who was a devoted wife, a 
loving mother, a kind neighbor. She was a sincere 
Christian, and for many j'ears a valued member of 
the Baptist Church. Three children were born to 
our subject and his wife: Perry S., who married 
Marj' Burke, and has eight children : James A., who 
married Amelia Bronaugh, and resides in Kentucky , 
and Maxie, wife of J. P. Henderson, of the Virden 
Bank. 



3 - 



OHN H. HANSHAW, of the firm of D. W. 
Rhoads & Co., {)roprietor£ of the Palmyra 
Flouring Mills, was born in Botetourt 
(^j^ County, Va., May 24, 1842. He is the eld- 
est son of Elisha and Mary (Vandegrifl) Hanshaw, 
and a grandson of Benjamin Hanshaw, who was 
born in Maryland, reared in Virginia, and made 
that his home until he came in bis last years to end 
his days with his children in Illinois. 

Our subject follows the same business as did his 
father before him, as Elisha Hanshaw was a miller 
and followed that business both in Virginia and in 
Illinois, to which he came in 1847 with bis wife 
and four children. He came West by team to the 
Ohio River, thence on that stream and the Missis- 
sippi River to St. Louis, where again he took team 
and journeyed across the prairies to Auburn, San- 
gamon County, 111. Here for a while he engaged 
in farming, but soon took charge of a mill at 
Hart's Prairie, Morgan County, and afterward 
oiJerated one east of Auburn which was known as 



Crow's Mill. In 1856 he, with his brother and Mr. 
A. C. Farmer, erected a flouring mill at Palmyra^ 
which he took charge of until 1865, when be went 
to Chesterfield and managed a mill there until he 
retired from business and made his home in Pal- 
myra and afterward in Auburn where he passed 
away from earth in 1879. 

Mary S. Vandegrift was the maiden name of the 
lady who became the mother of our subject. Her 
parents, John and Barbara (Wineman) Vandegrift 
were natives, as was she, of Botetourt County, Va. 
Our subject was five years old when he was brought 
by his parents to Illinois. He attended school in 
his early days and was also busily employed upon 
the farm. He resided with his parents until 
twenty-one j'ears of age and then began life for 
himself on a rented farm. Two years later he 
[jurcliased sixty acres in South Palmj'ra Township, 
After selling this he bought fifty acres in North 
Palmyra Township, two and one-fourth miles from 
the village, and resided there until 1875, when he 
sold that and purchased with his brother a farm of 
one hundred and twenty acres in South Palmyra 
Township, and October 1 of that year he removed 
to that place where he resided until 1888. In 1890 
he purchased a one-half interest in the flouring mdl 
and has since devoted his time to carrying it on. 

The lady who became Mrs. John H. Hanshaw in 
1869 is a native of North Palmyra Township. 
Her name was Martha A. Young, and she is a 
daughter of John H. and Nanc>- S. Young. ]5utli 
Mr. and Mrs. Hanshaw are members of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church and they find in its work a 
broad field for influence and effort. Mr. Hanshaw 
is a Republican in his political views but CMunot 
be counted in any sense a politician. 



^\ ARION H. WESTROPE, a farmer residing 
'' \\\ in Scoltville Township upon the farm 
where he was born, June 20, 1851, is a 
son of one of the oldest and most hanly 
pioneers of the early days of Macoupin County. 
His father was probably one of the very oldest of 



rORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



517 



the survivinsj settlers of Illinois, and was born in 
Champaign County, Ohio, in 1805, and died June 
11, KS91. 

The grandfather of our subject was a native of 
North Carolina and moved from there to Ken- 
tucky with his relative Daniel Boone, thus be- 
coming one of the renowned pioneers of Kentucky. 
He left that State about the year 1803 and removed 
to Ohio, becoming one of the first settlers in Cham- 
paign County. He took up Government land and 
cleared quite an extensive tract. Indians were 
then abundant and sometimes troublesome. In 
consequence of this state of affairs he returned to 
Kentucky after about six years' residence in Ohio 
and made his home in that Southern State until 
January, .1818. At that time many Kentuckians 
were emigrating to Illinois which was then a terri- 
tor}', arid he came with them and located nine 
miles from Vincennes. He resided there for a few 
years and then went to Morgan County, where he 
died in 182.5. 

The fatiier of our subject was a lad of thirteen 
when he came to Illinois with his parents and a 
young man of twenty when he lost his father. He 
remained in Morgan County until 1847 when lie 
removed to Scottville Township and bougiit liie 
farm where his son now lives. The maiden name 
of his wife was Sallie Hays. She was a native of 
Kentucky and died on the home farm in 1889. 
Tlie parents of our subject had seven children. 

Marion Wcstrope received hisearlj- training and 
education in his native township and with the ex- 
ception of one year he has alwavs resided in the 
homestead. He was married October l.i, 1874, to 
Ellen Amos, wiio lived in Brighton, this eounl}". 
She dill not live long after her marriage as she 
died in 1878. His second marriage occurred in 
1884 when he was united with Mrs. Martha (Sliarp) 
Buck. She was born in Morgan Count3', 111., and 
was the daughter of Hezekiah and Sarah (Hall) 
Sharp and at t!ie time of her marriage witii our 
subject was the widow of Josefih M. Buck. She 
had one cliild, Stella, by her marriage with Mr. 
Buck, and she has jiresented Mr. Westrope with 
three children, John B.. Earl B. and Wesley W. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Westrope are earnest and de- 
voted naerobers of the Christian Ciuirch in which 



they find a broad field of activity and where their 
influence and labors are warmly appreciated. The 
jiolitical views which are embodied in the declara- 
tions of the Democratic party are such as to satisfy 
the mind of Mr. Westrope and he casts his vote for 
the candidates of that party, believing it is best 
ada|)tcd to the safe conduct of public affairs. 



4- 



-^^ 



-^ 



^^HOMAS J. CARROLL, who is con.Iucling a 
(ff^^ grocery business in company with 1). A. 
VVei^ Turk, the firm being known as Carroll & 
Turk, has been identified with the upbuilding of 
Bunker Hill since 1860, and especially has he been 
prominent in business circles. He came to this city 
from Alton, III., where he had spent the winter of 
18511-60, locating there on his emigration from 
England to America. He was born in Middlewich, 
England, October 5, 1853, and is of Irish descent, 
his parents, William and Margaret (Sherlock) Car- 
roll, being natives of the Emerald Isle. However 
during childhood they went to England, were uiar- 
ried in that country and there resided for some 
years, the father dying in that country at the age 
of twenty-six years, or in January, 1854. Mrs. 
Carroll afterward became the wife of Anthony 
Duffy, in 1858, and the following year they and 
her two children sailed from Liverpool to New 
York. Erom the Eastern metropolis they continued 
their journey to Alton, III., and subsequentl3' c.ime 
to Macoupin Count}'. Mr. and Mis. Duff}' are now 
residents of Gillespie, where he is engaged in busi- 
ness as a coal miner. 

Our subject is the younger of two children born 
to his parents. The other son, John, died after 
coming to this country. Thomas was educated 
in the public schools of this community and when 
he had attained to mature years he chose as a help- 
mate on life's journey Miss Fannie Mahone}', a 
native of the Keystone State, born in 1856. When 
a child she was brought by her parents to Bunker 
Hill, and her father, Dennie Malioney, now makes 
his home vvith Mrs. Carroll at the age ot sixty-seven 
years. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth 
Regan, died in 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Carroll began 



518 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGKAPHICAL RECORD. 



their flomcstic life in Bunker Hill and tUeir home 
lins been liriglitened and blessed by the presence 
of two interesting children, Mary E. and John C. 
They are members of the Catholic Church and in 
polities Mr. Carroll is a Democrat. 

As before stated our subject has been promi- 
nently connected with the business interests of 
Bunker Hill for many years. For three j-ears he 
occupii'd the position of inspector of coal mines 
and for six years did business on his own account 
in the operation of a coal mine. During the admin- 
islralion of President Cleveland he held the oftice 
of Postmaster and proved a capable and faithful 
official but on the change of administration he was 
succeedeil by a Kepnblioan. lie is one of the lead- 
ing members of the Building and Loan Associa- 
tion, being a charter member. Mr. Carroll has 
ever manifested a commendable interest in all that 
pertains to the I'pbuilding of the community and 
the promotion of such enterprises as are calculated 
to advance the general welfare. In manner he is 
pleasant and companionable and thereby has won 
many friends. 

<^OHN C. LOEHR, of the firm of J. C. Loelir 
ife Son, dry-goods niorchants at Carlinville 
is one of the successful l)usiness men of this 
countj'. He was born in the village of 
Bruchmaclitersen, in the Dutchy of Brunswick, 
Germany, December 3, 1826. Ch''istopher Lochr, 
his father, w.as a native of the same village, as was 
also his father who was a farmer and spent his en- 
tire life there. He was a Lutheran in his religious 
faith. 

The father of our subject was reared to the life 
of a farmer and always followed that calling in his 
native place. He married Dorothea Koch who was 
born in the German village of Lebensledt and died 
at Bruchmachtersen. She was the mother of six 
children — John C, Charles, Dorothea, Christian, 
Christina and Sophia. John and Charles are the 
only ones of the family that came to this country, 
and the latter resides on a farm in this county. 
From the time be was six years old until he was 



fourteen our subject attended school regularly and 
obtained an excellent education. After leaving 
school he was employed on his father's farm until 
he attained his majority. He then joined the army 
in accordance with the laws of his native land and 
served a part of each year for four years and the 
rest of the time worked on the farm. He continued 
a resident of his native village until 1852 when he 
determined to come to the United States, where he 
wisel}' thought he could find more opportunities 
to obtain a competence than in the old country. 
He set sail from Bremen, April 19, and landed at 
New Orleans the 13lh of the following Juno, with 
less than one hundred dollars in his pocket with 
which to hogin life in a new land. He went directly 
to St. Louis by the Mississippi River, and soon 
engaged as a farm hand eight miles out of the city 
at $G a month. He was so employed one winter 
and then w.as taken sick and returned to St. Louis, 
where he lay ill two months. After that he found 
work in the city at ^7 a month, and nine months 
later secured employment in a flouring-mill at 17 
a week, lie proved himself a faithful and compe- 
tent assistant and was soon promoted to be sales- 
man, at a much more liberal salary. 

He retained that position until 1857, and in that 
year came to Carlinville to engage in the dry-goods 
business with W. H. Stemmeyer. They conducted 
business together three }ears and then our sulijcct 
bought out his partner's interest in the concern and 
was alone until 1864, when he admitted William 
.Schulze into partnership. At the end of ten \ears 
he bought AIv. Sohutze's interest and was by him- 
self until his son, Adolph T., became his partner in 
1886, under the firm name of J. C. Loehr ife Son. 
This is one of the oldest established business 
houses in the cit}', and the trade that has been 
built up by degrees as the city has increased in size 
during these many j'ears is very profitable, as it is 
well managed, and our subject is accounted one of 
the solid men of tlie county. 

Mr. Loehr is happy in his domestic relations, as 
by his marriage, June 1, 1857, with Miss Friedricke 
Knabner, a native of German j', he has secured a 
wife who has been truly a companion and helpmate. 
She is a daughter of George Knabner who was born 
and reared in Germany and came to this country 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



519 



in 1854 and settled in Carlinvillc. Mr. .and Mrs' 
Loehr have seven children, narael}': Paulina, wife 
of William Siirman; Adolph F., Theodore, Gustavo 
H., Matilda, Theresa, and Ida. The family are 
active members of the Lutheran Church and are 
greatlj' esteemed in the coraraunitj'. 



eLAUS THODE. The name above is that of 
a general farmer and dairyman, living on 
section 30 of Dorchester Township, where he 
owns one hundred acres of good land, most of 
which is under the plow. Mr. Thode has erected 
good buildings upon his place and ever3- outhouse 
is in excellent order. He has lived on and owned 
the farm where he at piesent resides since 1879, 
since which time he has made most of the imi)rove- 
mcnts to be found thereon. 

Our subject's advent into this count}' was made 
in 1866. He began work as a farm laborer in Dor- 
chester Townsliip. and two 3-ears later his prudence 
and economj- enabled him to purchase a tract of 
land and begin work for himself and later he 
bought all of what com|)rises his present farm. He 
is a native of Schlcswig, Germany, being there 
born August 10, 184o. He is the son of John 
Thode, who lived in his native province now be- 
longing to Prussia. 

Our subject was brought by his parents to this 
country when but one j-ear old. He with his sister, 
now Mrs. Thomas Gosch, of whom a biographical 
sketch may be found in another part of this volume, 
■were the only two children born to their parents. 
The mother whose maiden name was Celia Casper, 
after the death of her first husband, John Coda, 
was a second time married to Mr. Casper Esper, a 
native of the same province that she herself wa.^. 
After the birth of their only child, Terena, who died 
while young, Mr. and Mrs. Esper came to the 
United States one 3-ear later than our subject who 
left Germany in the fall of 18C6 taking passage 
from Hamburg. He came over on a steamernamed 
"Titania" and landed in New York City in No- 
vember of 1866. Mr. Esper and wife landed 
in thiscountrj- in the spring of 1868 and the hus- 



band died some few years later at the age of fifty- 
six years. His wife is yet living and makes her 
home with her daughter, Mrs. Thomas Gosch. She 
has reached the good old age of seventy-one years. 
She and her two husliands were members of the 
Lutheran Church. 

Our subject was married in Bunker Hill to Miss 
Charlotta Wohlert who was born in Holstein in 
1847. .She was reared in her native province where 
her parents lived and died. Mrs. Thode, the 
wife of our subject, after attaining womanhood, 
came to the United Slates in 1868 and settled at 
Bunker Hill having come hither alone. She is a 
hard-working woman and one of true worth to her 
husliand. She has been the mother of nine chil- 
dren, one of whom is dead. The deceased child 
was named Emma and she passed awa}' at the age 
of three years. The living children are: John, 
Henry, Louis, German, Mary, Louisa. William and 
Albert, all of whom still make their home with 
their parents. 

Mr. and Mrs. Thode and family are members of 
the Lutheran Church. In politics Mr. Thode is 
independent Republican. 



■lU 



— ».^«^.>>^ — i-^-*^ ■ •• 



j^^ AMUEL J. BROWN. The owner of the 
^*^^ well-cultivated farm of seventj'-six acres, 
\^^i located on section 26, South Otter Town- 
ship, is a native of Tennessee, his birth- 
having occurred in Giles County of that Stale. 
June 29. 1849. At the early age of nine years he 
came with his parents to Macoupin County, where 
they settled upon a farm. He remained under his 
father's roof until he had attained twentj'-five 
j'ears of age, his early life being passed chieflj' on 
the farm. Several years after he had finished 
school he taught. 

Mr. Brown was united in marriage in Bird 
Township to Miss Thersa J; Sells. Their marriage 
took place October 22. 1874. The lady is a daugh- 
ter of Michael and Sarah A. (Brown) Sells, the lat- 
ter is a sister of the wife of H. S. Loveless and also 
of the wife of Samuel Comer of Bird Township. 



520 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mrs. Thersa J. Brown was a native of the township 
and county wlierein siie was married. May 26, 1856, 
being her natal day. 

>;even children came to grace the iiorae of the 
affectionate parents wiio reared them witli all pos- 
sible affection. The children are Minnie E., James 
M., AValter E., Oliver A., Hattie M., Thersa A., 
Milton S. and a babe unnamed. Soon after tiie 
marriage of our subject and his wife the}- settled 
in South Otter Townsliip, wliieh lias been their 
place of residence ever since. Farming has been 
the chief occupation in Mr. Brown's experience. 

The fatlier of oiir subject was John M. Brown. 
His mother was Elizabeth M. Smith. The former 
was a native of North Carolina, and the latter of 
South Carolina. They came to Macoupin County in 
1858, the father passing away from this life June 
14. 1890. Our subject was one of twelve child- 
ren and was the sixth in order of birth. In pol- 
itics, Mr. Brown identified himself with the Re- 
publican part}', its tenets and theories appealing 
to his intelligence more strongly than those of 
any other part}'. He has been appointed to sev- 
eral local offices, and has filled the position of 
School Director most satisfactorily for several 
years. Mrs. Brown is a member of the Baptist 
Churoh,-being a generous supporter and upholder 
of the same. 



ylLLIAM II. WHITFIELD, one of the 
thrifty farmers and stock-raisers of the 
township of Gillespie, whose land is on 
section 27, owns a fine farm of one hundred and 
fiftj- acres, which is all highl}' improved and has 
upon it good buildings and fine stock. He has 
another one hundred and sixty acres on sections lo 
and 22, of this township, all of which is in a fine 
condition, as he keeps his land under cultivation. 
ISIr. Whitfield came onto his present farm in 
1865, but came to the county as long ago as 1817, 
since which time he has been engaged successfully 
in farming. He came to Illinois from the South, 



being a native of North Carolina where he was 
born September 10, 1832, of Southern parentage, 
his father, Travers ^V. Whitfield, being a native of 
North Carolina, who there grew up and became a 
farmer. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Stephen, a 
native of Virginia who was reared on the line be- 
tween that State and North Carolina. After mar- 
riage the young couple came to Tennessee about 
the j'car 1833, and in 1817 the>- brought their 
household to Illinois, landing in Alton, whence 
they came to Chesterfield Township, Macoupin 
County, where they spent many years. 

The family finally removed to Lincoln, Logan 
County, this Slate, where the husband and father 
died when over fifty years old. He was a fine man, 
wide-fiwake to public interests and espoused the 
cause of the Democratic party but was not a 
seeker for office. His widow still survives him 
and now being eighty-two years old, makes her 
home in Republic County, Kan. She is feeble 
from the weight of her many j'ears, but is still in- 
terested in both family and church affairs, being a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her 
two sons and four daughters are living, of whom 
William is the eldest. 

Our subject became of age after moving into 
this county and here he has married his wife and 
reared his children. His wife's maiden name was 
Moning Clark and she was born in this township, 
on her father's old homestead on section 20. For 
a full history of her family the reader is referred 
to the sketch of Randall Clark. This lad}' was en- 
tirely reared and educated in this township and is 
well known as a woman of ability and both she and 
her husband are prominent in social and church 
circles. 

The subject of this sketch is a Republican in his 
political views and has been placed by his fellow- 
citizens in several offices of trust and responsibil- 
ity. He and his excellent wife are the parents of 
ff)ur children, namely: AViiliam M., who took to 
wife Mary Schnieder, and lives on a farm in Gil- 
lespie Township; James L., who is married to Clara 
Coffee and is also farming in this township; Thom- 
as, who married Cora Vanata and lives on the home 
farm; Ilrurietta, the eldest child, is the wife of 
Theodore Meyer of the mercantile firm of Meyer 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



521 



Bios., Dorcliester. This family is one of the solid 
and substantial families of Macoui)in County and 
worthy of the respect which is given them by their 
neighbors. 



.^^s*J^iL^« 



<Cl WILLIAM D. REDER, lumber mereliant in 
\rJ// Chesterfield, was born in this county No- 
V\^ vember 7, 1848, and is the youngest child 
of Paschal L. and Margaret (Rafferty) Reder. His 
parents were natives of Tennessee and Kentucky 
respectively', and each came to this State early in 
tlie '30s, accompanying their respective parents. 
The pioneers, Jeptha Reder and James Rafferty, 
improved f.arras and aided raucli in bringing this 
section under subjection and in opening the way 
for the work which is now being carried on by 
their descendants and those of other equally hard- 
working and courageous frontiersmen. The}' spent 
their remaining dny» here and died full of 3ears 
and honors. 

The parents of our subject were united in mar- 
riage and settled on a farm in Western Mound 
Township. The father became the owner of a 
large amount of land, a portion of which he en- 
tered from the Government. His career was cut 
short by death in 1866, while he was visiting old 
acquaintances at Dallas, Tex. His wife survived 
him many years, dying at Chesterfield in 1889. 
They had ten children, six of whom grew to ma- 
turity. These are Elizabeth, wife of A. B. Peebles; 
Nancy J., wife of John Hageman; Martiis E., 
widow of (5eorge Orr; James K., George AV".. and 
William D. The last named was reared amid 
the surroundings of rural life and received the ma- 
jor part of his education in the district school, but 
had the added opportunities afforded in Carlin- 
ville. 

October 7, 1879, Mr. Reder was married to Lucy 
J. Albin, daughter of William D. and Margaret 
Albin. The bride was born in Western Mound, 
where her parents settled in 1860, coming hither 
from Virginia. They resided there until 1887, 
then removed to Henry County, Mo. Mr. and 
Mrs. Reder h.ave had three children, but their 



first-born was removed from them by death. Their 
living sons are Elmer D. and George W. After 
his marriage Mr. Reder locuted on a farm in Polk 
Townsliipand remained there until March, 1889. 
He was the owner of a good farm of one hundred 
and sixty acres which he sold in 1891. The year 
that he abandoned fftrming he established his pres- 
ent business and now has the only lumber yard in 
Chesterfield. 

Mr. Reder kee|)S on hand a good supply of rough 
and dressed lumber, making a specialty of mater- 
ial suitable for the best building purposes, and is 
making very satisfactory progress as a dealei'. He 
gives his attention earnestly to the business before 
him, and at the same time keeps himself well in- 
formed regarding general news of the day and the 
movements in which the people are interested. 
While he was a resident of Polk Township he held 
several offices of public trust, among them being 
Town Clerk, Collector, .Supervisor and Justice of 
the Peace. In politics he is a Democrat. He be- 
longs to the United Baptist Church, is an earnest 
believer, and tries to govern his life by correct 
principles. 




HOMAS YANORSDAL. The fact that a 
man has been a Union soldier is sutficicent 
s£^ to give him the respect and gratitude of 
every American citizen, and when lo this recom- 
mendation is added a knowledge of an industrious 
and upright life, he is still more worth}' of regard. 
Under such circumstances is Thoma,s Vanorsdal 
placed, he having served in the ranks of his coun- 
try's defenders during the Civil War, and having 
since been actively engaged in farming in Bird 
Township, and joining- with her citizens in good 
works. His farm is on section 16, and consists of 
one hundred broad and fertile acres, well Improved 
and well stocked. 

M.adison and Lucinda (Burford) Vanorsdal, the 
parents of our subject, emigrated from Kentucky 
to this State in an early day and made their first 
settlement in Greene County. They afterward 
came to this county and established their home in 
Bird Township, where the wife and mother died 



522 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



about 1;<75. Tliey Iimi) six (lauglitcrs and four 
sons, and the subject of tliis notice was tiie third 
on tlie family roll. I!e was born in Greene County 
Jamiarv 30, lf<l;>, but the •>icater number of his 
earlv vears were s|)ent in this eounty, which he has 
continued to make his home. 

AVhen ii; his twentieth year young \'anorsdal en- 
listed, beinu enrolled in Company A, One Hun- 
dred and Seventy-second Illinois Infantry, August 
9. 18li2. He served until the close of the war and 
did what he could to maintain the L'nion, cheer- 
fulVy enduriTig the hardships of a soldier's life and 
displaying manly courage in limes of danger, lie 
took part in the engagements at I'erkin's Cross- 
roads. Town Creek, Nashville, Ft. Hlakely. etc. 
AVhei the war was over he was nuislered out, and 
returning to his ohl home turned his atlejitioii to 
farming, exchanging the implements of warfare 
for those of his peaceful calling. 

In South Palmyra Township, this county, Sep- 
tember 1, ISdS, the marriage rites between Thomas 
V.-inorsdal and Martha Regan were solemnized. 
The bride was born in Harr Township, March 4, 
1847. and was the youngest of eight surviving 
children of Joshua and .lane (Hiiskey) Regan, who 
came from Tennessee to this county man)- years 
ago. Her parents are now deceased. Her happy 
union has been blest by the birth of seven chil- 
dren, who are named respectively: Alberta. KIroy, 
Rose, Walter, Horace, Gr.acc and Emma. The 
eldest dailghter was married November G. 1890, "to 
Edgar Rates, lioth i\Ir. and Mrs. A'anorsdal be- 
long to the Baptist Churcli, and their standing in 
the commuuit}' is assiireil. 



^- 






-E^-- 



\i; EANDER S. I'llACKER. The good inllu- 

^■l ence of any family in a communitj- is 

greatly increaseil by its prolonged residence 



therein. Generation after generation of honorable 
living and thorough, enterprising work brings a 
cumulative force to bear which emphasizes every 
good [loint in the character and life work of a 
family. Illinois has been so yonn<T a State as to 
have little of this wealth of intluence, but in 



M.icoupin County we occasionally find a family 
homestead which has been occupied for two gener- 
ations and there we are sure to discern the effects 
of such occupancy. This is the case at the Thacker 
homestead, which is now occupied by the gentle- 
man whose name ajjpears at the head of this 
sketch. 

Z. Thacker, the honored father of our subject, 
is more fully sketched on another i)ago of this 
Recorii. His son Leander is a native of Macoupin 
County, having been born near Palmyra, March 
21, 18 111. He was four years old when his father 
removed to Nilwooil Township, where he received 
his early training and education, taking full advan- 
tage of the district school instruction, after which 
in IcSTO he entered ShurlletT College. 

Our subject grew to manhood in Nil wood 
Township and since his fourth year has made it his 
home, with the exception of two years which he 
spent in Franklin Connt\', Kan., where he went 
in 1881. lie lias always followed agricultural pur 
suits and now owns the old homestead, which 
consists of three hun<Ired and twenty broad and 
productive acres, wliii'h bear upon their surf.ace 
an attractive home and neat and convenient build- 
ings for the accommodation of the farm work and 
stock. 

The married life of Mr. Thacker began February 
10, 1875, with his marriage to Miss Mary .1. Crane 
at her home in Nilwood Township. She made him 
an affectionate and liel[iful wife during the short 
lime which was given them together and she died 
at their home September 1, 1870. One child 
blessed their union, to whom they gave the name 
of .lames O., but he too w.as soon taken away from 
the home, being called hence when two and one- 
half years old. The second marital union of this 
gentleman took place February 17, 1881, at the 
home of the bride in Montgomery County, III. 
The lady who then became JMrs. Thacker was Miss 
Edna A. Thomi)son, who was born in Dowagiac, 
Cass County, iMich., July 10, 1856. 

The^- have had three children. His daughter, 
Amy K., lived to be seven years old and was then 
taken from him. Those living are Leroy II. and 
a babe named Walter Clyde. In this quiet home 
harmoii.\ prevails and the lives of its occupants 



..>%^-v- 



■:>^:- 







^ ^. 




'-^y^yuip^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



525 




are good examples of the best kind of country life. 
Mr. Thackcr was for one year in tlie office of 
Township Clerk and he has ever been interested in 
political affaira and iielpful in forwanling tlie pros- 
|)erity of the Republican party, to whicli he is 
ardently attached. Both he and his good wife 
are earnest and active in religious work and are 
conscientious and devoted members of the Baptist 
Church. 

.ETERL. DENBY. The agricultural element 
tliat has been so largely instrumental in 
the upbuilding of Macoupin County has no 
V)etter representative tlian this gentleman 
whose portrait in on the opposite page. He was a 
native-born citizen of this section of the .State, 
grew with its growth, has become a man of wealth 
and one of the principal farmers and stock-raisers 
of South Palmjra Township, his l)irthplace, where 
he has large farming interests and a beautiful resi- 
dence on the old homestead where his entire life 
has been passed. 

Mr. Denby was born Noveraijer 21, 18.38, to 
Peter and Sarah (Quarton) Denb}', pioneers of this 
county. His father was a native of Yorkshire, 
Eng., and a son of English people who spent their 
whole lives in the land of their birth. The father 
of our subject and two of his brothers were the 
only members of the family that ever crossed the 
ocean to this countr}'. The brothers, William an<l 
Thomas, settled in Morgan Countj-, this State. 
Peter Denby, Sr., was about thirty years of age 
when he came to Araeriua in 1834, sailing from 
Liverpool and landing at New York. He came 
directly to Illinois I)y the most convenient and 
expeditious route at that time, which was by the 
waj- of the Hudson River, Erie Ccnal and Lake 
P>ie to Cleveland, thence by the Ohio Canal to 
Portsmouth, from there l)j' way of the Ohio and 
Mississip|)i Rivers to this State. He first located in 
Morgan County, where he rented land. In 1835 
he visited South Palmyra Township and entered 
Government land on section 36, which was one of 
the finest tracts in this county. His first pioneer 
work was to build a log cabin, which became the 



birthplace of his son. of whom we write. At that 
time, and for some years after, the surrounding 
country- was sparsely settled and people going from 
one place to another drove over the open prairies, 
where in season large herds of cattle grazed, while 
deer, wolves, and other wild animals were often 
seen. Alton and St. Louis were the nearest markets. 

By j'ears of hard and persistent toil Mr. Denby 
brought his land into a fine state of cultivation and 
erected a neat set of frame buildings to take the 
place of the primitive cabin and outbuildings that 
he first erected. lie lived here in peace and con- 
tentment until death rounded out his life Decem- 
ber 3, 1862. His wife also spent her last days on 
the home farm that she had .assisted him to reclaim 
from the wilderness, her death taking place Febru- 
ar3' 2, 1847. She was likewise a native of Yorkshire 
and came from her early English home with her 
father. Thomas Quarton, who was of Yorkshire 
birth and a pioneer of Morgan Countj*. Three 
children were reared b}' the parents of our sub- 
ject: William, a resident of Carlinville Township; 
Thomas, the youngest, who lives in Missouri, and 
our subject. 

As before mentioned, Peter Denby. of this bio- 
graphical review, has ;)lways resided on the farm 
where his life bpgan and he was never se[)arated 
from his parents until their death. His education 
was obtained in the pioneer schools, the first that 
he attended being taught in a log house. The seats 
were made by splitting logs and hewing one side 
smooth .111(1 iiiserting a wooden pins for support, 
the teats being without backs or desks. A log was 
taken out of one side of the building and in the 
apperture thus made, that extended nearly the 
whole length of the room, glass was inserted. Holes 
were bored in the logs underneath this primitive 
window, wooden pegs were inserted and a piece of 
puncheon laid on them served as a writing desk 
for the larger schoolars. 

Our subject was reared to habits of industiy 
and early displaced those strong characteristics 
that, have made iiim eminently successful in carry- 
ing on extensive farming operations and have 
placed him among the leaders in his vocation. 
Besides [lossessing the old homestead he has much 
other valuable property, as from time to time he 



526 



PORTRAIT AND BTOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lias jiirliciously invested liis money in real estate, 
and now has twelve liundre<i and fifty acres of 
choice land. His improvements rank among the 
best in the county, and make his farm a model and 
an ornament to the township. He has erected a 
commodious frame house of a modern style of 
architecture, which is neat and tasty in its appoint- 
ments and is surrounded by well-kept grounds. In 
keeping with this handsome residence are a large 
and conveniently arranged barn and other substan- 
tial outbuildings. 

Mr. Denby was first married in 1863 to Miss 
Margaret S. Trible, native of England, she de- 
parted this life in 1870 leaving behind her the 
record of one who was a good wife and tender 
mother. These six children are of that marriage 
— Nellie, Laura, Charles, ,Iohn, Walter and Clara. 
The marriage of our subject to his present amiable 
wife, formerly Miss Clara E. Johnson, a native of 
Illinois, was consummated in January, 1878. Two 
children — Zoe iSI. and Fred L. have added to their 
felicitous wedded life. 

Mr. Denby possesses in a rare degree force and 
decision of char.acter, tenacity of purpose, a saga- 
cious, independent judgment and great practibility 
which have enabled him to conduct his business to 
the best advantage and after the best methods, and 
those traits have also made him an important agent 
in developing the agriculture of the county. He 
has decided views on all subjects with which he is 
conversant; this is particularly true in regard to 
his political opinions, and we find him a firm sup- 
porter of the Republican party. 

] OHN KELSE;Y, deceased, was born in York- 
shire, England, January 12, 1824, and was 
a son of John and Mary (Atkinson) Kelsey. 
His parents were also natives of the same 
county, where they were married, and after the birth 
of their children they emigrated with their family 
to America, in 1834, crossing the Atlantic in the 
sailing vessel ''Hull," which after a long and tedious 
voyage safely landed in New York, whence they 
came to Illinois, locating in Madison County, near 



Edwardsville. After there improving a farm, Mr. 
Kelsey sold out and in 1854 purchased a tract of 
unimproved land in Brighton Township, Macou- 
pin County, which he developed and improved, 
making it his home until his death. His wife has 
also passed away. They were i)rominent peoi)le of 
this community, members of the Church of Eng- 
land, and many friends mourned their loss. 

The subject of this sketch was a lad of only ten 
summers when b}' his [)arents he w.as brought to 
America. After spending a few years in M.adison 
County, III., he came to this county and on attain- 
ing his majority began life for himself, engaging in 
agricultural pursuits, the occupaiion to which he 
had been reared. He was very successful in his 
business undertakings, and his landed possessions 
at the time of his death aggregated more than one 
thousand acres, the greater part of which was 
under a high state of cultivation and well im- 
proved. He gave his personal supervision to the 
business, and being a man of industrious habits, 
energy and enterprise, he met with excellent suc- 
cess. He possessed more than ordinary business 
ability, and was far-sightod and sagacious, and his 
good judgment led him to invest his capital in 
lands which rose in value as time passed on and 
the country became more thickly populated. At 
length, having .acquired a handsome property, he re- 
solved to lay .aside business cares, and on the 17th 
of Ai>ril, 1883, left the farm and removed to Brigh- 
ton. 

Mr. Kelse^' was united in marri.age in Brightoi 
Township with Miss Sarah E. Evans, who was there 
born July 19, 1843, and is a daughter of John 
Evans, a native of New Y'ork, who in an early day 
emigrated to this count}', becoming one of its pio- 
neers. His wife, whose maiden name was Mercy 
Loveland, was born in Rhode Island in 1824, and 
with her parents came to the West in a very earlj' 
day. She was a l.ady of influence, who figured 
prominently in social circles and won many friends. 
Of the Methodist Church she was a faithful mem- 
ber, and she died in that faith on the 16th of Janu- 
ary, 1873. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey were born six chil- 
dren, but Nellie A. and Leroy both died in child- 
hood. Mercy M. is now the wife of Frank Moore, 



PORTRAIT AND HJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



527 



who operates a. pait of llie old liomestead ; Mary 
Alice is Uie wife of Hariy M. Eldredge, and they 
reside in Brighton with Mrs. Kelsey; John H. and 
James R. also make their home with the mother. 
The children were all well educated, and have be- 
come useful men and women who do honor to their 
name. 

On removing to Brighton, Mr. Kelsey provided 
a most pleasant and commodious home for himself 
and family, and there surrounded with all the com- 
forts of life, he lived until called to his final rest on 
the 9tli of November, 1888. lie was a good citi- 
zen, a faithful and tender luisband and father, and 
many friends shared with the family in their loss. 
Mrs. Kelsey still resides in the beautiful home in 
Brighton, left her by her husband. She devotes 
her time to the interests of her family and friends 
and to the work of the Methodist (/'hurch, in which 
she is a leading and consistent member. Of her 
means she gives liberally to ail worthy enter- 
prises, the poor and needy find in her a friend, 
and many have reason to bless her for her 
bountj". 



"it^^ANIEL H. COMBE.S, a farmer of intelli- 
gence and standing, residing in Ililyard 
Township, has a fine set of farm buildings 
and a well-improved tract of land on sec- 
tion 10, and here he carries on successfully, gen- 
eral farming and the raising of tine stock. This 
land he has been in possession of since 1808, and 
on it he has made his home since 1869, when he 
came from Jersey County. His birth was near 
Jerscyville, November 4, 1848, and his father, 
Daniel H. Combes, Sr., was born in Trenton, N. J., 
and was a son of Isaac Combes, who lived and died 
in that State, having followed an honored career 
as a citizen and tradesman. 

Daniel II. Combes, Sr., became an undertaker by 
trade and followed this line of work until he came 
to Illinois, in 1847, after which he improved a 
good farm and gave to each and all of his children 
a helpful start in life. lie died at the home of his 
only daughter on the old homestead when nearly 



eighty years of age. His early political prefer- 
auces were for the principles of the Whig party 
and he afterward became a Republican. He was 
for many years connected with the Baptist Church. 

The mairiage of the father of our subject in 
Trenton, N. J., united him with Mary R. Sun- 
derland, a native of that State. She was one of a 
large family and a representative of an old New 
Jersey' family. Together they lived and labored 
to build up a home, in which they attained good 
success. Our subject is the youngest of four chil 
dren, who came to this harmonious home, his sis- 
ter and one brother, yet surviving. 

He of whom we write received his education in 
his native county and having reached the age of 
maturity decided to establish a home of his own. 
The lady whom he chose as his life partner was 
Abigail Longslaff, who was born in Shipuian Ti>wn- 
ship. She was reared by her ijareuts in Brigliton, 
her father, Richard Longslaff, being a native of 
England, and her mother, Maria Bradley, being 
also from the British Islands. Their marriage did 
not take place, however, until after they had both 
come to this country, as they met in Macoupin 
County, and were there united. They spent the re- 
mainder of their days here, dying in lirighton, 
having neither of them reached old .ige. 

Mrs. Combes is a woman of unusual refinement 
and ability and is one whose strength and sweet- 
ness win to her many pernianeut frienils. Her ac- 
tivities in charitable and church work place her in 
the front rank, and her intelligence and education 
fit her to be what she is — a reader of thought. 
Botii she and Mr. Combes are members of the Pres- 
byterian Church and in his politics he is attached 
to the Re|)ublican party. They have one child — 
Isaac, who makes his home with his parents. 



^^ 



; EN J AM IN E. PARKER. Our subject 
belongs to a family that is widel}- known 
,Y\t)jil and greatly respected throughout this 
county. He resides on a good farm located 
on section',), Shipitian Township. His parents were 
Joel and Mirian (lla3'croft) Parker. The former 



528 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



died in Shipinan Township, November 28, 1843. 
His niollier afterward lieeame the wife of Henry 
Jolly. She still survives and a sketch of her life 
ra:y be found in that of Oliver C. Forwood, in 
another part of this volume. Benjamin E. Parker is 
one of seven children that were the fruit of the 
marriage of his parents. He was born in Sliipraau 
Township, October 9, 1839, where he grew to man- 
hood and iias always resided. 

Mv. Parker has always followed agricultural pur- 
suits and his experience being wide and his intelli- 
gence keen he has made of his calling a di-cided 
success. He was married in Shipman Township, 
Jaiuiary 27, 1864, to Miss Margaret. A. Cain, a 
daughter of the late Abraham P. Cain, who was a 
native of Grayson County. Ky., where he was born 
about the j'ear 1814. His wife was Nancy Downs. 
She also was born in the same county of which her 
husband was a native, September 2, 1828. The3- 
married and settled in Grayson County and tlience 
came to Jersey County. 111., where they lived for 
several years, and then carao to Macoupin Count\', 
settling in Shipman Township in 1860, where the 
fallier died January 1, 1881. They li.ad eleven chil- 
dren whose names are as follows: Margaret A., 
John T., Sarah C, Israel T., Mary E., James W. and 
Hardin. The eldest daughter is the w'ife of our 
subject ; John married Marj- E. Morgan ; Israel T. 
was united to Ella Jolly; Mary E. became the wife 
of R. A. Love; Hardin wasunitcclin marriage witii 
Lillie Miller. 

Mrs. Benjamin E. P;irker was born in Grayson 
County, Ky., March 3. 1845. In her social inter- 
course she is distinguished for her geniality and 
hospitality for which Kentuckians are so noted. 
Our subject and his wife are the parents of two 
children, Leo.-^.ora, who is the wife of J. G. Mon- 
tague, and Kiltie L., who presides over the home of 
Llian 0. Hay ward. 

Mr. Parker is a Prohibitionist in principle and 
politics and has held many positions awarded not so 
much for party allegiance as for capability- and 
judgment. He has been Highway Commissioner for 
ten years and School Director for many years. He 
and his estimable wife are members of the Baptist 
Church at Medora, of which body he has been Clerk 
for many years. Socially he is a member of the 



Masonic fraternity and also the Farmers' Mutual 
Benefit Association. He has erected a good series 
of buildings upon his farm and has made with its 
valuable improvements a truly enviable homo upon 
his tract of one hundred and eighty acres. 




ENRY C. DUCKELS is numbered among 
'^ the practical and enterprising young 
farmers anil stock-raisers who have within 
recent years stepped to the front to assist 
in carrying forward the great agricultural interests 
of this their native county and is successfully 
managing the Loper farm in Western Mound 
Township. lie was born in Chfsterfichl Township 
December 2. 1855. a son of Richard and Elizabeth 
Duckels, pioneers of that township, of whom a 
sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. 

Tlie early life of our subject was spent much as 
that of other farmers' sons, in attendance at school, 
and in assisting in the labors of the farm, thus ac- 
quiring a good insight into the best methods of 
carrying on agriculture, which he has applied suc- 
cessfully since he began his career as an indepen- 
dent farmer. 

Mr. Duckels resided with his parents until his 
marri.age and then settled on a farm in Western 
Mound Township. He w.as busily eng.aged in tilling 
its soil the ensuing three years, and at tlie expira- 
tion of that lime removed to Chesterfield and de- 
voted himself to the mercantile business there one 
year. His next enterprise was to engage in the 
manufacture of flour at Medora, where he operated 
a mill one year. After that he purch.ased a farm 
in Chesterfield Township, and taking up his resi- 
dence on it, w .as actively employed in its cultivation 
and improvement for some time. Under his caie 
its one hundred and Iwenly acres of rich soil 
yielded good harvests and a comfortable income. 

In 188G Mr. Duckels removed to the Loper 
homestead, the estate of his late father-in-law, 
Adrian W. Loper, in Western Mound Township, 
and h.as charge of the farm, which under his able 
management is kept up to the same fine condition 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



529 



that it had attained during the life-time of Mr. 
Lo|)or. Ouv subject carries on his worlv in an 
orderly nisnnt'r, after the most approved system of 
a'^rieulture, and lias won an assured position amonu 
iiie successful men of liis calling in his native 
county. 

Mr. Duckels nas married in IS77 to Miss Ophelia 
Loper, and in her he lias had the encouragement 
and assistance of a true wifi?. S|ie is also a native 
of the county, born in Western Mound Township, 
and a tlaughter of the late Adrian W. and Susan 
Lojicr, of whom an account ai)pears elsewhere. 
Mr. and Mrs. Duckels have four children, whom 
they have named Thomas W., Gertrude, Re3'nold 
and AVilliam Khlen. 



i 




|>-ILLIAM F. UCHTMANN, now deceased, 

was born in Hanover, Germany, in August, 

1821, and died at his home in Cahokia 

Townshii) on the (>lh of .March, 1.S77. respected by 

I .ill who knew him. He was for many years one 

' of the prominent German citizens of the commu- 
I 

nity and an enterprising farmer. In the usual 

I raannor of farmer lads his boyhood days were 
I spent, and when he had attained to mature years 
' he resolved to seek ids fortune in the New World. 
1 At the age of twenty-four he bade good-by to his 
native land and sailed for America, landing in New 
1 York, whence ^he came to Louisville, Ky., work- 
I ing in the vicinity of that city for some time as 
a farm laborer. On coming to Illinois in an 
early day, he located in Mt. (Jlive, Macoupin 
County. Much of the land was still owned by 
the (iovernment. and being unimproved, he de- 
cided to obtain a portion of it and make a home 
for himself. To this end he secured a tract on 
section oO. Cahokia Township, where be ever after- 
ward resided, and at his death he had a valuable 
tract of land of two hundred and fortj' acres, all 
undir a high state of cultivation and equipped 
with, all the improvements necessary' to the model 
farm of the ninet^'cnih century. Not a furrow 
had been turned when he came into possession 
of the land and all the work done upon it has 



been the labor of his own hands. He always 
kept his farm well stocked with a good grade of 
horses, cattle and hogs, and the neat appearance of 
the place w.as excellent evidence of his thrift and 
enterprise. 

As a helpmate on life's journey Mr. Uchtmann 
chose Miss Minnie (4rosscnhider, their marriage 
being t'elebrateil near ]\It. Olive. She was born in 
Prussia, Germany, July 15, 183G, and is a daugh- 
ter of ^Villiam and Catherine (Searf) Grossen- 
hider. Htr father died in (Tcrmany at the age of 
forty-nine years. He followed farming for a live- 
lihood. His widow afterward came to this coun- 
try and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. 
Uchtmann, at the ripe old age of seventj'-two 
years. In their family were nine children, all of 
whom came to this country, while seven are yet 
living. Mrs. Uchtmann, the fourth in order of 
birth, was nineteen years old when, with a brother, 
she came to the United States, sailing from Bremen 
to New ()rleans, and thence coming up the Mis- 
sissippi River to St. Louis and Macoui)ln County, 
where two years later she was married. Bv their 
union were born ten children, but only five are now 
living — Fritz, who married Lena Neilhouseand re- 
sides upon a part of the home farm; Minnie C, 
Anna L. S., Matilda W. and Edward F. A. who are 
still living with their mother. Henry died at the 
age of eleven years; Ida and Herman were both 
six years of .age at the time of their deaths; John 
also died in clnldhood, and another died in in- 
fancy. 

Mr. Uchtmann came to this country to make a 
home and the United .States had no truer citizen; 
he lived with an eye single to the interests of the 
township and county, and iiis labors were felt in 
the community for good. An honest, upi-igbt 
man, lie won the respect of all who knew him and 
had many warm friends who shared with the fam- 
ily in their loss. He was a member of the Luth- 
eran Church, to the 3upi)ort of which he gave lib- 
erally, and in politics was a Republican, having 
held some local offices, ilie duties of which he ever 
faithfully discharged. His industrious and enter- 
prising habits enabled him to leave his family in 
comfortable circumstances. Since her husband's 
death Mrs. Uchtmann has managed the home farm 



r)30 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



and (rispla)'S much business and executive ability 
in so doing. She and all of the children are mem- 
bers of the Lutheran Churcli and the family is 
favorably known llirougliout the community. 



'^-^^E 



AMITEL W. STUTZMAN. The family to 
5S^^ which our subject belongs is supposed to 
ifl/^j have come originally frora Switzerlnnd, 
that counlrj' which is noted .imong the na- 
tions as l>eing one of the oldest existing Republics 
and as one whose people were as a unit so deter- 
mined to have freedom that they dared death on 
every occasion rather tluin submit to Austrian 
supremacy. Our subject's father was Daniel W. 
Stutzmm, (vho was born in Montgomery County, 
Ohio. March 28, 181 1. Having passed through 
the early pioneer experience the old gentleman 
would doubtless be surprised could lie see the beau- 
tiful farm located on seel ion 8, Nil wood Township, 
that his son owns at present. 

The father of Daniel AV. .Stutzman, or our sub- 
ject's grandfather, was .Samuel Stutzman, who was 
born in Pennsylvania. He removed at an earl}' 
date with his parents from Pennsylvania to Ohio, 
where he settled in Montgomery County. From 
there he removed to I'^lkliart County. Ind., where 
he died in the spring of 1861. Our subject's 
mother was Hannali Wineland. She was united in 
marriage to Daniel Stutzman in Montgomery 
County, and with him at once removed to Klk- 
liart County, Ind., where she died; her husband 
then came to Macoupin County in about the year 
1867, and located west of Virden, where he died 
in January. 1883. 

The gentleman of whom we write was one of 
eight children, the family comprising respectively 
six sons and two daughtLrs. Of these children our 
subject was the eldest; he was born in Klkhart 
County, Ind., June 3, 1835, where he remained 
until he reached manhood, there engaged in work 
on his father's farm. In 185'J he removed to 
Montgomery, County, where he met his fate in 
the shape of Miss Barbara Vauiman. with whom 
he was united in marriage September 5, 1861. The 



lady is a native of Montgomery County, be- 
ing there born March 8, 1840. Her parents were 
Jacob and Marv (Bowman) Vaniman, the former a 
native of Penns^dvania, the latter of Ohio. After 
marriage they settled in Montgomery County, 
and there lived until their death. Thej' were con- 
sistent members in good standing of the German 
Baptist Church, as were also the members of our 
subject's family. 

Soon after our subject's marriage he and his 
wife settled on the old homestead of the bride's 
father, Jacob Vaniman, in Montgomery County. 
There they lived until March, 1871, when they 
removed to Macoupin County, and settled in 
Nilwood Township. They here acquired one hun- 
dred and seventj-flve acres which is all well im- 
proved. Pearlier in life our subject was engaged 
in carpenter work but the greater part of his ex- 
perience has been in agricultural pursuits. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stutzman are the parents of eight 
cliildren. Thej' are: Aaron H., Laura D., Jesse 
E., John 1). and Jonathan P. (twins); George A., 
Harvey D. and Mary E. Of these, the eldest son 
is a resident in the State of Washington. Laura D. 
is the wife of W. W. JIcGhee. Jesse E. is a resi- 
dcntof the State of Washington. Before Mr. Stutz- 
man removed to this State his position in society 
as a man of ability was recognized and he was 
appointed School Director, in which capacity he 
seived for several years. Both Blr. and Mrs. 
Stutzman are active workers in the (ierman Baptist 
Church in which the former has been a Deacon for 
a long time. 



^ l»,ILLIAM HILYARD, a retired farmer re- 
\/\l/' siding in Bunker Hill, where he located 
\y^ in March, 1890, has been a resident of 
the county from boyhood, and is a representative 
of one of t'le pioneer families of the State. He 
was born in Sangamon County, 111., August 30, 
1823, and is a son of Judge John M. and Mary 
(Gr.ay) IHlyard. His father, a native of West 
Virginia, was l)orn in Cam|)bell County January 
30, 1798, and belonged to one of the early and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



531 



respected families of the Old Dominion. He mar- 
ried Miss Gra3\ who was born on a farm near the 
Hiiyard homesleail, November 27, 180-1. Their 
childhood was spent in the same neighborhliood 
and after the birth of two children .they started 
VVestward, traveling overland with wagons and 
teams from Virginia to Illinois. They ('aniijcd out 
every night and after journeying some weeks halted 
at what is now Waverly, III., but made a settle- 
ment in Sangamon County in the early part of 
1823. They took up a claim, being the first white 
settlers in that part of the county where they lo- 
cated. After eight years they left Saiigamon 
County and removed to Macoupin County, where 
he had previously entered land, making ^he first 
settlement in Hilyaid Township, whicli was named 
in honor of the father of our subject. He entered 
the land from the Governm nit and secured the 
title from President Andrew Jackson. It was sit- 
ated on section 22, and at first was entirely desti- 
tute of .all improvements, but with characteristic 
energy Mr. Hiiyard began the development of a 
farm and 3-car by jcar saw his improved acreage 
extended until at length he became owner of a 
valuable farm of 200 acres, one of the best in the 
township, which is now owned by his son vSamuel. 
The family bore the usual hardships and experi- 
ences of pioneer lif^^ Their first home was a rude 
log cabin, but in later yeais it was sui)planted 
by a conifortal)le frame residence. Mr. Hiiyard 
was a man of worth and abilitj', and soon became 
a prominent man in the county. He was one of 
the first teachers in the township and before tiie 
day of public schools he established a small pri- 
vate school, where he taught his own and his neigh- 
bors' children, more for their good than for any 
financial lienefit resulting therefrom. In politics 
he was a stalwart supporter of Democralic prin- 
ciples, and in addition to the various township 
offices which he held, lie served as Justice of the 
Peace for several years and was a number of times 
elected County Judge. His rulings were wise, his 
decisions unbiased, and he won favor with all, 
whether Democrat or Republican. For some years 
prior to his death he was an invalid. Both he and 
his wife were for a long lime membeisof the Reg- 
ular Baptist Church, but they afterward united 



with the Universalist Church. Judge Hiiyard 
died in this county in 1872, and his excellent 
wife was called to her final rest on the 23d of 
April, 1874. In their family were ten children, 
seven sons and tliree daughters, of whom all are 
yet living with the exception of two sons. Mount 
Calvary' died when sixteen years old and John M. 
while in Mexico during the Mexican War. 

The subject of this sketch has since his eighth 
year resided in Macoupin County. In Hiiyard 
Township he w.as reared to manhood, spending his 
time amidst pKay and work in the usual manner of 
lads, while his education was acquired under the 
direction of his father as public schools of any 
worth had not then been instituted. In 1845, in 
Hiiyard Township, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Martha Barnes, who was born near 
Springfield, III., May 27, 1825, and is a daughter 
of William and Ireiia (Welton) Barnes, who wore 
natives of Connecticut, and Vermont respectively. 
They were married in tlic East and most of their 
cliirldren were born prior to their emigration to 
Illinois, which occurred in 1824. Tliey setlleci on 
forty acres of land, now lying within the corpora- 
tion limits of Springfield. The capital city was 
then a mere hnmlet and tlie white settlers were 
far outmunbered by the Indians who oftentimes 
[Hoved very troublesome. Twice they burned ilown 
the home of the Barnes family, and so, in 1827, 
his wife having died, Mr. Barnes determined to 
locate elsewhere. He went to Memphis, Tenn., but 
about 1835 returned to Illinois, taking up his resi- 
dence in Madison Count}-, whence after five years 
he came to Macoupin Count}-, settling on a farm 
in Hiiyard Township, where his dealli occurred in 
1845. He was born January 15, 1 780, and had 
therefore reached tlie age of si.xty-five years wlien 
he departed this life. He was an infiexible Demo- 
ci-at in political yeni.imenl and both he and his 
wife upheld the faiih of the Methodist Church. 
Mrs. Hiiyard was the youngest of the eight chil- 
dren born unto that worthy couple, and she grew 
to womanhood under the care of her father and 
elder sister, for her mother died when she was 
quite 3-oung. 

Ten children graced the union of Mr. Hiiyard 
and his wife, of whom four are now deceased. 



532 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



Three sons, Elias, John and William D., died in 
childiiood; and Mary, wife of Adam Taggart, died 
leaving two eiiildien. The meml)ers of the fam- 
ily wiio still survive aie: Eliza J., the wife of 
Achilles Morrison, who resides on a farm near 
Shipman; James P., who married K. J. Wood and 
is a resident farmer of Bunker Hill Township; 
Sarah, the wife of W. C. Barnes, who is a resi- 
dent farmer of Shipman Township; Lewis, who 
wedded Sarah L. Taggart and is engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits in Bunker Hill Township; Wal- 
ter, who married Iila Moore and is living in Cham- 
paign Count}-; and Mullie, who married A. R. 
Moore, a telegraph operator of Champaign County. 
IMr. and Mrs. Hilyard are worthy |ieo|)le, kind 
and obliging in manner, and their lives have l)een 
such as to merit the conKdence and esteem of all 
with whom they have coujc in contact. In |)oli- 
tics he IS a stalwart Democrat. Farming has been 
his life work and for many years he resided in 
Hilyard Townshii), where he engaged in general 
farming and stock raising. The first land which 
he owned was raw and unbroken at the titne of 
his purchase, but he developed therefrom a good 
farm and increased its boundaries until it com- 
prised one hundred and sixty acres. He also owns 
a one hundred and twenty acre tract and twenty 
acres of timber land. In March, 1890, he laid 
aside all business cares and removed to Bunker 
Hill, where he expects to spend tlie remainder of 
his days in his pleasant home, enjoying the com- 
forts and luxuries of life, which are the fruits of 
his toil. 



■if/OHN W. HANKINS, M. D., a well-known 
and successful phj'sicinn of Carlinville, was 
born at Burlington, N. J., November 20, 
1820, and is a son of John Hankins, a na- 
tive of the same State, born at Princeton. The 
father of tiie latter, also nameil John Hankins, was 
likewise a native of Now Jersey. His father, the 
great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Eng- 
land, and came to America in early Colonial limes as 
an officer in the British Army. He rnarriod in New 



Jerse}", and as far as known, spent his last years 
there. His son passed his entire life in the same 
State. 

The father of Dr. Hankins was educated at Prince- 
ton College, and when a young man commenced 
teaching, which vocation he followed until his 
death, which occurred in 1825. The maiden name 
of his wife was Hannah Ayers. She was born on 
a farm three miles from Princeton, and was a daugh- 
ter of Robert and Johanna Ayers. She survived 
her husband many years, ileparting this life at Car- 
linville in 1856, at a venerable age. She reared a 
family of eiglit children. 

The subject of this biogra[)hj' was hut five years 
old when his father died, and three years later he 
went to reside with a farmer in Burlington County. 
He assisted in the duties of the farm until he was 
fourteen years old, in the meantime taking advan- 
tage of all the opi)ortunities afforded for obtaining 
an education, as he was very fond of books, and 
was an eager student. At the age mentioned he 
commenced to learn the trade of a shoemaker, at 
which he served seven years at Burlington, receiv- 
ing his board and clothes for his work. At the 
close of his apprenticeship he gave up the trade, 
and look charge of an estate as a gardener, in whicli 
position he remained two and one-half years, in 
the meantime studying medicine, to which he had 
turned his attention while an apprentice, giving to 
it all his spare time, as he hail a decided taste for it. 

In June, 1844 he came to Illinois and settled in 
Carlinville, whicli at that time was a small place of 
about three hundred inhabitants, and the houses 
were nearly all of logs. There was then but one 
public road in the county, and that led from St. 
Louis to Springfield. The only house on the north 
for a distance of twenty miles was a stage station, 
and it was situated throe fourtlis of a mile south- 
west of the present site of the town of Virden. The 
Doctor continued his studies here until 1846, and 
then commenced practice as an eclectic physician, 
and for a period of more than fortj' years he has 
been suceessfull}' administering to the ills of tlie 
people far and near. When he first established him- 
self here he had to make his trips on horseback, 
often traveling for miles through a -wild, sparsely 
settled country. Wishing to further perfect hina- 





'd-, 



rOUTRAlT AND BIOCRAPHICAL RRiCORD. 



535 



self in medicine, in 1852 and 1853 lie attended a 
series of iectuies at Chicago, and in 1855 was grad- 
uated from a I'liiladelphia medical scliool. His 
pltice is among tiie liighest raeml)ers of ilie scliool 
of medicine that ho represents, and liis treatment 
of disease in its various forms lias secured liim a 
fine practice. 

The marriage of Dr. Hankins with Elizabeth Mc- 
Kee, a native of Philadelphia, was solemnized in 
1841, and for half a century they have faithfully 
shared life's joys and sorrovvs. Of this union there 
are five children living: Robert A., a i)hysician; 
John, araechanic; William C, anatlorney; Charles 
C, a physician ; and Leon C, an attorney. 

The Doetoi' is essentially a self-made man, hav- 
ing had to make his own way in the world from his 
youth up, commencing life poor, and is now one of 
the wealthy men of Carlinville. He was unable to 
attend medical lectures until he had aociunulated 
sutlicient money by his pr.ictice. He has always 
put his whole heart into his profession with the suc- 
cess that is sure to follow such devoiion to one's 
calling. His patients attribute his success to his 
skill and aliility, but the Doctor frankly says their 
unbounded faith in him have more to do with it 
than any merit he may possess. 

Our subject has been elected by his fellow-towns- 
men to various ollices of trust. He w.as a member 
of the first City Council, -.tnd has also served as a 
member of the County Board of Supervisors. So- 
cially, he is identified with Macoupin Lodge, No. 
107, I. O. O. F. He was also a delegate to the Con- 
stitutional Convention of this State in 18G9-70. 



vjjOBKKT W. HUDDLESTUN, formerly con- 
nected with the agricultural interests of 




^y\\\ this county, now living in retirement at 
^@) Carlinville, is a son of one of the early pio- 
neer families of this section of Illinois. He was 
born in Putnam County, Ind., November 1, 1829. 
His father, .Tolin lluddlestun, was a Kentuckian bj- 
birth, while the paternal grandfather was named 
either Daniel or Abraham Huddlestun, and was 
born either in Virginia or England of English par- 



ents. He was a pioneer of Kentucky, and resided 
there many years ere his removal to Indiana, where 
he died. 

John Huddlestun was reared and married in 
Kentucky, Nancy Dunn, also a native of that State, 
becoming his wife. Her father, whose name was 
Robert Dunn, was of Irish biith, and coming to 
America in early manhood, lie first settled among 
the pioneers of Kentucky. He afterward removed 
to Indiana, an(i his life was brought to a close in 
that State. In 1828, the father of our subject, 
located in Indiana as a pioneer of Putnam County, 
where he lived two years. In 1830 he came to 
Illinois, the removal being made with teams. He 
took up his residence in what is now CTilles|)ie 
Township, where he bought a tract of wild land, 
the family moving into the floorless log cabin that 
stood on the place. 

Entering n tract of Government land in Cahokia 
Township, Mr. Huddlestun erected upon it a hewed 
log house, which was considered a fine residence 
for those times. After residing there a few years, 
he sold that farm and bought a tract of land on 
section 9, Brushy Mound Township, and there his 
life was terminated a few months later by his un- 
timely death. He won an honorable record as a 
pioneer, and was respected by all who knew him. 
His widow survived him many years, and finally 
died at a ri[)e age at the home of her daughter, Mrs. 
Melinda Clark, in the same township. She reared 
these seven children — Samuel, Elizabeth, Melvina, 
Robert W. Melinda, Mary Ellen and Lydia J. 

On another page appears a portrait of the subject 
of this life review, who was reared in a pioneer 
home, and was early taught to lead a life of useful- 
ness. He was very young when his father died, and 
when his brother married, the care of tlie farm soon 
devolved on the youthful shoulders of our subject, 
who proved equal to the occasion, and successfully 
managed it. uulil he was lured to California to seek 
a quicker way of making a fortune in the gold 
fields of that State, going thither in 1850. lie 
started from his old home March 26, with a party 
of twelve, traveling with eleven yoke of oxen to 
three wagons, and going the entire distance across 
the plains and mountains to the Pacific Coast in 
that manner, arriving at Weaver Creek, their des- 



536 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tinalion, Soplemljer 5. Our subject and liis com- 
panions bad thus joiiine_ye(l a flistance of over two 
thousand miles over an almost tracl<less, uninhab- 
ited region, there being scarcely a white settler be- 
yond St. Joseph on the |)hiins, tliat weie known as 
the '-(ireat American Desert." Indians were some- 
times encountered, deer and wild game frequently 
crossed the path of our travelers, and ))uffaIoes 
were seen in great nnmliers. 

For a little more than a year, Mr. Huddlestun 
engaged in prospecting and mining in the Golden 
State, and then tiring of the wild, rough life of 
mining camps, he turned his face homeward, and 
came back to Illinois by way of the Isthmus 
of Panama. He very qufetly resumed farming 
with his brother-in-law, and before his mar- 
riage in 1853 bought a home in Honey Point Town- 
ship. He soon traded that place for land in Brushy 
Mound Township, on which stood a small frame 
house 16x16 feel, and in thathumble abode he and 
his young bride commenced their happy wedded 
life. He resided there until 1889, and then went 
to Kansas, and remained in Bourbon County four 
months. Returning to Brushy Mound Township, 
in Febinary, the same month he bought a pleasant 
home at Carlinville, and has ever since been a res- 
ident of this cit}'. 

Mr. Huddlestun and Miss Eliza A. McPherron 
were married in 1853, and to them have been born 
thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters, all 
deceased except Amos E., Ada Lou, Addie F. and 
James Clinton. Mr. and Mrs. Huddlestun are mem- 
bers in high standing of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and are people whom to know is to respect 
and esteem for their many excellent qualities of 
head and heart. Mrs. Huddlestun is a native of 
this State, her birth))lace in Greene County, and 
the date of her birth, April 3, 1835. Her father, 
Amos JMcPherron, was born at Knoxvill(',Tenn.. in 
17;)6. He grew to manhood in his native State, 
and was there married to Miss Ilettie Morris, who 
was also a native of Tennessee. Her father, Will- 
iam Morris, came from there to Illinois in an early 
da}' of its settlement, and spent his last years in 
Greene County. In 1828 Mrs. Hnddlestun's father 
came to this State, and was one of the early pio- 
neers of Greene County. He located eight miles 



east of CarroUton on the south side of Spring 
Prairie and there improved a good farm, on which 
he made his home until his long and useful life was 
closed by death July 6, 1888. 

^^^EACON C. Y. A. (iUICK, now retired from 
1) active business as a farmer, lives in a pleasant 
home in the northeastern part of the city of 
]?unker Hill. Here he has lived since the fall of 
1880, when he removed from his farm near Dor- 
chester to this place. His fine farm of one hun- 
dred and sixty acres was, when he left it, in a high 
state of cultivation, but when he took it in 1851 
it was all raw prairie. He brought it into excellent 
conditi(Mi, supplied it with good buildings and 
fences and it is now considered one of the best 
farms in the neighborhood. 

Our subject was born in Somerset County, N.J,, 
April 16, 1825, and was the son of Jacob, the son 
of James who was born in Holland and emigrated 
to America prior to the Revolutionary War, with 
a colony of his co-patriots. It was in Somerset 
County thai James Quick lived and died, having 
at the time of his death, reacheil the goodly age of 
three-score years and Qfteen. He was a farmer 
and came from the sturdy old Dutch slock who 
helped to make the early history of New Jersey. 
His wife was also from Holland and she lived to 
the age of seventy-eight years. They were prom- 
inent and esteemed members of what w.as then 
known as the Dutch Reformed Church more recently 
called the Reformed Church. 

Jacob Quick, the father of our subject was one 
of the older children of a large family, and while 
growing to manhood acquired a knowledge of 
weaving. He never followed it as a specialty, but 
look up farming instead. He was a noble-minded 
man of pure habits and an upright Christian char- 
acter and a friend to a large circle of people in 
Somerset County. He liad been a life-long Demo- 
crat in politics. His wife, who bore the maiden 

I name of Catherine VanArsdale, si)cnt her entire life 
and died in .Somerset County, where she passed away 

1 at the age of eighty-nine years. She was possessed 



PURTliAIT AMD BIOGRAI'IJICAL RKCOIID. 



537 



of a good and noble character and was liisjlily 
esteemed as a inember of the Refoinied C'hm\h. 
Her parents, Clirislopher and Catherine N'anArs- 
dale were natives of (loliand and liad come to tliis 
countiy when yoiini;- people. After their marriaye 
they spent their lives on a farm excc|)t as Mr. Van 
Arsdale was absent while serving as a soldier in 
the RevoUuionar^' War. They died at the good 
old age of eighty- and eighty two years res|)ect- 
ivcly. 

The subject of this slvotcli is thi! elilest of a fam- 
ily of eight children, who all lived to be married 
anil establish homes of their own. All but one 
are now living. This boy was reared in his native 
county and in early life learned and followed the 
trade of a carpenter. When quite a young mail he 
came West to Jersey Count}', 111., in the si)ring of 
1849, coming over what was known as the caual 
and river route from New Jersey. lie was mar- 
ried in Jersey County, to Mrs. Susan Randolijh 
nee Staats, who was born in our subject's native 
county, and who hud come when qu'te young to 
Greene County-, 111., and later became a resident 
of Jersey County. In 1851 they removed to 
Macoupin County and afterward to Bunker Hill. 
Here she was called away to the better land 
July 28, 1883, at the age of fifty-nine years, hav- 
ing been born October 10, 1824. She had come 
of Dutch and French ancestry. She was a consis- 
tent and devout member of the Presbyterian 
Church and was possessed of true womanly cliar- 
actei'istics. She was the mother of three children. 
The only child of her union with Mr. (^uick, a son 
William, died in infancy. Her two children by 
her marriage with Mr. Randolph still survive: 
Etta, the wife of Henry Hoagland, of Liiicoln, 
Neb., and John, a farmer, lives in Ililyard Town- 
ship. 

The second marriage of Deacon (^uick took place 
in the city of Bunker Hill, October 15, 1884. This 
wife bore the maiden name of Margaret K. Harlan. 
She was born in Gillespie Townsliip, this county, 
November 26, 1834. She was reared and educated 
within the borders of the county and spent some 
fifteen years in Ed ward? vi lie, where she completed 
her education. She is the daughter of George and 
Margaret (King) Harlan, natives of Virginia and 



Kentncliy respectively. Her [larents were married 
in Kentucky shortly before their coming to Illinois 
in 1831. They entered a large tract of Govern- 
ment land in Ciillespie Township, and began life as 
pioneers. They improveil their farm and made a 
comfortable home and there died, Mr. Harlan in 
1851 at the age of ssventy live years and Mrs. 
Harlan in 1842, while still in middle life. Their 
religious belief was in accord with the doctrines 
of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Harlan's politi- 
cal views were with the Whig party. The mother 
of Mrs. Margaret (Juick was Mr. Harlan's third 
wife, and this daughter was one of the youngest of 
her mother's children. 

Mr. and Mrs. (^uick are active members of the 
Congregational Church in which Mr. (^uick has 
been a Deacon for many years, and where he has 
been a member ever since he came to Macoui)in 
County. He is a Republican in politics, and a 
man who is highly intelligent in regard to matters 
of |)ublic interest. 



f ENRY O. MEENEN. The owner of the 
fine farm on section 29, (iillespie Town- 
siiip, is one of the many farmers who has 
made a success of agricultural life in this 
State, making the ground productive to the fullest 
possible extent. Mr. Meenen is a general farmer 
and stock-raiser and owns one' hundred twenty 
acres of land, all under the plow, with first-class 
improvements and buihlings. All the improv- 
ments were made by himself. The place has been 
his home since 1866, although he has eighty acres 
on section 28, of the same townihip, upon which he 
has a tenant. It also is finely improved. 

Mr. Meenen came to this county in 1857 after 
having lived for three years in Madison County, 
III. He began his life here as a poor man and 
strugirled for his living, earning it b^' hard labor 
as a farmer for other i)eople, and later renting land 
which he farmed for himself, making it pay for it- 
self and declare a dividend which he finally invest- 
ed in the land which is now his home. He is a 
native of that part of Germany known as the 



538 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



province of Hanover, being horn there in 1838. 
He is Ihc son of Olto and Antke (Thelan) 
Mcencn, wlio were al,<o natives of Hanover where 
they were small farmers. Mr. Meeneu's father 
remained in Germany until his children were horn. 
They were two in number of which our subject is 
the younger. 

In March. 1854. the little family of Meenens 
took passage from Bremen on a sailing vessel 
wiiich bore a German name. They landed in New 
Orleans after a pleasant voyage of seven weeks and 
three days, ^'ery soon they came to Alton, 111., 
and afterward the father and son worked in 
Madison County on various farms for some time. 
There the father died in 1857, he then being in 
the heyday of life. The wife and mother with 
her two children came on to M.acoujiin County 
and here she was for the second time married to 
Fred Week and the couple afterward spent their 
last 3-ears in this county, both dying here. 
The mother of our subject and both her husbands 
were members of the Lutheran Church. Our sub- 
ji-ct is the only membei of the familj' now 
living, his sister having died here after marriage 
to Harm Hnrmes. Her name was Anna. Her 
death was especially sad, in that she left .a family 
of nine children. 

Mr. Meetien reached his majority after he had 
come Macou|)in County and here he has ever since 
lived. He was married at Alton to Miss Joanna 
Gronwold. !She also was a native of Hanover in 
which province she was born July 20. 1837. heing 
a daughter of Harm and Marguerite (Venting) 
Gronwold. natives of Hanover, who, after the 
birth of all their children, left their native shore 
and taking passage on a sadcr in 1857, came to 
this country, landing in New Orleans. Thence 
they came to Illinois and alter some years the 
father died at Litchfield. After his death the 
mother lived in Christian County, where she died 
December 25, 1890. at the age of eighty-eight 
years, she having been all her life a member of the 
Lutheran Church. 

Mrs. Meenen, wife of the original of our sketch, 
lived with her parents helping thein to make a 
living until her marriage. She is the mother of 
five children, three of whom are deceased. The 



deceased children are Henry, Harm and Antke. 
Those living are Otto, who took to wife Antke 
Hemken. a native of Germany, hut reared in 
Montgomery County, this St-\te; the^- live on the 
father's farm and are the parents of three children 
— Henry, George and Otto, .Ir. The other living 
child is Marguerite, wife of Benjamin Schmidt; 
they live at Venice, the husband running a grocery 
at iliat place. 

Our subject, his wife and cliildren arc lueiiibcrs 
of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Meenen has been 
honored by election to oHice several times in the 
township. He and his son are adherents of the 
Republican party. 

— ^ -#>^ ^- 



I 



WILLIAM MINDRLP. Among the worthy 
IW] citizens and thrifty German farmers of 
j^r^ Staunton Township, we are pleased to men- 
tion the hard working and earnest young bachelor 
who enjoys single blessedness upon section 23, and 
who bears the name which appears at the head of 
this sketch. Since he was old enough to do farm 
work, he h.as been actively engaged .as a farmer 
and stock-raiser, and he now owns a substantial 
farm of nineiy-five .acres on the section where he 
resides, and adjoining it upon section 23, he hns 
eighty acr?s. All of this land is well improved 
and excellently well stocked. Our subject, with 
his brother Henry, purchased this farm and settled 
upon it some 3'ears ago. and they have carried it 
on together since that time. 

He of whom we write is the elder of these two 
brothers, and was born in Madison County of this 
.State in 1855. and received his early education and 
training in that count)' and in this. He came of 
German parentage, his father, Aliraham, and mother 
Sophia(Fischer) Mindrnp. being horn in the Father- 
land, where the)' grew to man's and woman's estate 
and while yet young and unmarried, came at the 
same time to the I'nited States and settled in Madi- 
son County, 111. There they were married about a 
a year later and began life together upon a new 
farm which they had rented. Tiiey proceedeil to 
improve it and lived there for about twelve years. 



PORTRAIT AND HIUGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



539 



They piucliascd the laiifl wliieli is now owned by 
our subject and his brolhor, and after tiie dcalii of 
his wife which occurred in li^8'.), at the age of sixty 
years, he concluded to reside with iiis son. lie is 
now sixty-Liiree years old and is yet an active and 
capable man, and al)le to do much upon the farm. 
Tlie dci)arted motlier was a devoted member of the 
Lutheran C'hurcli, with wiiich her iuisband and 
family are also connectod. The father and sons 
are all active and earnest Republicans in their po 
litical views and vote. 

The subject of our sketch is the second child of 
the little household born to his parents and is now 
the eldest of the four who survive. Next in ajje 
to him comes Henry, vvho took to wife So|)hia 
Franke, and with her lives on the farm with his 
brother and father, and helps to operate it. The 
next younger is a sister, Dena, the wife of Henry 
Kruse, who lives on a farm in Staunton Township. 
Another sister, Sophia, has married William Kruse, 
and lives upon a farm in this township. This ex- 
cellent family has set an example of pluck, push 
and perseverance which may well be emulated by 
any young man who h.as determined to make for 
himself a place and a fortune in the West. 



\»l — 5) LI W. KICHIK has for many years been a 
bf) resident of this county and during that time 
/i' — '-^ has won an honorable place for himself 
among its industrious and thrifty farmers, aiding 
in the development of the agricultural resources of 
South Palmyra Townshi|), where he iias made for 
himself and family acomfortable home. His native 
|)lace is Cabarrus County, N. C, and October 
25, 18.33, the date of his birth. His father was 
.lacob Richie, who is also supposed to have been 
born in that State. There he was reared to the life 
of a farmer, married and engaged in agricultural 
)Mirsuits in Cabarrus Count}' until his premature 
death in 1 83G, while yet in life's prime. His widow 
was tlius left with seven children to care for. Her 
maiden name was Elizabetii Walker and she was a 



native of Cabarrus County. She did not long sur- 
vive her husl)and but died Septeinl)er .3, 1840. 

Our subject was thus left an oi-phan al the tender 
age of seven, and he lived with an elder broMier 
some years. He grew to be a strong, self leliant 
lad, and at an early age he started in life for him- 
self by working on a farm by the month. When 
he was sixteen years old he went to Tennessee to 
live with a farmer in Washington County. The 
.agreement was that he was to live with him until 
he was twenty-one, and in consideration for his 
services he was to receive his board and clothes, 
twelve months" schooling dui'ing that time, and a 
hojse, saddle and bridle when he left him. 

The man did not clothe him and after a year of 
hard labor under this rough taskmaster our subject 
left him and found employment elsewhere at *8 a 
month. In 1853 he engaged with a man to drive 
a team from Tennessee to Illinois, and starting on 
his journey in the fall of that year he arrived at 
Girard after a month's travel. He found work 
there for a time, and then coming to Palmyra he 
was employed in the village by the job or month 
for a year and a half. At the expiration of that 
time he rented land anil proceeded to [lut in a crop, 
and he then bought a quarter of a section of laud 
in South Palmyra Township. After a two years' 
residence on that place he sold it and bought an- 
other in South Otter Township. Two years later 
he sohl that property and the succeeding two years 
farmed as a renter. He next bought a tract of land 
in South Palmyra Township, upon whicii he resided 
until 1875 when he iiurcluised his present home, 
which was formerly the pro[)erty of his wife's fa- 
ther and is a well-equipped and finely cultivated 
farm. 

Mr. Richie has not been without the help of a 
good wife who has been an important factor in his 
prosperity, as he was married in 1855 to Miss Sarah' 
Ross. They have eight children — Julia, James, 
Robert, William, Franklin, Carrie, Milton and 
Moiris. Mrs. Richie is a native of South Palniyia 
Township, of which her parents, Robert and Mary 
Ross, were pioneer settlers. Her father was a native 
of North Carolina and a son of Reuben Ross. The 
latter, who was a farmer came to Illinois in the 
early jears of its settlement, and was one of the 



540 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



original pioneers of Morgan County-, where the 
resl of his life was passed. Mrs. Richie's father 
was four i'cars old when his parents removed to 
Tennessee, and he came from there to Illinois in 
1830. He settled Bist in Morgan County bu^. sub- 
sequently came to this county and bought the farm 
on which our subject now lives. He imraedialeij' 
entered upon its improvement, building first a log 
house for the shelter of his family, and in that 
primitive dwelling Mrs. Richie was born. He car- 
ried on farming on his homestead until death 
closed his mortal career. Mrs. Richie was educated 
in the pioneer schools of the lime and received a 
careful training in housekeeping, besides learning 
how to spin, weave and knit, so that she was per- 
fectly- able to care for a house of her own when 
she married, and could make cloth for garments 
and other use. 

Mr. Richie is a shrewd, practical man, skillful In 
his calling, of a social, obliging disposition, and he 
stands well in his community. He is a respected 
member of the Scottville Lodge, A. F. & A. M., 
whicli he joined in 1864. In his political senti- 
ments he is a sturd3^ Democrat. 



OfX> 



f 



OHN BRANDENBURGER, who for many 
years was connected with the business inter- 
ests of Bunker Hill, but is now living a 
(^^/ retired life, is a native of German}-. He 
wa.s born on the Rhine, November 16, 18'26, and 
of the same locality iiis parents, Andrew and Cath- 
erine (Cancl) Braudeuburger, were natives. The 
mother died in Germany at the age of fifty-eighl 
3-e.'irs, after which the father came to the I'nited 
States and si)ent his last days in Belleville, 111., 
dying at the age of sixti'-eight j-ears. Both were 
members of the Lutheran Church. He served for 
a time in the Prussian regular arm}- and made 
farming his life occu|.>ation. 

Our subject is the second in order of Itirth in a 
family of five children, numbering four sons and 
a daughter, all of whom lived to come to this 
country, while two brothers and a sister yet sur- 
vive. John grew to manhood in his native land 



and there learned the trade of a shoem.aker, which 
he has followed to a considerable extent in his 
mature 3'ears. He worked as a journeyman until 
he came to thiscountr}'. In the mouth of Novem- 
ber, 1851, he sailed from Havre. France, to New 
Orleans, where he landed on the 12th of December 
after a seven weeks' voy.age. Coming up the Mis- 
sissippi River, he located in Belleville, 111., where 
an elder brother had settled three j-ears before, A 
year later he removed to Marcno, Madison Count}-, 
where he made his home until 1859, when he came 
to Bunker Hill and established a shoemakiug shop,H 
where he manufactured and mended boots and 
slioes. This husiress he carried on successfully 
until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he 
laid aside tiie last ami awl an<l enrolled his name 
among the boys in blue, August 15, 1861. He 
was assigned to Company B, of the First Missouri 
Cavalry under Capt. Clinton and Col. Ellis, and 
with his regiment went to the South, They first 
met the enemy on the 8th of January, 1862, at 
Silver Creek, where four hundred of the Union 
Cavalry successfully routed fourteen hundred 
Rebels, who were not onl\- superior in numbers 
but were fortified by the banks of the creek. 
Moving on southward through Missouri another 
engagement occurred at Sugar Creek, where the 
First Cavalrv ,acled as the advance guard of Gen. 
Ellis. The regiment was ordered to make a 
charge, which the}- did, silencing the rebel batter- 
ies. They met with a heavy loss but it gave the 
Union troo[)S the advantage. Moving on to Pea 
Ridge, Ark., the rebels were again defeated after a 
three da3-s' engagement and in April, 1863, the 
Battle of Neoscho occurred. Thence the troops 
marched to Prairie Grove where the First 
Cavair}' suffered severel}-. The lighting was con- 
tinued at Little Rock on the lOth of September, 
when Price was defeated and the city taken under 
Gen. Banks. From thence tlio regiment went to 
Camden, Ark., where another victor3- for the 
Union arms occurred. After a little more than 
three years Mr. P.randenburger was honorablN' dis- 
charged in Little Rock. He saw some hard fight- 
ing and proved himself a valiant soldier. He was 
promoted to the rank of Sergeant and his faithful- 
ness made him a favorite not only with his com- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



541 



i-adcs l)iit with the otIictMS ns woll. Kiiily in tlie 
war, while on skirniisii duty and Ids coniniruid was 
meeting a cliarge down a steep decline on a gallop, 
one man and his horse fell into a ravine and a 
seconil shared the same fate; then came our suh- 
ject, who fared no better, and upon him tumbled 
the fourth horse and his rider. There they l.ay in 
a confused mass and the pommel of the saddle 
coming in contact with Mr. Brandenburger's ster- 
num, the bone W.1S broken. The first man who 
fell lost his life and the second luad his leg brokeii. 
With the exception of this accident our subject 
escaped all wounds, neither was he ca()tured, but 
in several instances narrowly escaped. 

On receiving his discharge Mr. Brandenburger 
returned to Illinois and again resumed work at his 
tr.ade, but owing to ill health he was forced to 
abandon that work and began keeping a hotel, which 
he followed uitil he retired altogether from active 
business life. His wife, who has proved to him a 
true helpmate, was formerly Miss Christena Finke, 
an.I their wedding was celebrated in Madison 
County, December 2, 1854. The lady is a native 
of Germany and a daughter of Ignatius and C'atli- 
erena (Ilenge) Finke, who were boiii in Hesse- 
Cassel. After the birth of their ciiildren, four in 
number, they emigrated to the United Stales, leav- 
ing their native land in 1852 and landing at Balti- 
more, Md., going thence to .St. Louis and soon 
afterward to Madison County, where they located 
on a new farm which Mr. Finke cultivated and 
improved, he and his wife making it their home 
until death. The former died at the age of sixty- 
nine years and the latter in the eighty second year 
of her age. They were both members of the Ger- 
man Catholic Church and were worthy peojjle. 
Their chililren arc all yet living, are married and 
with one exception live in Illinois. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brandenburger have been 
born five children: Louisa, wife of Samuel Lee, 
whose sketch appears on another page of this work; 
Maggie, wife of John Haneglmn, a furniture dealer 
of Bunker Hill; Lillie F., at home ; John, now a 
resident of St. Louis, and Minnie, who completes 
the family. In politics Mr. Brandenburger is a 
Republican and keeps himself well informed con- 
cerning the issues of the day. Religiously he is a 



member of the Luthcan CIhucIi and his wife and 
children are members of the Cathoiic Church, lie 
was one of the failliful soldiers during the late war 
and has since been a valued citizen of the commu- 
nity, where for a third of a contury he lias made 
his home. 







■ic^^.;, 



ENRY R. STUTSMAN, a IcMdiii- farnicr 
of Girard Township, his wcil-improvcd and 
well-managed homestead being on section 80 
^) was born on a farm tlircf ami ouc-half miles 
southeast of the town o! (Joshcn, Elkhart County, 
Ind.. May 2, 184(). His father, .lacob Stutsman, 
was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, in Sep- 
tember, 1815, a son of Samuel Stutsman, one of 
the pioneers of that section of the country, who was 
a Pennsylvaniaii by birth, and of German anteced- 
ents. He was reared and married in the Ke\ stone 
Slate, and removed from there to Ohio in llie i^arly 
years of the settlement of Montgomery County. 
He purchased a tract of forest, built a shelter for 
his family, and in due time cleared a farm from 
the wilderness. In 1833 he removed from there 
lo Elkhart County, Ind.. where his remaining days 
were spent. The maiden name of his wife was 
Magdalena Ulery. She was born in I'lMuisylvania 
and died in Elkhart County, Ind. 

Jacob Stutsman was a youth of ciiilitcen years 
v.'lien he went with his parents to their new home 
in the wilds of Indiana. He inheritccl a portion of 
his father's farm, bought other land adjoining, and 
resided there until 18G8, when he came to Macou- 
jiin County. Ho bought two hundred and eighty 
acres of land in (Jiiard Township, including the 
farm now owned by our subject, and lie was pros- 
perously engaged in agriculture until his death 
in 1871. His wife bore the maiden name of Han- 
nah Studebaker, and she was born in Montgomery 
County, Ohio, May lit, 1819. Her father w.as Ja- 
cob Studebaker, and he was a native of Pennsylva- 
nia. He was a son of David Studebaker, who is 
supposed to have been born in Lancaster County, 
Pa., of German parentage. He became a pioneer 



542 



POKTRAIT AND BJOGRi^PHJCAL RECORD. 



of Montgomery County, Oliio, in an early clay, and 
there died in the fullness of time. 

Jacob Studebaker, grandfather of our subject was 
a carpenter. In 1816, with his wife and the one 
chilli that had been born to them in their old 
home, he went to Ohio and settled among the pio- 
neers of Montgomery County', where he bought a 
tract of land. When not engaged at his trade, he 
devoted his lime to the improvement of a farm. 
In 1830 he emigrated to Elkhart County, Ind., 
where the Indians predominated, as there were but 
few while settlers. He bought a piece of lar.d two 
miles northwest of Goshen, on the Elkhait River. 
He improved the water power by building the first 
mill for the manufacture of lumber ever erected in 
that section of counlry. He did a great <leal to- 
wards the upbuilding of that county in his capac- 
ity as a skillful carpenter, as it was he who erected 
the first Court House in Gosher., and many other 
buildings were the work of liis band. He resided 
in that locality until his demise. The maiden name 
of his first wife was Esther Leer, and she was a 
daughter of Jacob and Lydia Leer. She was born 
in Pennsylvania, and died in Monlgomeiy County, 
Ohio, her death occurring in February, 1827. Tiie 
mother of our subject still makes her home on the 
old homestead with her son. 

Henry Stutsman grew to man's estate in his na- 
tive county. After marriage be purchased a farm 
east of Girard, but after living on it two years, he 
sold it, and bought a tract west of Giraid. He 
did not, however, settle upon that at once, but de- 
voted himself to the lumber business at Girard five 
years, and the following four years was connected 
with the creamery in the same village. He then 
located on the old homestead, where lie has since 
engageil in agricultuial pursuits, carr^'ing on his 
operations skillfully, industriously, and with good 
jtrofit. He is an honest, upright man, kind and 
neighborly in his relations with his fellow-citizens, 
and none know him but lo esteem him. He and 
his family are worthy members of the German Bip- 
llst Brethren Church. 

Mr. Stutsman was first married in 18o8 to Miss 
Mary Miller. She was born in Elkhart County, 
Ind., and died at Girard in 1881, leaving six chil- 
dren — Ella, Emma, Charles, Asa A., Maude and 



Thomas. The second marriage of our subject was 
in 1883 to Miss Susie Frantz, a native of Clarke 
County, Ohio. Her father, Joseph Frantz, was 
born in Virginia, and removed from there to Ohio, 
locating in Clarke County, where he bought and 
improved n farm, on which he spent the remainder 
of his life. The maiden name of his second wile, 
mother of Mrs. Stutsman, was Catherine Neher. 
She was born in Clarke County, and was a daugh- 
ter of Henry and Susan (Frantz) Neher, the latter 
a native of Virginia. Mrs. Stutsman's grandparents 
were early pioneers of Clarke County, Ohio. She 
was only three years old when her i)arents died, 
and she lived with her maternal grandparents until 
she was thirteen, when siie went to live with an un- 
cle, with whom she came lo Illinois when she was 
seventeen years of age. Her marriage with our 
subject has brought tliera three children — Fred, 
Verner and Sylvia P. 

—^ M ^ 




OBERT K. ALDERSON, an extensive 
farmer of North Palmj-ra Township, is a 
son of Robert Alderson, a Southerner bj' 
birth, whose nativity was either in Ken- 
tucky or Tennessee. His mother was Elizabeth 
Clack, and both parents died in Cherokee County, 
Kan. Of a family of fourteen children our subject 
is one of the younger members. He was born in 
North Otter Township, February 20, 1849. There 
he grew to manhood and continued to live until 
his marriage. The sul)ject of this sketcii vvas 
married in Carlinville, February 20, 1868, to Miss 
Lucy A. Neviii, daughter of James Nevin. For 
the minutia of the history of this well-known fam- 
il}' our readers will be pleased to turn to the bio- 
ographical sketcli elsewhere of James Nevin. After 
marriage the young couple made their home first 
in North Otter Township, but after several years 
removed to section 12, North Palmyra Township, 
where they have since been residents. Mrs. Ald- 
erson is a native of this connty and was born May 
17, 1849. 

Mrs. and Mrs. Alderson are the parents of seven 
children: Minnie M., who married Edward Walk- 



\^ 




>v^ 




r^. 




£/^. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



545 




ingloii; Mina B., Nettie A., Mattie L., Millie M., 
Melvin M. and Myi't'e D. Five Imiulred and ti;iity- 
fi\e acres constitute the tract of land wliicli is 
o ned and managed by our subject. Agricultural 
l^ursuits have always engaged his exclusive atten- 
tion and he has made a success of farming. The 
comfortable and commodious set of farm buildings 
with which he has adorned his farm attest his thor- 
ough management and correspond well with the 
neat fences which there appear. Mr. Alderson lias 
tilled well the otlicc of School Director and in that 
capacity has done much to elevate the standard of 
the public schools. His wife is an earnest and 
edieient member of the Christian Church and a 
woman of intluence in the community. 

^^ILLIAM C. ANDERSON. Many beautiful 
// farms may be seen by the traveler in 
Shaw's Point Township, but none more 
attractive than that of Mr. Anderson, on section 9. 
lie t)vvns aliout four hundred acres of laud and also 
has four hundred acres in South Ottci' Township, 
all of which is carcfidly tilled and systematically 
managed. The dwelling is ccunfortable in a|)iiear- 
ancc and gives evidence of the presence of an 
orderly and refined woman within. Among the 
farm buildings are such barns, granaries and sheds 
as the extent of the work carried on makes con- 
venient. This fine farm has been gained by the 
exercise of judicif)us management and unremitting 
toil on the part of tlio present owner, ami he justly 
merits his position among the foremost agricultur- 
alists and stock- raisers of Macoupin County. 

The iinmedii'te progenitors of our subject arc 
William 1). and Elizabeth (Hancock) Anderson, 
natives of Kentucky. The father was reared in 
Wayne Count\ , that State, and in lfS28, accom- 
panied b}' his family, came to this State and located 
in Macoupin County. This was his home the most 
of the time until his death, although for one year 
he sojourned in Sangamon County. The family 
comprised eight children, of whom seven attained 
to mature years. Our subject, who was the second 
in order of birth, was born in Carlinvillc, tliis 



county, August 26, 1830, and therefore knows no 
home but this. He has been a witness of the many 
changes which have been made in the country, has 
watched with interest the springing up of towns, 
the hewing out of the wilderness and the improve- 
ment of the soil. 

When he was fourteen years old our subject was 
orphaned by the death of his father, after which 
sad event he went to live with an uncle, Henry- 
Edwards. There he grew to manhood, attending 
the pioneer schools of the district whenever oppor- 
tunity offered, and aiding in the farm work. At 
the age of nineteen years he utilized his thorough 
knowledge of agricultural pursuits by working 
out on farms for others and continued thus em- 
ployed until he was twenty-six years old. After 
his marriage, which occurred about this time, he 
settled on section 9, Shaw's Point Township, where 
he has since resided. He has devoted his attention 
both to general farming and stock-raising and, as 
he brings to his work an unusual degree of judg- 
ment and foresight, his efforts have naturally met 
with tlattcring success. He keeps abreast with all 
imi)rovements in agriculture, has his estate sup- 
plied witli the latest improved machinery, and good 
management is shown in all the details of farm 
work. 

For more than thirty 3- ears the pleasant home of 
jMr. Anderson has been presided over by a lady 
whose nobility of character and hospitality of dis- 
position have won for her a warm place among a 
large circle of acquaintances. Mrs. Anderson was 
born in Macoupin County, August 11, 183-tand 
bore the maiden name of Mary Ann Anderson. 
She is the sister of M. M. Anderson, of Carlinville, 
and her parents James C. and Ann Anderson weie 
natives of Virginia and Kentucky. The hap|>y 
wedded life of Mr. ;ind Mrs-. Anderson has been 
blest to them by the birth of six children, of whom 
we note the following: William T. died May 9, 
1880, at the age of twenty-three years, leaving a 
wife Josephine (Leach) Anderson; Henry M. mar- 
ried Miss Lizzie Sharp and they have one daugh- 
ter; Saiah M. is now Mrs. William Leach; J. C; 
David P. and Mary C. died in infancy. 

In educational matters Mr. Anderson maintains 
a special interest an<l for many \ears has served as 



546 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



School Director of his rtistricl. a position which he 
ably fills. He h.is never been an office-seeker, but 
believes in Democracy, and supports the principles 
of that party wiih bis ballot and influence. A 
public-spirited, generous man, his influence in the 
community is jjreat, and his position among the 
leading citizens of this count}- has been gained 
through patient efforts in the interests of the great 
commonwealth to which he gives his allegiance. 

In connection with this brief biographical notice, 
a lithographic portrait of Mr. Anderson is pre- 
sented to our readers. 



I 



-^^ 



^ 



l^UDLEY SAUNDERS owns and occupies 
I j| one of the fertile farms that have made Ma- 
Jif^ coupin Count}- notable as an .igricullural 
district. Tlie property consists of one hundred 
and twenty acres on sections 20 and 2y. of 
Honey Point Townsliip. The owner being now 
quite advanced in years, his 3-oungest son has the 
active management of the property. Mr. Saunders 
was born in Caldwell Counry, Ky.. December 20. 
1817. His grandf.-ilher, .Julius Saunders, was born 
in Virginia and w.is one of the first settlers in 
Fayette County. Ky.. whence he removed to Trigg 
County, where be spent his lastyeais. .Jeremiah 
Saunders, father of our subject, was born in the 
Blue Grass State in Fayette County, and with the 
exception of two years in Clinton County, this 
State, spent his life in that in which he was born. 
He married Priscilla Ramey, whose death occurred 
in Trigg Count}', Ky. 

Our subject left the parental roof when seven- 
teen years old and came on horseb.aek to this 
State. His entire wealth consisted of the horse he 
rode and the saddle uix)n the back of the animal. 
Reaching this county, he sought employment and 
fouml it with a blacksmith at ^I'S per month. 
When he married he began working land on 
shares, and having but one horse, the owner of the 
property furnished a team. 

Mr. Saunders made a success of agriculture, 
and being careful in his expenditures he was soon 
able to buy property. His first purchase was a 



tract on sections 19 and 30, Honey Point Township, 
for which he paid #2.50 per aci'e. There was a 
log cabin on the place and twenty-four acres had 
been cultivated. After occupying the farm two 
years he sold it at an advance of ¥-200 and bought 
another tract in Brushy Mound Township, consist- 
ing of one hundred .acres. He ma<le furtuer im- 
provements there and after two years sold at an 
advance of ?200 and bought on section 32. Honey 
Point Township. He had cleared a few .acres 
when a good opixjrtnnity arose for selling, and he 
took advantage of it and then bought his present 
estate. 

In 1838 Mr. Saunders w.as married to Elizabeth 
Huddleston, a noble-hearted Kentucky lady, whose 
skill and affection were proved time and again, 
and had a potent influence in the advancement 
of the family. She understood how to card, spin 
and in her early married life made most of the 
clotli used in the family and dressed her children 
in homespun of her own manuf.acture. She was 
not unwilling to share the fortunes of the man 
whom she chose for her husband, even though 
they began life together with little but their 
strength of mind and heart and their mutual affec- 
tion as capital. She was rewarded by the esteem 
of those with whom she associated and the rever- 
ent affection of her family. She reared ten chil- 
dren, who are named respectively: Nancy A.. John, 
Sarah J., Margaret, Maria, Edgar, Fanny, Charles, 
Ada and Nettie. She w.as removed from earth in 
1876. 



W. SWITZER. Among the virions busi- 
-, _ ness interests represented in At water, is that 
^^^' of grain dealing, in which the subject of 
this sketch is engaged. Mr. Switzer was born in 
Lincoln. I^ogan County, November 17, 1859. His 
grandfather, Samuel Switzer, was a Pennsylvania 
farmer, and spent his entire life in his native State. 
His son. Samuel, father of our subject, w.as born in 
Mechanicsburg, Pa., and learned the trade of a car- 
penter, at which he worked in his native State until 
1856. He then removed to the Mississippi Valley 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHJCAL RECORD. 



547 



and settled in Lincoln, which was then but a ham- 
let, whik' the surrounding counlrj' was sparsely set- 
tled. The greater part of the land was still owned 
by the Government and was for sale at $1.25 per 
acre. Mr. Switzer bought a home in Lincoln and 
followed his trade there until his decease. He was 
twice married, his first wife being Mary A. Miller, 
a native of Mcchanicsburg, Pa., who died in 1863. 

The subject of this notice remained with his fa- 
ther until he was fourteen years old, and as his 
mother died during his childhood, his habits of life 
an<l thought were largely molded by his step- 
mother. At the age mentioned he began to care 
for himself, first finding employment on a farm 
where he worked until 1878. He then began lay- 
ing tile, an occupation that he followed some four 
years, after which he began work in Bristow's mill 
at Girard. He was slill working there when the 
mill was burned, in 1884, and he tlien resumed 
farming near Atwator. After two years of agricul- 
tural work, he bought a hay press, and for some 
months dealt in hay. but in .Tune, 1887, with W. 
W. Rristow .as a partner he began buying grain. 
He has continued in this business and he also buys 
and ships live stock, lindiiig in these lines of trade 
more congenial emi)l()ynient than in some which he 
attempted. 

In November, 1881, Mr. Switzer was married to 
Miss KUa Barrick, who was born in Middlctown, 
Logan County, and is a well informed and agree- 
able lad^'. The [ileasant home is made more at- 
tractive by the presence there of a young so:i, Lau- 
rence, in whose increasing intelligence the parents 
take great delight. Mr. and Mrs. Switzer have a 
large circle of ac(|uaint.inces, and as they are well 
informed and well l)red, they are (juite [lupular in 
society. 

AMES B. SEA RCY. This young gentleman 
is numbered among the members of the legal 
fraternity located in Palmyra, and has en- 
tered upon his professional career in such a 
way as to give promise of becoming one of the 
prominent lawyers of this locality. He has been in 
practice but a few 3ears, yet is alreadj' doing well 



financially speaking, and becoming known as a 
young man of ability and sound knowledge of the 
law. He was born on a farm in Boone Count}', 
Mo., August 15, 1858, ami was an infant when bis 
parents removed to New Mexico. When he was 
ten years old they made their homo in lliis county. 
His early education was obtained in the district 
school and he .advanced his knowledge by attend- 
ance at Blackburn Ihiiversity from which he was 
graduated in the Class of 'S3. He entered the 
Bloomington Law School and after studying there 
for a time continued his reading in the office of 
Rinaker <fe Rinaker in Carlinville. He was admit- 
ted to the bar in Mt. Vernon in 1885 and at once 
opened an office at Palmyra. 

Mr. Searcy was married in 1879 to Miss Anna 
E. Richie, who was born in this county in 1859 and 
was the daughter of Eli and Sarah Richie. The 
happy anticipations of the young couple were 
doomed to be unfulfilled, as the young wife died 
the year after her marriage. Mr. Searcy lived a 
widower until 188C when he made a second mar- 
riage. His bride on this occasion was Mis. Mary 
E. Duncan nee Fansler, a native of this county, 
born in March, 18G1. She was the widow of Allen 
C. Duncan, who died during the year after their 
marriage, and is a daughter of Endimon and Aman ■ 
da (King) Fansler. Mrs. Searcy received her edu- 
cation at the district schools and at Siuirtleff Col- 
lege in Alton, and is a member of the Chautauqua 
Literary and Scientific Circle, graduating with the 
Class of '91. This union has been blest by the 
birtl; of three children, who form a bright and in- 
teresting group around tlie family fireside. Their 
respective names are Earl B., William E. and 
Evan L. 

Tracing the ancestry of Mr. .Searcy back a few 
generations we find that the family lived in Vir- 
ginia. From that State the grandfather of our 
subject went to Kentucky when a young man and 
during the War of 181'2 he served in a Kentucky 
regiment. He was one of the few survivors of the 
Dudley massacre. He removed from the Blue 
Glass State to Missouri, and was one of the first 
settlers in Boone Count}-, where he bought a tract 
of land and improved a farm. His death occurred 
there early in the '60s. Lemuel B. Searcy married 



548 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mildred Conley; her father, John Conley, was in 
tlie Revolutionary AVar, and in their family was a 
son, Benjamin P., who was Ijorn in the same county 
as his son, our subject. That gentleman grew to 
manhood amid somewhat primitive surroundings, 
as for many years after his father settled in Boone 
County there were no railroads there and St. Louis 
was tiie nearest depot for supplies, while the jour- 
ney to and fro was performed with wagons drawn 
by oxen, or at a later period by horses. 

Benjamin Searcy married Nancj' E. Ilidgway, 
who was born in Boone County, Mo., December 
25, 1838, and in 1860 they went to New Mexico, 
traveling with teams via the Santa Fe trail. They 
located in Mora County', where at that time there 
were very few settler.s, as indeed whites were but 
few in the entire territori'. Mr. Searcy and his 
cousin, Enoch Tipton, established their homes near 
the present site of Watrous. a station on the Santa 
Fe Railroad, and were the first settlers in the Boone 
Valley. Mr. .Searcy bought a portion of the La- 
junta grant, and engaged in stock-ra'sing and 
farming. He found it necessary to irrigate his 
land, as is generally necessary in the Rocky Moun- 
tain region. For some time Ft. Union, nine miles 
from his ranch, was the nearest point of any im- 
portance and the principal military post in the 
territory. Mr. Searcy died in 1868, and in No- 
vember of that year his widow came to this county 
with her three children and bought a farm in South 
Palmyra Township. After living in widowhood 
more than a decade, she married Capt. J. S. Ciiiles, 
and she still oceui)ies her farm. 

The maternal grandfather of our s-ubject was 
John I). Ridgway, who was born in Clark County', 
Ky., but whose father, Niniaii Ridgway, was a Vir- 
ginian who had gone to the Blue Grass State after 
attaining to his majorit3'. In 1823 the family re- 
moved to Missouri, taking up pioneer work and 
improving a tract of considerable extent. Their 
first home was in Boone County and thence Ninian 
Ridgwa}' went to Calloway Count}', Mo., and made j 
Lis home with his son Dudley until his decease. 
John Ridgway was mairied in 1831 to Sophia Wig- 
ginton, a native of Boone County, Ky., and a 
daughter of Badger and Parthena (Greene) Wig- 
ginton. After his marriaoe he entered Government 



land in Calloway County, improved it and resided 
there some years, then changed his place of abotfe 
to Boone County. There he bought land on which 
he lived until 1857, when he went to Arkansas. In 
1860 he came to this State and he is now living in 
Palmyra, at the age of eighty-two j'ears. His wife 
died September 29. 1888. Their daughter, the 
mother of our suliject, reared three chihiren, of 
whom James B. is the eldest. The second is Sarah 
F , wife of Lincoln Chiles, and the youngest is 
William N., who is now studying law in the 15lootn- 
ington Law School. 

Mr. and Mrs. Searcy of this notice have made 
many friends since they established their home in 
Palmyra. Mr. Searcy belongs to Palmyra Lodge, 
No. 463, F. & A. M., and Palmyra Camp. No. 149. 
M. W. A. His political sympathy' and interest is 
with the Republican party. He belongs to the 
Christian Church, while his wife i3 connected with 
the .Southern Methodist Episcopal Church at Barr's 
Store. It is the aim of each to act in accordance 
with the Christian profession they have made, to 
bring up their children aright, and to do good as 
they have opporl unity. 



?^=- 

£^~ 



,^^ AMUEL D. EDDINGTON, a representa- 
^^^ five farmer, residing on section 3, is num- 
(lly D) liered amonij; llic honored |)ioneers of 1841 

A hnlf-century has passed since he located* 
here and with the history of the growth and (level 
opment of the county he has since been identified. 
He has been an ej'e-wilness of almost its entire 
progress, has seen its wild (jrairies transformed into 
beautiful farms and Lhrivmg cities, its log cabins 
replaced by commodious residences, churches and 
school houses built, manufactories and industries 
established, until in tl\e course of civilization the 
count}' has been placed in the front rank among 
her sister counties in Illinois. 

As one of the pioneers Mr. Eddington is cer- 
tainly deserving of a representation in this volume. 
He was born near Bridgewater, Somersetshire, Eng- 
land, April 5, 1819, and is the elder of two sons 
whose parents were Joseph and Betsy (Domanee) 







TT^^'^'^-^^*"^'''^'^''^^^ 



RE5IDEI1CE0F F. F?. K AH L , SEC. 11, SHI PMAN TR, MACOUPIN CO., ILLS. 



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■-.<-.>-1- ■■-■■■■/ ■i'--.>--V,---..C v.. 



iStr.'-^ rrr:-. s .s: /"rt^-:-— 



RESIDENCE OFS. D. EDDI NGTOfJ , SEC. 5., BRI GHTON TP., MACOUPIN CO.; ILLS. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RFXORD. 



551 



Eddington. His paternal grandfather was William 
Eddington, of Some rsetsli ire, who reached the ad- 
vanei d age of one hundred and tlirce ^-ears. He 
iiiarried Miss Hawkins, who died when little |)ast 
the prime of life. Both were members of the 
Church of England. Joseph Eddington was born 
and reared near Bridgewater and in his native 
count}- wedded Miss Domanee. who was several 
years his junior. They, too, adhered to the faith 
of the Episcopal Church. The father died at his 
old home at about the age of sixt5--threc years. 

In the community in which he was born the sub- 
ject of this sketch spent the days of his boyhood 
and youth. When a young man of twenty-two 
years, in companj- with his only brother Joseph, he 
started for the United Stales, taking passage at Liv- 
erpool u|)on tlie sailing-vessel "Kensington." which 
left port in the month of June and reached this 
country in August, after a voyage of forty-two 
days. From New York the brothers made their 
way to Philadelphia and Pilt<lmrg. whore the}- 
boarded a tlalboat and went dowu the river to St. i 
Louis, becoming connected later on with the boat- 
ing service on the Mississippi. A few months were I 
spent in Now- Orleans by Mr. Eddington and he 
then came to Macoupin County. He had onl}- a 
cash capital of ?5 and this he put into the State 
Bank at Shawneetown, which failed a few days 
later. This left him without a cent, but he did 
not become discouraged ; on the contrar}- he set to 
work to find a [lositiou that would provide him a 
sustenance and worked at breaking prairie and 
other hard labor until he had acquired through in- 
dustrv and economy a sufficient sum to purchase 
land and begin business for himself. After a few 
years his brother tiled, leaving him the only one of 
the parental family in America. 

A marripge ceremony, performed in St. Louis, 
united the destinies of Samuel Eddington and Jane 
Elworthy, who was born at West Zoyland. Soraer- j 
sctshire, England. April 5, 1823. Hor parents, 
James and Sarah (Cattle) Elwo".-th}'. were also 
natives of the same county, where they spent their 
entire lives, dying at the age of sixty-three and 
eigiitj--four years respectively. Mr. Elworthy was 
:i tailor and he and his wife were members of the 
Wesleyan Church and were highly respected. The 



paternal grandfather of Mrs. Eddington was Isaac 
Elworthj-, a butcher by trade, who was born, lived 
and died in Somersetshire, departing this life at an 
advanced age. The wife of our subject is one of 
the youngest of a family of ten children, four of 
whom carae to this country, but her brother Isaac, 
now a tailor of Brighton, and herself are the only^ 
ones 3-et living. - She was twenty years of age 
when with her two elder brothers she crossed the 
broad ocean and came from New- York Citj- to Ill- 
inois. A Lad}- of man}' excellencies of character, 
she has won many friends, who hold her in high 
esteem. . 

Ten children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. 
Eddington, but their first child, Fred, is now de- 
ceased. He grew to manhood, married Rowena 
Gentt and died at the age of tbirtv eit;ht years, 
leaving four children. The other members of the 
family are James, who wedded Edith Mitchell and 
is a farmer of Shipman Township; Jchn W., who 
married Hannah Flarety and farms in Brighton 
Township: Samuel D.. who aids in the i>pcration of 
the home farm: C. Wesley, who married Ellen Ed- 
dington and lives on a part of the old homestead; 
Sarah, wife of August Blooraingstein. a resident 
farmer of this township: Thomas H.. who assists in 
the farm n-ork at home; Louisa E. and Ida M.. in- 
telligent young ladies who are still with their par- 
ents (the latter i)ossessing considerable musical 
ability), and Bessie D., a successful teacher in the 
public schools. 

Mr. Eddington and his wife att'^nd the Metho- 
dist Church and in jwlitics he is a supporter of 
Republican principles. His entire property has 
been acquired since he came to this county. With- 
out capital save a young man's bright hope of the 
future and a determination to succeed, he has 
workeil his w.a}- upward to a position of affluence. 
About 1845 he made his first purchase of land, be- 
coming owner of eighty acres of raw prairie on 
section 10. He lived on that and improved it, af- 
terward purchasing several tracts as his financial 
resources were increased, until finally he became the 
owner of his present property. It w.as in 1872 
that he purch.ased and located u[)on the fine farm 
which he still makes his home and a view of which 
is shown upon another page. It comprises three 



555J 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



hundred and sixt^'-threc acres of valuable land on 
sections 2, 3. 10 and 11, and is well supplied with 
good farm buildings. The competence wliich Mr. 
Eddington has acquired is but the just reward of 
!iis labors. For some years he has suffered the 
partial loss of his eyesight, but he bears his mis- 
fortune very patiently. 



p:RDINAND R. KAIIL. Some German 




author has put into words the characteris 
tic trait of his countrymen, when he says, 
'Do with your whole soul that which is set before 
you; let nothing appear so hard that it may abash 
you, nothing so low that you may overlook it." 
The greatest strides have been made in the arts and 
sciences by our Teutonic neighbors, and yet, the 
finish of their work is so thorough as almost uni- 
versally to excite admiration. Attention to minu- 
tia is ingrained in them from earliest years. Our 
subj.'ft Ferdinand R. Kahl, is not different from 
his countrymen in this respect. His fine farm lo- 
cated on section ll,.Sliipman Township, declares 
him to be careful in his attention to every detail. 
As his name indicates our subject is of German 
birth and parentage. His father, Detleo Kahl, was 
born in Germany about 1812. His mother, whose 
maiden name was Margaret Fischer, was a native 
of Germany, born in 1818. They emigrated to 
America when the country was suffering a relapse 
from the horrors of war. and coming to the district 
of Macou])in County in 18()4. settled in Shipraan 
Township. There both parents died, the father pass- 
ing away in August, 1873; the mother in the spring 
of 1886. Tbey had eight children who lived to be 
grown. Of these our subject was tlie fourth child, 
and was born in Holstein, Germany, September 7, 
1841. 

Mr. Kahl's early life was spent on a farm in the 
old country. He, however, learned the shoemaker's 
trade before coming to America. His emigration 
to this country was made in the fall of 18(J0, and 
he came direct to .Shipman Township, remainino- 
here for one and one-half years, during which time 
he supported himself by working at his trade. At 



I the expiration of this time he went West to Color- 
ado in the mining district, and was engaged in 
searching for the precious metal while in the moun- 
tains. He continued there for four yeais at the 
end of which time he returned to Shipman Town- 
ship, and soon after purchased a farm of two hun- 
dred acres, u|)on which he now lives. 
j Since coming to Macoupin County, our subject 
has greatly improved his land .-ind lias added many 
buildings. He now gives his devoted attention to 
farming, being particularly interested in his dairy 
products, and is an extensive producer of dairy 
commodities which he ships to St. Louis. A view 
of his beautiful home ap|)earson another page. Our 
subject's marriage took place in Litchfield, 111., 
December 24, 1868. His wife bore the m.aiden 
name of Sarah A. Dealil, and is a sister of Adam 
Deahl, whose sketch will be found in another part 
of this Recoki.. Mrs. Kahl was horn in Alleghany 
County, Md., .June 11, 1817. She is a capable 
woman, a loving helpmate to her husband, and a 
devoted mother to theiroleven children. They are: 
Edwin A., Charles H., Mary K., George F., JIaggie 
E., Huldah L., Walter W., Clara M.. Henrictta'c., 
Edna E., and Chauncy E. Charles II. died when 
ten months of age. 

Since returning from the West Mr. Kahl h.as been 
principally engaged in farming, and now owns tsvo 
hundred and eighty acres on which ho has placed a 
fine grade of iiiiprovemenls. He has been elected 
to the office of Highway Commissioner and .School 
Director which positions he has filled satisfactorily. 
Politically he is an adherent of the Democratic 
party. Both he and his wife are members of the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church. Socially he is a 
member of the Masonic Fraternity and also a 
Knight of Honor. 



-€-*-B- 



RIAL M. SOLOMON. It gives us pleas- 
ure to represent in this Bio(;rai'iiical 
Record, dedicated to the residents of 
Macoupin County, this gentleman, who is 
one of the oldest citizens of Illinois now living in 
this section, a man well known and much respected. 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



553 



He was formerly actively engaged in agricullural 
pursuits and acquired a goodly amount of prop- 
erly thereby. He is now living in honorable 
retirement from business in the village of Palmyra. 
A native of Muhlenberg County, Ky., our sub- 
ject was born October 4, 1821. His father, Henry 
Solomon, was born December G, 1799, in Franklin 
County, N. C. He was a son of Lewis .Solomon, 
who was a native of the same Stale, and was there- 
reared and married. He (inally removed to Muhl- 
enljeig County, Ky., and was a pioneer of that 
region. In 1825 he came to Hlinois with his fam- 
ily, making the entile journey by land. He became 
one of the early settlers of Morgan County and 
was a resident there until his removal to this 
county. He was one of the first to settle in North 
Palmyra Township, where he secured a tract of 
Government land, which ho improved into a good 
farm, and there he passed quieily away in the 
month of August. 1849. He served as Justice of 
the Peatie before the countj* was organized and 
was the first justice elected after it became a 
county. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah 
Bowdtn. She was a native of Franklin County, 
N. C. and a (laughter of .lohn Bowden. She pre- 
ceded her husban(i in death a few months, <lying 
in February, 1849. 

The father of our subject was a child when the 
family took up their abode in Kentucky and there 
he grew to a stalwart manhood. He learned the 
trade of a shoemaker in his youth. In 1825 lie 
left his home in Muhlenberg Countj', and bringing 
with him his wife and two children, he came to 
Illinois, journeying by land to his destination. 
He arrived at Jacksonville October 19. and found 
but one house on the present site of the city, 
though the town had been platted the previous 
August. That house was of logs and still stands 
one block east of the Square, a relic of the past. 
It is weather-boarded, the boards having been 
rived bj- hand, and the flooring was drawn from 
St. Louis. The greater part of the land was still 
in the hands of the Government when Mr. Solomon 
settled there and as he had but $6.50 in his 
possession he was unable to purchase any. He 
rented land for two years and at the end of 
that time was enabled to buy a claim to a tract, 



which now joins tlie city. There was a log house 
on the place and a few acres of the land broken 
constituted the improvements. He held onto liis 
claim for two years and then entered it at the land 
office at Vandalia. 

In 1835 the father of our subject sold his prop- 
erty in Morgan County at the rate of $10 an 
acre, a good advance on the purchase price, and with 
the proceeds he bought Government land in this 
county in what is now known as South Palmyra 
Township. He erected a log house and at once set 
about the hard labor of clearing a farm. There 
were no railways then in this part of the country 
and the farmers had to go to Alton to market. 
Mr. Solomon lived to see a great change wrought 
in the face of the country and he did liis share of 
toil necessary to subdue the forces of nature and 
make this a rich and flourishing agricullural 
region. With the exception of one year, he con- 
tinued to occupy his farm until death closed his 
career at a ripe age in 1876. He was twice mar- 
ried. 'J'he maiden name of his first wife, mother 
of our subject, was Rebecca James. She died in 
]\Iuhlenberg County in 1823. The step-mother of 
our subject was named Elizabeth Krous and she 
was a native of Kentucky. She died on the home 
farm in 1888 in her eighty-second year. Three of 
her children arc now living. 

Our subject is the only survivor of the clill- 
dren of his father's first marriage. He w.as but 
four years old when the family came to Illinois. 
He attended the first school ever taught in 
Jacksonville, which was held in a log cabin near 
the square on the south. The seats were made by 
splitting logs and hewing one side smooth and 
there were no backs to them. The building was 
heated by a fire in a rude fireplace and lighled by 
removing logs from the walls and pasting greased 
paper over the aperture. Each family had to pay 
money for the teaching in accordance with the 
number of scholars sent to school. 

As soon as he was large enough Mr. Solomon 
assisted his father in the farm work, and he con- 
tinued an inmate of the parental home until he was 
twentj'-four years old. When he was seventeen 
years of .age his father gave him $50 and told 
him to do whatsoever he liked with it. The 



of) 4 



^RTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL KKCORI). 



n 



enteiprising youth wisely invested it in forty acres 
of Government land in South Palmyra Township, 
entering it at the land offlce at Edwardsviile! 
Two years later his father again gave iiini a 
like sum of money an.i he judiciously exchanged 
it for forty acres of land in Barr Township, 
adjoining iiis first entry. Me never located on 
the land, but eventually sold it at ^o.-2a an 
acre. He then bought one hundred nnd ten acres 
in Barr Township and took up his residence there- 
on. He did well as a farmer and from time to 
time bought other land until he had four hundred 
acres in his possession. In the fall of 1888 he rt- 
inoved from his homtstead in Barr Township to 
Palmyra and has since lived retired in this villatre. 
Mr. Solomon was first wedded in November, 
1844. to Miss Jane Norman, a native of Tennessee.' 
•J'heir married life was one of mutual helpfulness 
and felicity. It was terminated bv the death of 
the faithful wife in 1876 in the home that she h.ad 
helped her husband to build up. The second mar- 
riage of our subject, which took place in March, 
1879. was with Mrs. Elvira (Bradsliaw) Wiswell.' 
She was born on a farm adjoining the city of Jack- 
sonville, Morgan County. January 21. 1823. Her 
father. John Bradshaw, was a native of North 
Carolina. He removed from there to Tennessee, 
whence he came to Illinois in 1817. this State then 
being a territory. He resi.led for one vear in a 
block house on the American Bottoms", .as the 
Indians were then numerous and troublesome. In 
1818 he went to Morgan County, where he entered 
a tr.act of Government land which now joins the 
city of Jacksonville on the east. He erected a 
rude log cabin, riving the boards for a roof, makin^ 
a puncheon floor and splitting boards for the dooi" 
which ha<l wooden hinges, and a wooden latch that 
was raised by a string put through the door and 
hanging on the outside. He had no nails to use in I 
budding the structure. Later he built a hewed 
log house, sawing the lumber for it with a whip 
saw. He made that his abode until his death in 
1845. The maiden name of his wife was Fanny 
Kikius. She was a native of Kentucky She 
passed from life to death on the home "farm at 
Jacksonville in 1865. 

Mrs. Solomon lived with her parents until her 



marriage. She learned to weave and spin and in 
her early married life made all the clotii used by 
the family. .She was first wedded at the age of 
fifteen years to Eugene AViswell. a native of^Ver- 
mont and a son of Joseph and Catherine ( Deal) 
Wiswell. Mr. Wiswell served in the late war as 
• Quartermaster in the Ninety first Illinois Infantry. 
After the war he engaged in the mercantile busi- 
ness at New Orleans, where he died of vellow fever 
in 1866. 

After the death of her husband Mrs. Solomon 
returne.l to Iroquois County, this State. She is 
the mother of eight children by her first marria^^e. 
of whom the following is reeonled : Elvina, m'ts.' 
Skeels, lives in Iroquois County; Nancv A.. Mrs. 
Douglas is a resident of Clinton, Mo.; ^Catherine 
F., Mrs. Lin.lsey, lives in Iroquois County; John 
W. lives at Lee, Summit County, Mo.; Lou, Mrs. 
Thisler, resides at Bergen. Ky.; Flora, Mrs. Austin, 
resides at Abilene, Kan.; Cora. Mrs. Doolittle. is a' 
resident of Jacksonville; Josephine, Mrs. Shank, 
lives at Palmyra. 

Mr. Solomon has six children living by his first 
marriage: Elizabeth J., Mrs. Hinckle, a resident of 
Pana, Christian County, III.; Mary J.. Mrs Ross 
lives at Wilher. Neb.; Mclvina. Mrs. Edwards, is' 
a resident of Denver. Colo.; Benjamin F. lives in 
Oklahoma, and Samuel C. 

Our subject is a Christian in deed an.l word and 
a member in high standing in the Baptist Church. 
He is as sound in his politics as in his religion and 
is an unswerving adherent of the Democratic party. 
Mrs. Solomon belongs to the Christian Church .and 
is an active worker in the fold. 



oi^^^m^, 



^ARDNERCASE.a retired farmer who re- 
.11 sp sides in a pleasant and beautifu 1 home on 
"^^1 Franklin Street. Bunker Hill, has lived in 
this place for twelve years, coming here from his 
farm in Bunker Hill Township, where he had lived 
since 1842. He obtained the laud unbroken, 
and put It in a s|)lendid state of cultivation. He 
then sold it and purchased a large farm of more 
than eight hundred and fifty acres in Montgomerv 





^^Tz^urs ^^fu^ 




POUTUAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



557 



County, and tliis he now owns. He was a practi- 
Icul farmer and stock raiser, especially in tlic line of 
'swine and sheep. 

Mr. C.ise came to this State from Connocticiil in 
1842. His birliiplace was ten miles west of Hart- 
ford, Conn., and his ratal day was Febrnnry 14, 
1818. His father, Nathan Case, was born nnd 
reared in Connecticut, and became ihc largest land 
owner in his township. He devoted himself largcl}' 
to the culture of fruit and the manufacture of cider 
and died at the old home at the age of seventy-two 
years. He was a Whig in his political views, and 
was sent by that party to the State Legislature. He 
was a member in good and regular standing of the 
Congregational Church, as was his wife, whose 
maiden name was Luc^' Moses, who was born in 
Hartford Count}', Conn. She died i.j the prime of 
life, when her son, our suliject, was only six years 
ohl. Nathan Case was married a second time to 
Edna Gillett. who also died m Hartford County. 
The grandfather of our subject was a patriot of the 
Revolutionary d.a3's. Jedadiah Case by name, who 
was a brave soldier, a good citizen and a iironii- 
nent farmer of Connecticut. 

The subject of this biographical sketch, was one 
of the younger of the five children born to his 
mother. When twenty-one years old he left Con- 
necticut and came to Illinois, and began life for 
himself on a new farm in Bunker Hill Township, 
this county. Here he has made his fortune and 
here he has built up a reputation as a man of pure 
habits and sound character. Every one who knows 
him rejoices to speak well of him. His marriage 
took place in Montgomery County, III., his bride 
being Fannie Gallaher. She was l)orn in West \'ir- 
ginia, in 1839, eight miles from Harper's '^'erry. 
Her natal day was December 29. She is the daugh- 
ter of Sidney and Jane (Howard) Gallaher, both 
Virginians. Mrs. Gallaher died at the age of 
twenty-seven years. Her husband lived to be sev- 
enty four years old. He spent a number of his 
later 3'ears in Illinois, biit returned to Fairfax 
County, W. Va., before his death. They were both 
earnest and conscientious members of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church. 

The wife of our subject is one of three daugh- 
ters of her parents, all yet living, and all having 



established homes of their ovvn. Mrs. Case was 
re.i'red in Johnstown, W. Va., and is a lad\' of rare 
intelligence and of most lovely character. She has 
hosts of friends in Bunker Hill. She has been the 
mother of two children, one of whom Maud, died 
in infancy ; Harvey-, who is still at home, is a grad- 
uate of the Bunker Hill Academy; Mrs. Case is a 
member of the Congregational Church. Her grand- 
father was a native of Ireland, who came to Amer- 
ica when a young man and lived and died in West 
Virginia, passing away in extreme old age. Mr. 
Case casts his vote for the Democratic party, to 
which he has always been attached. 



♦isa^sj' 



^OHN P. HENDERSON is well known in 
financial circles not only as a |iart proprie. 
tor of the Bank of Virden, but as one of the 
/ prominent farmers and stock-raisers of the 
countj', owning and occupying a large ami well- 
ordered farm in Virden Township, lie was born 
in Garrard County, Ky., Januarv 15,1833. His 
father was James Harvey Henderson, a ^'irginian 
by birth, coming of Scotch ancestry. He removed 
with his family to Kentucky in the early years of 
its settlement, and then went from thereto Indiana 
in its territorial days, and kicaled near Blooming- 
ton. There weie but few wliiu s in that [mrt of 
the country then, and as the Indians were numer- 
ous and hostile, the vvhole neighborhood lived for 
some time in a fort. 

The grandfather of our subject was a resident of 
Indiana during the War of 1812, and one of liis 
brothers took part in that conflict and never w.is 
heard from afterward. In 1830 Grandfather Hen- 
derson came to Morgan County, HI., and spent the 
"Winter of the Deep Snow" there. Soon after he 
took up his residence among the pioneers of Greene 
County, locating on a tract of timber and prairie 
land near Whitehall, where he spent the remainder 
of his life in improving a farm, dying in 1849. 
He married Nancy Provine, who died at the home 
of the father of our subject about two years after 
her husband's death. 



558 



PORTRAIT AND KJOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



James Harvey Henderson was very young when 
his i)aiciits removed to Indiraia, wliere he grew to 
manhood. At the age of seventeen he began to 
learn the trade of a blacksmith, receiving sutlicient 
money to clothe and board himself. At that time 
blacksmiths used to make cliains, wedges, axes, 
hoes, and even the horse shoes and the nails with 
which to put them on. He worked evenings to 
make those things to sell, and in that way earned 
his first money, which was the basis of a fortune. 
After completing his apprenticeship Mr. Henderson 
returned to Kentu<;k3' and carried on liis trade in 
that Stale. He married during his residence there, 
and in the fall of 1^37 came to Hlinois once again, 
bringing with him his wife and the two children 
that had been born to them in Kentucky. The 
journey was made with a i)air of oxen and a 
horse to lead, attached to a covered wagon, in 
which were all their earthly possessions. 

Mr. Henderson located at Carrollton, then a 
small place, and became one of its pioneer mechan- 
ics, opening a shop for the purpose of carrying on 
trade, and operating it two years. At the expira- 
tion of that Lime he entered Government land six 
miles east of Whitehall. He erected a log house, 
also a smithy, and devoted a part of his time to his 
trade and the rest to his farm, residing there 
until 1853. About 1850 he came to Macoui)in 
County and entered six hundred and forty acres of 
Government land in what is now N'irden Township. 
In 1853 he took up his residence upon it, building 
his dwelling oi) section 10, and in the years that 
followed hedevoteil himself assiduously to improv- 
ing his farm. In the fall Oi 1883 he died in the 
comfortable home that was the result of his unie- 
mitling toil. He was more than ordinarily' fortu- 
nate in the prosecution of his calling, and had 
become one of the wealthy farmers of the county, 
whose name will ever be held in res|)ect as that of 
one who aided in developing the riches of the 
county, and who, though not one of its earliest set- 
tlers, is deserving of a high place among its pio- 
neers. The maiden name of his wife was Almira 
B. Reid, and she was a native of Kentucky. She 
departed this life on the home farm in Greene 
County in 1845, leaving three children, namely : 
Samuel B., who <lied in 1849; John P.; and Mary, 



who married John Woodson, and died at St. Louis 
in 1880, leaving two children, Julia and Alma. 

In the pioneer schools of Greene County our 
subject received his education. These tem|)U's of 
learning were rudely furnished with benches made 
of puncheon, with wooden pins for legs, and with- 
out backs or desks. A log was taken out of the 
wall of the house to admit light. The couniry 
surrounding his early home in this State was in a 
wild condition, as the pioneeis had not made much 
hoadwa)' against the forces <if nature at that i)eriod, 
and deer, wdd turkeys and other game were plen- 
tiful. He was quite young when he began to assist 
his father in the farm work, and he continued to 
live with liim until he attained manhood. In 185G 
he turned aside fiom tlie calling to which he had 
been bred, to engage in the mercantile business at 
Virden, and carried it on there successfully the en- 
suing four years. In 1863 he decided to try his 
fortune in the Golden State, and with fifteen others 
lie started for the Pacific Coast in the month of 
April, taking quite a nuinln'r of horses and mules 
to dispose of in California. The little party made 
the entire journey overland across the plains by 
the way of the Platte River Valley and Salt Lake. 
In the month of August our subject and his com- 
panions arrived at Marysville, wliere they disposed 
of their stock, and in December of tiie same year 
he started homeward by way of the Isthmus, ar- 
riving one month later. 

After his return f:om California Mr. Henderson 
accepted the position of clerk to Sheriff Wills, who 
was then County Tax Collector. He remained with 
him two j'ears, and then began to improve a farm 
west of A'irden. In 1873 he solil that place and 
purchased the one on which he now resides of Dr. 
Orange B. Heaton. This farm contains four hun- 
dred and eighty acres of fine, well-cultivated prai- 
rie land, well slocked with cattle and liorses of high 
grade, and amply provided with buildings of a 
neat and substantial class, and all the modern r.p- 
pliances for carrying on agriculture to the best ad- 
vantage. 

Our subject is a man of large enter[)rise, and be- 
sides managing his extensive farming affairs very 
successfully, he is interested in the banking busi- 
ness. In 1887 he formed a i)artnersliip with B. F. 



I 



POUTEAri' AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



559 



Caldwell, E. D. Keys, W. T. Lewis find George J. 
Paltei'soii, to establish tlie Bank of \'iidc'n, and he 
is slill a nieiuber of tiic liini. Tlie hank lias liad a 
prosperous iiin of four yeais. and is liinily founded 
in the confidence of the |)eople, wlio regard il as 
one of our safest and best managed monetary in- 
stitutions, and its credit is iiigh wherever it has 
financial dealings. 

The marriage of Mr. Henderson with Miss ftLixie 
Z. Bronaugh was solemnized in January, 1867, and 
their iiappy vvedded life has brought them one 
daughter, whom the}' have named Almira L. Mrs. 
Henderson is a daughter of .Tohn and Louisa (Poin- 
dextor) Bronaugh, of whom a sketch appears on an- 
other page of this work. Mr. Henderson is a man 
of sensible ami sound vic^ws on all tlic important 
questions of the day, and is well dowered with 
tenacity of purpose, sagacious and independent 
judgment and other traits necessary to success in 
any vocation. He has not staid to question 
whether or no '"life is worth living," but has done 
his best to make it so by doing his whole duty 
wherever placed. In his politics he is unswerving 
in his allegiance to the Democratic party. Both lie 
and his good wife are exemi)lary members of the 
('hristian. Church, and are of high repute in their 
community. 

A lithogra|)hic portrait of Mr. Henderson is |)re- 
sented on another ])age of this volume. 









— °— si=r" 

^AMES H. ROHRER, one of the oldest resi- 
dents of this county, is prominent and well- 
known as a member of its farming commun- 
is// ity who has for many years been active in 
helping to develop its agricultural resources, and 
so has materially promoted its rise and progress. 
For more than thirty years he has owned and occu- 
pied his present farm, which is pleasantly situated 
in Scottville Township, and is as well improved 
and cultivated as any within its bounds. 

Logan County, Ky., is the birthplace of our sub- 
ject, and there in the humble pioneer home of Ja- 
cob and Artemisia (Ashbaugh) Rohrer he first 
opened his eyes to the light of the world. His 



father, who was one of the early settlers of Morgan 
County, this State, was a native of Ilagerstown, 
Md. He in turn was a son of John Rohrer, who 
was of Swiss birth. The latter was reared and 
married in the land of his nativity, and in 1793 
came to America, three of his brothers accompany- 
ing him, one of them settling in Virginia and two 
of them in Pennsylvania. The grandfather of our 
subject erected a stone flouring mill at Hagerstown, 
which is still standing, a relic of the past. He 
operated that mill eight years and at the expiration 
of that time went to Virginia, whence he subse- 
quently removed to Kentucky, where he purchased 
land and gave his attention to farming until deith 
closed his mortal career. His youngest son still 
occupies the old homestead that he improved from 
the primeval wilds. The maiden name of his wife 
was Kate Oreudorph, and she was also a native of 
Switzerlaml. Shu died on the Kentucky home- 
stead. 

The father of our subject was a lad when his |)ar- 
ents went to Kentucky, and there in due time he 
married and establislied himself as a farmer on 
Kentucky soil, hi August, 1826, deeming that he 
could do still better in the more newly settled 
State of Illinois, he came hither vvith his wife and 
the two children that had been born to them, the 
journey being made by land with a [)ony and a 
blind horse attached to a wagon that hekl all their 
earthly possessions. They were delayed by sick- 
ness, and did not arrive at their destination in 
Morgan County until the 10th of October. 
They camped near a cabin, and during the night 
the owner of that dwelling called and offered to 
give up the claim on which it stood and a stack of 
fodder in exchange for the pony, possession to be 
given the next day. The bargain was made at once, 
and on the morrow Mr. Rohrer and his family 
moved into the cabin. He had but $50 with 
which to begin life in a new country, and with that 
he entered forty acres of the land, which was located 
two miles west of Waverly. The cabin was a prim- 
itive affair, with a puncheon floor and a mud an(i 
stick chimney, while the boards on the roof were 
held in place by weight poles. 

Mr. Rohrer commenced at once the hard pioneer 
task that lay before liiin of evolving a farm from 



560 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the wilderness. He had to go way to Alton or St. 
Louis to marlict his gniin and other produce, whicli 
was a difficult journej' in those days before railways 
were introduced in this part of the world. He 
carried on his operations with great success, as he 
was more than ordinarily gifted M'ith energy and 
good judgment, and besides developing his origi- 
nal purchase, he bought other land, and at the time 
of his death in 1838 had a fine farm of three hun- 
dred acres of very fertile land, well supplied with 
good buildings and other improvements. He did 
good work .as a pioneer and was much rjissed in 
his community. His wife died at the home of her 
daughter, Mrs. Spencer Norveli. She was a native 
of Bullitt County, Ky., and a daughter of .James 
and Kate Ashbaugh. She was the mother of four 
children that grew to m.nturity: Mary, .James, 
George and Kate. 

But few men are as well posted in the early his- 
tory of this county as our subject. Coming to Illi- 
nois in his infancy his earliest recollections are 
connected with its pioneer life, and lie has wit- 
nessed almost the entire development and growth 
of this section from its primitive wihlncss. When 
his father came to the State the greater part of the 
land was owned by the Government, and has since 
been sold at sums varying from twelve and a half 
cents to a $!l.25 an acre. The habits and customs 
of the people were necessarily different from those 
of to-day, owing to far different environments, as 
the early settlers of the country had to struggle 
against the rude forces of nature and had but little 
time for the amenities of life. This perhaps was 
but little to be regretted, as perchance the hard- 
sliips that were so patiently and heroically endured 
brought out many fine traits of cliaracter, such as 
unwearying self-sacrifice, a generous interest in the 
welfare of their fellow-pioneers, and a warm-hearted 
hospitality that have never been exceeded by any 
other people. Tliey were obliged to live chiefly 
on the products of thei-; farms and on the wild 
game that aliounded on the prairies or in the tim- 
ber, and were mostly clothed in homespun made 
by the skillful hands of the women. 

Our subject was quite a lad when the village of 
Waverly was platted, and he watched the men 
drive the first stakes that marked its bounds. His 



education was obtained in the pioneer schools of 
the time, which were furnished with puncheon 
benches that h.ad no backs or desks, and the build- 
ing was lighted by the .admission of the sunshine 
tlirougli a hole made in the wall by the removal of 
a log. When not in school .Mr. Rohrer was required 
to help his father in the farm work, and he con- 
tinued to remain an inmate of the parental house- 
hold until he attained the age of twenty-three 
years. In the meantime, he had earned money 
enough to p.ay for the land that he had bougiit at 
§1 an acre in Morgan County. There was a log 
house on it at the time of purchase, and in that he 
and his bride commenced housekeeping on an hum 
ble scale. In 18.58 he soM that pl.ace and bought 
the homestead on which he has since resided. It 
comprises two hun<lred and si.xty-seven acres of as 
fine farming land as can be found in that vicinity, 
which is under excellent cultivation, and it is pro- 
vided with ample and well-built buildings foreverv 
needed purpose. 

The marriage of our subject with Miss Eliz.i.beth 
Sharp took pl.ace in 1852. and in her he has found 
one who has alwiiys sympathized with him in all 
his plans, and has co-operated with him cheerfully 
in carrying them out. A sincere Christian, the 
Methodist Episcopal Church finds in her an earnest 
member. Her marriage with our subject has been 
blessed to them by the birth of children, of whom 
these six have been spared to bless their declining 
years: Harriet, Katie, Minnie, .Julia, Rolla and 
Nora. Their fourth, child, Ella, died at the age of 
twenty-one years. Theii- only son, James Freder- 
ick, who was born January 14, 187.3, died Decem- 
ber 19, 1890. Harriet married John Hurt, and has 
four children, who are named Jeptha, Hallie, Ora 
and Lizzie. Kate married Gordon Cruni, thev live 
in Gage County, Neb., and they have three chil- 
dren: Roy, Cora, and Ralph. Minnie married 
William Dalton, and they have three children, 
Clarence, Lela, and Baby; they live in Clay County, 
Neb. Julia married William Close; aud Rolla mar- 
ried Frederick Butcher, they have one child living, 
Floyd. 

Mrs. Rohrer is a native of Scottville Township 
where she still makes her home, born here in the 
early days of its settlement May 19, 1833. She 




PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



561 



comes of the old i>ioneer stock of tliis county, and 
is a daughter of Isaac Sharp, wlio was a native of 
Tennessee. His father was a pioneer of tliat State, 
whence he canae to this county during the latter 
part of Ills life. Mrs. Rohrer's father was reared 
and married in Tennessee, taking as his wife Chloe 
Berry, also a native of that State, and a daughter 
of John and Elizabeth (Ray wood) Berry. She sur- 
vived her husband some years, and died at the home 
of a daughter near Waverly. In the prime of a 
stalwart manhood Mr. Sharp came with his wife to 
Illinois and was among the first to settle in Scott- 
ville Township. He bought land on section 13, 
improved a farm, an(i there dwelt in contentment 
and comfort the rest of his days, 

Our subject and his estimable wife arc held in 
hig-h regari for their many excellencies of character 
that have made them good citizens, kind neighbors 
and true friends. Mr. Rohrer is one of the stroug- 
cst advocates of the Democratic party in his cora- 
raunit}'. He has always displayed true public- 
spirit in his manifest interest in the well-being of 
his township and county, and has done loyal service 
whenever he has been called to responsible positions 
in civic life. He was the first to represent Scott- 
ville Township, on the County Boaril of Supervis- 
ors, electe'l to (hat oltiee the year of its organiza- 
tion, 1871, and he filled it three terras. He has 
been School Tieasurer many years. 



<| )», I L LI AM ANDERSON, who is engaged in 
\/i:Jl farming on section 5, Cahokia Township, 
W^i where he has made his home for seventeen 
years, has the honor of l)eing one of the pioneer 
settleis of Macoupin County, where he has resided 
almost continuously since his early childhood. No 
one in the community is more deserving of a rep- 
resentation in the county's history than he, and it 
is with pleasure that we present his sketch to the 
readers of the Record. 

Mr. Andeison was born in Putnam County. Ind., 
near Greencaslle, February 14, 1832. His father, 
James Anderson, was a native of Tennessee, of 



English and Scotch descent, and made farming his 
life work. He married a Miss Whitehead and 
they resided in Tennessee until after all of their 
cliildren were born jvhen they emigrated to Put- 
nam County', Ind., which was then in its infancj', 
the greater part of the land being still in its prim- 
itive coniHtion, while the work of civilization and 
progress seemed scarcely begun. Upon the farm 
which he there developed James Anderson and his 
wife abided until death called the mother to the 
home beyond. He afterward went to Boone 
Couiity, where he spent his last days with one of 
his daughters. He had served as a private in the 
Black Hawk War and was a man of prominence in 
the community where he resided. He held mem- 
bership with the Baptist Church and both he and 
his wife were highly esteemed people. 

Thomas Anderson, the father of our subject, 
was born in the State of Tennessee where he 
he spent the greater part of his childhood and 
youth. Soon after removing to Indiana lie at- 
tained his majority and was joined in wedlock with 
Miss Marv Scott, a native of Nortii Carolina, who 
when a young maiden went to Indiana with her 
parents, Robert and Martha (Proffilt) Scctt, the 
family locating in Putnam County, whence the 
parents removed in 1831 to Macoupin County, 
III. They became pioneers of this region and here 
died when well advanced in years. One child was 
born unto Thomas Anderson .ind wife in Indiana 
and they then came in 1834 to Macoupin Count\',set- 
tling in what is now Honey Point Township, where 
both died in middle life, the mother in 1838, the 
father in 1843. He was a faithful and consistent 
member of the Baptist Church, as was also Mrs. 
Anderson. 

The subject of this sketch is the eldest of five 
children, of whom four sons by a second mar- 
riage are yet living. He was left an orphan when 
only eleven years of age. when he began to make 
his own way in the world and has since been de- 
pendent upon his own resources. He may truly 
be called a self-made man and certainly he deserves 
no little credit for hi? success in life. He began 
as a farm hand and for four years was emplo3'od 
in a saw mill by Coluralius Corr. He had pre- 
viously worked for two other farmers in the neigh- 



562 



PORTRAIT AxND BlOGRAi'UlCAL RECORD. 



borliood and his fidelity to his employers w.-w such 
tlifit lio novcf liad to seok for vvorii. but on the con- 
trary was sought by those in need of such services. 
At length b^- industry and economy- he had se- 
cured enough money to purchase a small trnct of 
land and bctjan farming for himself. As a help- 
mate on life's journey he chose Miss Lydia .T. Ilud- 
dlestun, who was born in this count} in 1837, and 
is the \oungest daughter of John and Nanc^' 
(Dunn) Huddlestun, who were natives of Tennes- 
see and were married after their emigration to the 
Hoosier State. At an early da}- they came to this 
county, locating in Cahokia Township and after- 
ward made a home in Brushy Mound Township, 
but in *lie former they spent their last d.ays. Mr. 
Huddlestun died before the birth of Mrs. Ander- 
son. T!ie mother long survived him, passing away 
.at a ripe old age. Both were identified with the 
Methodist Cliurch. 

The combined capital of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson 
on their marriage was little more than !J400 but 
as the result of their united labors, their persever- 
ance and enterprise, they acquired a handsome 
property. The raw prairie which our subject i)ur- 
chasfcd in Brushy Mound Township continued to 
be their home until their removal to the farm in 
Cahokia Township some seventeen years ago. He 
now owns two hundred and forty acres of valuable 
land, constituting one of the best farms in the 
county, upon which may be .seen substantial im- 
provements in the shape of good buildings and 
m.acliinery, together with a fine residence. He also 
raises excellent grades of stock, which like bis real- 
estate give evidence of the care of the owner. 

After a happy married life of twenty -five jears. 
during which she had proved a true helpmate to 
her husban<l, Mrs. Anderson was called t,o her final 
rest. !She was a faithful member of the Baptist 
Church, a consistent friend and a loving wife and 
mother. She died April 9, 1881, at tlie age of 
forty-three years, leaving six children to share 
with the husband in liis bereavement. John T., 
the eldest, wedded Matilda Mitchell, now deceased, 
and follows farming in Honey Point Townshii). 
Samuel F. assists in the operation of llie home 
farm ; Clara J. since her mother's death, lias pre- 
sided over the home and taken charge of the house- 



hold duties; William Luther who married Cora 

Winsor. is a farniei' living in Clyde; Ida A. is the 
wife of James McReynolds, an agriculturist of 
Hone}' Point Townsliii); and Charles L. is at home. 
Two children died prior to the mother's death — 
Joseiih and an infant. Mr. Amlerson is a member 
of the Baptist Church, in wiiich he has served .as 
Deacon for a number of years. He affiliates with 
the National Greenback party, and has held a 
number of local offices, the duties of which were 
very faithfully performed. His example in many 
respects is well worthy of emulation and should 
serve to encourage young men who, like himself, 
who have to start out in life empty handed. His 
prosperity is not due to good luck but is the result 
of years of laborious effort, industry, perseverance 
and good management. 



,^^ IDNEY L. TWITCHELL. though not one 
^^^ of the earliest settlers of this county, is 
ll\/_ij) entitled to a high place among its ener- 
getic, far-sighted, enterprising pioneers, as 
he came here while it was yet a sparsely settled and 
but little imiiroved wilderness, and in the years of 
down-right hard labor tiiat followed, he helped to 
develop the vast agriculturel resources of this 
region by transforming a tract of land into one of 
the best cultivated farms in the locality where he 
settled more than forty years ago. He is now liv- 
ing in honorable retirement from active business 
in the village of Yirden, though he still takes a 
lively interest in the public affairs and takes a part 
in their administration. 

Mr. Twitchell was born in the pretty New F]ng- 
land town of Wyebridge, Addison County, Yt., 
September 27, 1827. His father was John Twitchell, 
and he was born in Rutland County, that State, a 
son of Daniel Twichell, who was born and reared 
in England. In early manhood he left his old 
English home to seek another one on American 
soil, being accompanied hither by one or two 
brothers. He married in Yermont, and for a time 
carried on farming in Rutlaiul County, and later 



I 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



563 



in Addison County, where lie died. He and liis 
wife reared a faniii}* of five sons and one daugliter. 

The fallierof onr subject was reared to tlie life of 
a farmer among tlie lulls of his native county. When 
a young man lie went to Addison Count}', and 
there married Annie, daughter of William and 
Harriet Sanford. In 1831 he left the homo that 
he had established there, and with his wife and 
seven children made his way to Illinois, traveling 
overland and bringing all his household goods with 
him. His brother-in law Evarts Griswold also 
came with him. Mr. Twitchell spent the first year 
after his arrival in Greene County, anrl then became 
a pioneer of Jersey' Countj', where he entered a 
tract of Government land near the present site of 
Kemper. He bought and removed a log house to 
his claim for a temporary shelter, and at once 
busied himself in the hard labor of develoiiing a 
farm from the surrounding wilds. In the spring 
of 1833 he began to build a frame house, but he 
died before its completion, and Jerse}' County was 
deprived of the services of one of its niost indus- 
trious pioneers. His death was a severe blow to 
his family as he left them in limited circumstances. 
The mother worked hanl and Uept her children to- 
gether as liest she could, and as soon as they were 
large enough they had to help earn their own 
living. 

Our subject was educated in the primitive pio- 
neer schools of his boyhood, that were taught in 
log houses, which were furnished with rude scats 
made of slabs and without backs or desks. A 
slab along the si<ie of the room served as a writing 
desk for the older scholars. The schools were con- 
ducted on the subscription plan, each family pay- 
ing according to the number of scholars sent. 
Our subject was early thrown on his own resources, 
and developed into a sturd}', self-reliant, ca|)able 
lad. Soon after his father died he went to live 
with a farmer in Greene County, and remained 
with him three years. He then returned home, and 
was employed b}' different people by the day or 
month until he was fifteen years old. At that age 
he and his brother, Gaston D.. commenced farming 
the old homestead together. In 1849 he came to 
this county and entered two hundred acres of 
Goverment land in Morth Otter Township. Years 



of hard and well-directed labor followed his settle- 
ment upon it. which resulted in the improvement 
of a valuable farm, with fields neatly fenced and 
well tilled, and provided with suitable liuildings. 
In 1882 he left his son in charge, and coming to 
Viidoii bought thirty acres of land finely situated, 
and erected his present home, that is replete with 
comfort, and hospitality abounds within its walls. 

Mr. Twitchell was first married in 1852 to Miss 
Celia C. Saunders. She w.as a native of Cireene 
County, and a daughter of Benjamin and Deborah 
(Woodman) .Saunders, w^ho were pioneers of both 
Greene and Jersej' counties. In November, 1861, 
after a brief but happy wedded life. Mrs. Twitchell 
was removed from her household by the hand of 
death There are three children living born of 
her marriage with our subject,- Allena L., Ransom 
L. and P^rnesl. In 1873 Mr. Twitchell was united 
in marriage to Mrs. Augusta A', (liartlett) Cox, and 
two children have blessed their union, .John and 
Eugene. Mrs. Twitchell is a native of Seneca 
County, Ohio, and a daughter of Joseph Water- 
man and Mary (Twombly) Bartlett. Iler first hus- 
band was Lansden I. C'cix. He was a native of 
North Olter Township, this county, and a son of 
Jesse and Cynthia Cox, who were pioneers of this 
section of Illinois. During the war he enlisted 
in the One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois 
Infantry, and died while in service. 

Asa gentleman of stainless character, of a sound 
and sensible mind, and of an even, kindly dis- 
position, no man stands higher in his county than 
our subject. He has always discharged his duties 
as a citizen with fidelity, and in the various 
offices that he has held, has sought to promote the 
welfare of the communit\\ He has always taken a 
warm interest in educational matters, and has 
helped to enlarge the school facilities of the town- 
ship where he formerly lived and of his present 
place of residence. For a number of years he was 
a member of the School Board of North Otter 
Township and three years was one of the School 
Board of Virden. For six j-ears he was Higi-way 
Commissioner of North Otter Township, and is 
now Treasurer of the Virden Board of Highway 
Commissioners. Politically, he is a Republican of 
the truest type. Religiously, both he and his 



564 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



estimable wife are ineiubers of the Methodist 
Episcopal Cliureli, and their names are associated 
with wliatsoever of good it has acromplisiied in 
this community-. 




AjMUEL S. CLARK, a retired merchant 
living in Bunker Hill, is numbered among 
the honored pioneers of that citj, of De. 
cember, 1840, iiis residence there cover- 
ing a period of more than half a century. He 
came to Macoupin County from the Empire State, 
where he had sojourned a few years after leavinsr 
Massachusetts, the State of his nativity. lie was 
born in New Braintree, Worcester County, Decem- 
ber 4, 1806, and is descended from one of the early 
New England families. His faliicr, James Clark, 
was born in the town of Mansfield, Conn., and 
learned the trade of a cabinetmaker. Througiioiit 
the greater part of his life lie engaged in tlie furni- 
ture business, but after his emigration to the West 
followed farming. In 1840 he accompanied our 
subject to Macoujiin County, and secured a piece of 
open prairie land norlli of Bunker Hill, where he 
developed and improved a farm, making it his 
home for sixteen years, when in 1856 he went to 
the city, where his last days were spent. He passed 
away in 1858, at the age of seventy-five. He was 
a successful business man, and took a prominent 
part in all public affairs. His first wife was in her 
maidenhood Mary .Shumway, a M.assachusetts 
lady, who came of a good family. She died 
in 1839, while they were living in New York 
City, being then fifty-six years of age. She left 
four children, but two have since died — Mary, 
who became the wife of S. J. Bacon, and died in 
New York City; and Nancy, who became the 
wife of Moses True, one of the oldest settlers, and 
for years one of the most prominent men of Bun- 
ker Hill. He is also now deceased. She died in 
1875, leaving one son, James C. True, of Wichita, 
Kan. The surviving members of the family are 
Samuel S. and James. The latter married Laura 
Sanford, and is now engaged in the manufacture of 
cider in St. Louis, Mo. After James Clark came 



to Illinois, he was a second time married, IMrs. 
Mary (Spooner) Daniels, of North Brookfield, 
Mass., becoming his wife. She died in 1863 at the 
age of seventy. five years. Mr. Clark and his two 
wifes were all devoted members and active work- 
ers in the Congregational Church. 

We now take up the personal history of our sub- 
ject, who has so long been prominently connected 
with the history of Macoupin County. Under the 
parental roof the days of his boyhood and youth 
were passed, and he learned the trade which his 
father had followed. In West Brookfield he led to 
the marriage altar, in 1838, Miss Jane S. Pritchard, 
who was born in that place in 1814. They began 
their domestic life in the East, but after two years, 
following the course of human emigration which 
was steadily llowing Westward, they landed in 
Bunker Hill, and Mr. Clark embarked in the mer- 
cantile business. His wife was not long permitted 
to enjoy her new home, for her death occurred in 
1844. She was a most estimable woman and a 
member of the Congregational Church. Three chil- 
dren were born of her marriage, but all died in 
childhojod. 

It was in Jacksonville, 111., that Mr. Clark led to 
the marriage altar Miss Phoebe Pierson, who was 
born in Cedarville, N. J., March 28, 1818, and is a 
daughter of Dr. Daniel C. and Naomi C. (Nixon) 
Pierson. They were natives of the fame State and 
were married in Cumberland County. In 1833 
they emigrated with their family to Illinois, and 
for a time lived upon a farm until Dr. Pierson 
bought out the drug business of a Mr. Ayres, carry- 
ing on the store for some years. Later he built a 
grist mill in Jacksonville, and on selling out, re- 
moved to Augusta, Hancock County, 111., where he 
died in 1857, at the age of sixty-five years. He 
was a prominent man wherever he lived and won 
many friends. His wife went to Kansas, where she 
made her home with her son George until her 
death in 1884, at the age of eighty-four years. 
The Doctor and his wife were members of the 
Presbyterian Church, and had a large family of 
children, of whom six are vet livin<y 

Mrs. Clark was carefully reared, and in .Tackson 
ville obtained an excellent education. In an early 
day she came to Bunker Hill to teach school, being 



.1 




^//i^^^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



567 



one of the first teachers of tlie place, and here gave 
lier hand to Mr. Clark. The marriage, however, 
was celebrated in Jacksonville. This woithy and 
respected couple are active workers in the Congre- 
gational Church, in wiiich for twenty-four years our 
subject has filled the office of Clerk. lie has also 
filled the ofllice of Town Clerk six years, and School 
Treasurer, having served in the latter position 
since 1869, and is the present incumbent. In poli- 
tics he is a stalwart Republican and is a prominent 
and well-known citizen of the community. In his 
business life he has formed an extensive acquaint- 
ance. Soon after locating in Bunker Hill, Mr. 
Clark became associated with Maj. P. C. Hugs^ins 
in the mercantile trade, which connection was con- 
tinued for four years, when our subject embarked 
in business on his own account as a general mer- 
chant. His courteous treatment and fair dealing 
soon won him a liberal patronage, and he became a, 
prosperous citizen of the community. As his 
financial resources increased, he made judicious in- 
vestments in real estate, and when he bad acquired 
a handsome properly, he laid aside business cares 
and is now living in the enjo^'ment of the fruits 
of former toil. Although in his eighty- fifth year, 
Mr. Clark is superintending the remodeling of a 
house. 

s£*J#iC^c : >- 

RS. SUSAN (KELLER) LOPER, one of the 
surviving pioneers of Macoupin County, 
now resides in Western Mound Township, 
in the pleasant home in whose upbuilding 
she assisted her husband, the late Adrian W. Loper, 
who was for many years one of the leading farmer 
of this section. His portrait presented on the op- 
posite page perpetuates foi' coming generations the 
lineaments of one universally esteemed and be- 
loved. 

Mrs. Loper was born in Crawford County, Ind., 
September 4, 1818, and comes of old pioneer stock. 
Her father, John Keller, who was of German de- 
scent, was young wiien his parents removed from 
his native State, Maryland, to the wilds of Ken- 
tucky, and there he was reared and married. In 
1800 he went to Indiana and was one of the first 




settlers in Crawford County, where he bought a 
tract of wild land. He immediately entered upon 
the hard pioneer task that lay before him, and his 
first work was to clear away the brush and trees to 
m.ake room for the log cabin that he intended to 
build for the shelter of his family. In 1833 he dis- 
posed of that place and with his wife and eleven 
children penetrated to the primeval wilds of Illinois 
with an ox team, bringing his household goods 
along, and camping and cooking by the wayside at 
night. He also drove about one hundred sheep and 
fifty cows to his new home. He found a suitable 
location on the Kickapoo River, in Coles County, 
of which he was a pioneer. 

In 1836 Mr. Keller sold his property in Coles 
County, and coming to Macoupin County, was a 
pioneer of Chesterfield Township. He entered a 
tract of Government land, improved it into a fine 
farm, and dwelt thereon manj' years, receiving 
from his neighbors and associates the respect due 
to an upright life. He finally removed to Chester- 
field, and his last days were spent in that village in 
honorable retirement. The maiden name of his 
wife was Zilla Van Meter, and she was a native of 
Grayson County, Ky. Her father, John Van Meter, 
is thought to have been born in Kentucky, ami was 
of I^'rench ancestry. He was a pioneer farmer of 
Kentucky, and spent his last years in that State. 
He married Diana Ilolselaw. Mrs. Loper's mother 
resided at Chesterfield during the latter part of her 
life, and at her death her body was deposited be- 
side that of her husband in Kirby Cemetery. 

Mrs. Loper was eleven years old when she ac- 
companied her parents to this State, and she was 
fourteen years of age when the famii)' removed to 
this county. Her early life was thus passed amid 
the pioneer scenes that characterized this county in 
the opening years of its settlement, and she has 
been an intelligent witness of much of its growth. 
The people were then mostly home-livers, that is 
they subsisted on the products of their farms, and 
many articles of food that are now considered in- 
dispensable, were then unknown luxuries. Our 
subject was taught all the useful household arts 
that were at that time in vogue, and early became 
an adept in carding, spinning and weaving wool 
and flax, and in her early married life she made the 



568 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



cloth in which her cliildren were clad. When she 
was initiated into the masteries of cooking, it was 
before a fire in a huge, old-fashioned fireplace, and 
many a delicious meal she 1 as prepared by such a 
fire. 

When she gave her hand in marriage to Adrian 
AV. Loper, December 22, 1837, she was well pre- 
pared to assume the responsibilities of wedded life 
and to malie a home comfortable and happy, and 
her husband could have made no better choice of 
a helpmate and life companion than she proved to 
him in the fifty and more years that they journeyed 
together. She has also been a wise and tender 
mother to the children corn of their marriage, of 
whom there are six, as follows: Lodusky, Mrs. 
Hay ward; Gideon B„ Cruise V.; Lena Lota, Mrs. 
Creaser; Ophelia, Mrs. Duckies; and Adrian C. 
Wright. 

Adrian W. Loper was a native of New Jersey, 
and a son of James Loper, who is also supposed to 
iiave been born in that State. He was a seafaring 
man, nnd at the time of the War of 1812 was the 
owner of two large vessels, but losing them on ac- 
count of the war he removed to Indiana. He was 
accompanied in his migration by his wife and two 
children, making the journey across the Allegheny 
Mountains in a one-horse wagon. He located near 
Fairfield, and after residing there for a time, in 
1829 he .igain started Westward, and coming to 
Illinois took up his abode in Greene County, where 
he lived through the "winter of the deep snow." 
In 1831 he made still another move, and coming 
to this county, became an early settler of Chester- 
field Township, where his earthly pilgrimage ceased 
and he was gathered to bis fathers at a ripe age. 
His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth 
Fitzgerald, spent her last years in Ciiesterfield 
Township. James Loper and his wife became the 
parents of seven children, namely: George, A. W. 
James, John, Eliza, Margaret and Phcebe. 

At the time of his marriage Adrian Loper lo- 
cated in Western Mound Township, and from that 
date until the day of his death, which occurred 
January 18, 1890, he was one of its most success- 
ful farmers. He was wide-awake, endowed with 
.ictivity and firmness of purpose, more than ordin- 
arily far sighted, shrewd and sound of judgment, 



and by years of close application to his business 
and real hard work, lie .accumulated a handsome 
property. Ho helped to develop the county, and 
his name will ever occupy an honorable position in 
its history as an honored pioneer. 







^LETCHER RICHARDSON. Another of 



•the foster children of our country who has 
gratefully shows his api)reciation of the ad- 
vantages here attained by coming to the aid of his 
adopted land when in her sore need, throwing his 
life in the balance with the chances of war, is he 
whose name is at the head of this sketch who has a 
good farm of one hundred and sixty acres located 
on section 27, of Shipinan Township. To such 
men as these the youth of to-day should take off 
their hats in reverence, for there was nothing of 
selfishness in the gift that they made our beloved 
land of services rendered during the late War of 
the Rebellion. 

Our subject is of English origin .and birth, his 
father being John Richardson who was born in 
Herfordshire, England, and his niollier, Margaret 
Barrett, a native of Kentucky. The former lived 
until he had reached an advanced age. The mother 
still survives. They resided in St. Louis, Mo. Ten 
children comprised the parental family of whom 
our subject was the sixth. He was born in Greene 
County, this State, December 2, 1842. When he 
was about two years of age his parents removed to 
Macoupin County, and settled in Sliipman Town- 
ship, where he grew to an intelligent and vigorous 
manhood. 

The origin.al of this sketch w.as married February 
22, 1869, to Miss Maria A. Secor, daughter of 
James and Maria (Fishback) Secor, the former of 
whom was a native of New York State, the latter of 
Tennessee. Mrs. Richardson's father died in Ship- 
man Township, in October, 1888, having reached 
ninety-two years of age. The mother still survives. 
Mrs. Richardson was one of seven children, being 
the fourth in order of birth. Her birth occurred 
in St. Louis, Mo. 

After the marriage of the gentleman whose his- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



seg 



tory it is our pleasure to here chronicle and the 
lady who has greatly added to tlie beauty and 
serenity of his life, they settled on a farm on sec- 
tion 27, Sliipnian Township, where they have ever 
since resided. Mr. Richardson has, during his res- 
idence here erected a number of good buildings. 
His barns are capacious and well built and his stock 
sheds are warm and nicely arranged. The home 
which the mother has made beautiful with the nat- 
ural instincts of feminine taste and fancy, is a com- 
fortable dwelling, and the scene of a harmonious 
home life. 

On the first call for volunteers, — that celebrated 
appeal made by Lincoln for three hundred thousand 
men to quell the trouble that the majority of men 
felt to be of insignificant importance, our subject 
was one of the first to resp6nd — entering his name 
for enlistment August, 1861. in Comiiany K, 
Twenty-seventh Illinois Regiment. His war rec- 
ord is very full, having taken part in some 
of the most decisive battles. He was a partici- 
pant in the battle of Belmont, Mo., also at 
Island No. 10, Stone River, Mission Ridge, at the 
siege of Corinth, Cliic'kamanga, Rocky River Ridge 
Resaca, Adarasville. Dallas, Mud Creek, Kenasaw 
Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta. A mere 
recapitulation of these battles to the mind of the 
j'outh of to-day conveys comparatively little, but 
to the veteran each one brings up a picture that is 
indelibly stamped upon the mind. True, a picture 
of bloodshed and tragedy, but with occasional 
gleams of humnn kindness and even of sentiment 
and wit. 

At the battle of Missionary Ridge our subject 
had his right ear shot off and at the same engage- 
ment his brother John received his death wound 
while standing at his side. His body was brought 
to Slii)iman Township, and interred by his griev- 
ing parents and friends. Mr. Richardson served 
three years and was mustered out of the service 
at Springfield, III. A man who has lived through 
such an experience as our subject is ages older 
than one who has passed his life in undisturbed 
|ieace of civil life. He of whom we write loves to 
recount his military experience and being an inter- 
esting talker finds charmed listeners in the youth 
that can only imagine the terrors of war. After 



his discharge from the army he eng.aged again in 
agricultural pursuits. Originally a Republican, of 
late the pure principles of Prohibition have ap- 
pealed to him so strongly that he has cast the 
weight of his vote with them. Mr. Richardson has 
served as Scliool Trustee for some time. Socially, 
he is a member of Buford Post, No. 246, of the 
G. A. R. and is also a member of the Farmers' 
Mutual Benefit Association. 



_£^J^_ 







HARLES EDWARD SMITH, M. D., one of 
the best known and most prosperous physi- 
cians of Palmyra, first saw the light in Cats- 
kill, N. Y. His father, the Rev. Carlos Smith, 
was born in New Hampshire, and in turn was the 
son of a clergj'man, the Rev. Ethan Smith, pastor 
of the Presbyterian Church at Thetford, Vt. Here 
he had charge of the church for many j-ears. The 
father of our subject was educated at Union Col- 
lege Schenectady, N. Y. His first charge was at 
Manlius. N. Y., from which point he went to Ohio 
in 1836, and became the pastor of a church at Ak- 
ron, with whom he remained in harmonious and 
helpful relations for many years. Ilis death oc- 
curred there in 1877, when he had reached the ad- 
vanced age of seventy-six years. His loss was 
deeply felt in tiie community where he had spent 
so many years of his ministrj', and many of his 
spiritual children followed him in sorrow to the 
grave. The maiden name of the mother of our 
subject was Susan Saxon. She was a native of 
Hanover, N. II., and was a true helpmate to her 
husband in his long life of usefulness. She also 
passed away in Akron, Ohio, being taken from her 
home bj' death in I 880. 

The son Charles, of whom we write, received his 
early education and training in Ohio. In 1849 
he went to Mississippi and there engaged in teach 
ing, putting in all his spare time in the meanwhile 
in the study of medicine. He continued thus leach- 
ing and studying in Mississi|)pi until the year 1854, 
and after a short visit to his home in Ohio he came 
to Macoupin Count}', and locating at Cummington 
at that time a village, now a part of Palmyrn, there 



570 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



established his practice. He remained tlicre until 
1857, and then made his home in Nil wood where 
he practiced medicine for twenty years. For some 
years past he has lived in Palmyra and has there 
built up a large and lucvative ])racticc. 

The maiden name of the wife of our subject was 
.Jane Gardner. Her native home was Lexington, 
Ky., and she remained with her husband and chil- 
dren until llarch, 1885, when she was taken away 
from their side by death at Palmyra. Of the three 
children of this family, Susan is now Mrs. Samuel 
(Lee) Smith; May is Mrs. John O'Connor and 
Gertie is at home. Dr. Smith has been since 1851 
a member of the Masonic fraternity and he is 
a member of the Macoupin County Medical So- 
ciety. 



-f- 



-^^ 



-^ 




NDREW CRANDAL, of the Brm of An- 
drews & Crandal, extensive lumber dealers 
(i of Bunljer Hill, claims Ohio as the State of 
his nativity. The date of his Ijirth is.Iau- 
uary 2.3, 1842, and the place, near Cleveland, Lor- 
ain County. His father, George Crandal, also a 
native of Ohio was reared in Lor.iin County, 
where he learned and followed the trade of a me- 
chanic. After becoming of age he married Miss 
Roena Squier, who was born and reared in the same 
county. Two children were there born unto them, 
our subject and Ira, and when the former was thir- 
teen years of age, the little family removed to La 
Grange County, Ind., wliere about four years were 
spent when they returned to Huron County, Ohio. 
One year was there spent and they went to Rich- 
land County, where the succeeding seven years of 
their lives were passed. The next home of the 
faniilj' was in Missouri, but after a year we And 
them located in Montgomery County, 111., whence 
they removed to Lincoln, this State, where the 
fiitlier followed the mechanic's trade until his 
dc'ath, which occurred in 1875, at the age of fifty - 
eight years. In religious belief he was a Metho- 
dist and in political sentiment, a Republican. His 
wife, who still survives him, now makes her home 
with her snn Ira, in Denver, Col., at the age of 
sixty-eight years. She too is a member of the 



Methodist Church and a lady of many excellencies 
of character. 

The days of the boyhood and youth of our sub- 
ject were spent in various localities, he removing 
with his parents to their several places of residence. 
He was living in Hillsboro when he became of age. 
He had hardly attained his majority, when on the 
20th of September. 1861, he enlisted for the late 
war as a member of Company H, Ninth Illinois In- 
fantry, under Capt. Armstrong an<l Col. Mercer. 
The regiment was assigned to the .Seventh Brigade 
of the Array of the Cumberland, and he partici- 
pated in a number of engagements and skirmislies. 
After serving for fourteen months and five daj's he 
was honorably discharged at St. Louis and returned 
to his father's home. 

In 1865, Mr. Crandal was united in marriage 
with Miss Mary Paulhamus, the union being cele- 
brated in Lawrence, Henry County. The lady was 
born in Richland County, Ohio. March 2, 1838, and 
with iier patents removed to Princeton, Bureau 
County, III. Her father died in Indiana while on 
his way to this State, being then in the prime of 
life. The widowed mother with her (children con- 
tinued her journey and settling in Princeton, there 
made her home for some years. Subsequently she 
removed to Sharon, Wis., where she died at a ripe 
old age. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Crandal have been 
born three children, two yet living. The elder, 
Fred, who graduated from the Bunker Hill city 
schools, and in 1888 was graduated from the East- 
man Business College of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., from 
which his father had graduated in February, 1864, 
is now acting as salesman for the firm of Andrews 
ife Crandal. Ira is now attending school, and Kittle 
died in childhood. 

After his marriage, Mr. Crandal took up his 
residence in Lincoln, III., where he made his home 
for seventeen years and engaged in business as a 
contractor and builder. He came to this county 
from lola, Allen County, Kan., whither he went in 
1880, there spending a year. In 1881, he arrived 
in Bunker Hill, where he soon engaged in the lum- 
ber business and subsequently he was manager of 
the business of the lumber firm of McDaniels & 
Crandal of Gillespie for eighteen months. In 1884 
a partnership was formed between the members of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



571 



tlie firm of Andrews & Crandal and lliey !iave since 
carried on an extensive business. They deal in 
lniiil)er, both dressed and i)lain and all other biiild- 
ins: materials. Mr. Crandal has entire mana.irenicnt 
of the business, which under his alile charge is as- 
suming large [proportions. He is an enterprising, 
wide-awake and thrifty business man, and by all 
with whom he is brought in contact, whether in 
public or private life he is held in high regard. In 
[jolilics he is a Democrat, and is a member of the 
Odd Fellows Lodge of Lincoln, and of Bunker 
Hill Lodge, No. l.il, A. F. & A. M., of Hunker 
Hill. He has tilled all the chairs in the latter or- 
ganization. His wife liolds membership in the 
Meihodist Churcli. 



c 



HARLES POHLMANN, a self-made man 
and an enterprising farmer and stock raiser 
of Cahokia Township, residing on section 
7, was born in IJarrendorf, German}', May 19, 
1848, and is a son of ^Villiam Pohlmann,a (ierman 
farmer who lived and died in the town where our 
subject was born. He married Miss Nettie Grote, 
a native of the same locality who survived her 
husband some years and was a second lime married 
becoming the wife of Henry Hariwig, who is also 
now deceased. 

Charles is the youngest of a family of six child- 
ren, five sons and a daughter, born to William 
and Nettie Pohlmann, of whom three came to the 
I'nited Slates. He and his brother William, a 
resident of Bollinger County, Mo., are all that are 
now living. Charles remained under the parental 
roof until 1857, when, having determined to try 
his fortune in America, he took passage on a sail- 
ing vessel, the "•Edmond," commanded by Capt. 
Waynian which left the German port on the 17th 
of October. For seven weeks and four days he 
was upon the bosom of the Atlantic. The voyage 
was an unusually pleasant and smooth one and he 
safely arrived at New Orleans, from whence he 
made his way up the Mississippi River, joining his 
brother Christ in Missouri. Christ was the first of 
the family to come to America and he is now de 



ceased. Mr. Pohlmann had no capital with which 
to begin life in the new world except a young 
man's bright hope of the fulure, and an abundance 
of vitality and energj-. His fortune he has carved 
out for himself and the projierty which he now 
possesses ranks him among the substantial farmers 
of this community. He resided in Missouri until 
the breaking out of the late war when he gave 
evidence of his loyalty to his adopted country by 
enlisting in June, 1861, as a memlier of Com- 
pany B., Second aiissouri Infantry, under 
Capt. Christ Burkhardt and Col. Schafer. The 
regiment was sent at once to the front and i)arti- 
cipated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Ark. and Cape 
Girardeau, Mo. About this time, .Mr. Pohlmann 
was stricken with rheumatism and sent to the 
hospital. He then received a ninelj- days' fur- 
lough which was extended sixt^' days an<i linally 
he received his discharge on account of disability 
in October, 1862. 

The following year, having partially recovered 
his health, Mr. Pohlmann removed to Madison 
Count3\ III., and from thence came to Macoupin 
County where he has made his home since 1863. 
For a few years he worked as a farm hand until he 
had ac(juired enough cai)ital to purchase land. In 
1867 he bought a small farm in Cahokia Township, 
which he made his home until 1888, when he 
bought a highly improved farm of one hundred 
and forty acres on s.ection 7 — his present home. 

Since coming to Macoupin County, Mr. Pohl- 
mann was united in marriage with Miss Margaret 
Duncan, a native of Count}- Tipperary, Ireland, 
born in 1849. Her father, Patrick Duncan, died 
in that county when she was about a year old and 
by her mother she was carefully and tenderly 
reared. Mrs. Duncan was a second time married 
and died in her native land when well advanced in 
life. She and both of her husbands were members 
of the Roman Catholic Church. When a maiden 
of sixteen summers, Mrs. Pohlmann started alone 
for America, and in the autumn of 1864, sailed 
from (iueenstown, England, to New York City, 
whence she came to M.acoupia County, 111., 
joining her brothers, .Tolin and Timothy Duncan 
who some years before had taken up their resi- 
dence in this community. The union of our sub- 



572 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



jcctnnd his wife has been blessed with four child- 
ren—William F., Charles, Elizabeth A. and Mary 
E. The mother and child adhere to the faith of 
the Catholic Church and Mr. Pohlmann and his 
sons are Democrats. 



^mi 




ENRY SCHWERTFEGER. The name that 
heads this sketch is that of one of the pro- 
gressive, go-ahead, German-American far- 
mers who has come to this country to make 
his fortune and to bring up his family under the 
principles of freedom and brotherhood with all. 
He is a general farmer and stock-raiser, bis place 
being located on section 3, of Mt. Olive Township. 
He also owns a farm of one hundred and ten acres 
on section 10, which is well imi>roved. He is pro- 
prietor, besides, of fort^- acres in another part of 
the same township, located on section 4. This 
last is a fine piece of timber land. 

Since 1873 the farm whereon he at ])rcsent re- 
sides has been his home. He has lived in this 
township since he was four years of age. The 
original of this sketch was born in Hanover, Ger- 
many, August 10, 1847, and he was four years of 
age when his parents, Conrad and Elinore (Funke) 
Schwertfeger, came to the United States, taking 
their departure from their native land at Bremen 
and making the voypge hither in a sailing-vessel. '■ 
They landed at New Orleans in the fall of 1851, ' 
and thence proceeded up the river to .St. Louis,' 
Mo., and a few months later came to this township 
and county; they located at once upon a farm in 
what is now Mt. Olive Township. 

Our subject's father bent his energies to im- i 
proving the pl.ice an<l at the time of his death, in 
1883, it was in a good state of cultivation. He i 
passe.l away from this life when sixty-two years of ' 
age, deeply mourned by his family and friends. 
His wife still livqs on the old farm, having attained ' 
the age of sixty -six years. She is a member of the 
Lutheran Church, as was her husband. 

The original of this sketch was the first child 
liorn to his parents and is the only son, having 
ten sisters, five of whom are living. When he had 



arrived at years of manhood, he was attracted to 
Miss America Schoen, who was born in Madison 
County, HI., in 1856, her natal day being March 6. 
Their marriage took place in Mt. Olive Township. 
The lady was only three years of age wh--n her par- 
ents came to this county and settled upon a farm 
about one mile south of Mt. Olive village. They 
are still living upon their well-improved farm and 
have attained a ^od old age. The father, John 
B. Schoen, is now seventy one years old and his 
wife, Antegc (Arkebaner) Schoen, is now three- 
score and seven years of age. They are both mem- 
bers of the Lutheran Church. 

Our subject's wife was .eared in this township 
and lived with her father until her marriage. fShe 
is the mother of eleven children, four of w'liom are 
deceased, having passed away while very young. 
The living children are: Conrad, Brunka, Soph?a 
William, Autege, Elenor and Anna. They are all 
useful and intelligent members of society. 



^ HARLES FRANCLS, one of the early set- 
^ tiers of the count.y of 1848, and a promin- 
/ ent farmer and stock-raiser residing on 
j section 23, Gillespie Township, is a native o^f the 
I Emerald Isle. He was boni in County Wexford 
i on the 2d of February, 1823 and come of Scotch- 
I Irish ancestry of the Protestant faith. His family 
was prominently connected with the religious 
troubles of that country. His father, Thomas 
Francis and his grandfather, Charles Francis, were 
both natives of County Wexford. The latter lived 
on a farm which had been purchased by his father, 
a Scotch emigrant, who had fled into Ireland at the' 
time of the religious persecution when under the 
reign of Queen Anne, the Protestants were so terri- 
bly treated. Thomas Francis also succeeded to the 
old homestead and there spent the remainder of his 
life, dying at middle age. He married Miss Ros- 
anna Scott who was also born and reared in 
County W^exford, where her parents, George and 
Rosanna Scott, passed their entire lives. Their 
ancestry had also sought refuge in Ireland from 



PORTRAir AND BJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



573 



l)ersecution for Iheii' opposition to the Catholics. 
Their places were burned, their homes pilfered. 
After tiie death of Tliomas Francis, his widow 
witii lier four sons and two daughters, tooii pass- 
age on the sailing vessel, the -'Old Messenger," and 
after six weeks landed at Quebec, Canada, contin- 
uing their journey by lakes, canal and river to 
Alton and on by team until they arrived in Gill- 
espie. About a year later the mother died. She 
was a high-minded, noble woman, who with a 
loving fidelity cared for her children .and lived a 
consirtent life in harmony with her professions as 
a member of the Episcopal Church. 

Upon our subject and his brothers, after the 
mother's death, devolved the care and support of 
the younger children. They worked by the month 
as farm hands to secure the money by which they 
might educate thera and secure them comfortable 
homes, laboring with a faithfulness and consecra- 
tion of i)urpose seldom witnessed m one so young. 
By industry and economy Charles Francis was at 
length able, when about twenty-three years of age, 
to purchase a small farm and begin life on his own 
account. Somo time afterward, he secured a tract 
of wild land ami began the development of what 
is now his piesent fine farm. Since then, prosper- 
ity h.as attended his efforts and his labors have 
been crowned with success. He owns three hund- 
red and twenty acres of highly cultivated 
land, pleasantly situated within a mile of 
Gillespie, where are good buildings and all 
the improvements necessary to the model farm, 
llis fine, substantial and commodious residence is 
surrounded by a grove of beautiful trees of his 
own planting, which throw their delightful shade 
over the lawn and protect the home from the 
summer's sun. 

Mr. Francis w.as united in marri.age with Miss 
Pauline Temple, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio. 
May 1(5, 1820. She proved a true helpmate to her 
husband, aiding and encouraging him in his labors 
and keeping home pleasant that it miglil be to him 
a welcome spot, when he should return wearied 
with the toils of the day. Siie also figure.l promi- 
nently in social circles, being an intelligent .and 
cultured lady. She w.as educated in Oberlin, Ohio 
and after completing the course of study in the 



college, engaged for a time in leaching. She then 
came West to friends in Macoupin County, Ills, 
and again taught school until her marriage. Her 
death occurred June 24, 1887 .and w.as mourned by 
all who knew her. She was a member of the Epis- 
copal Church and lived a consistent Christian life. 
.She was a friend to the poor and needy, a gre.at 
church worker and many have reason to bless her 
for her kindness to them and her timely assistance 
in their hours of distress or need. Two children 
were left to mourn the loss of a loving mother and 
share with the husbr.,nd in his great bereavement. 
Rosanna, the elder, is now the wife of Emmett 
Rice, who owns and operates a good farm near the 
Francis homestead; Thomas R.. who wedded 
Emma Frees, is engaged in the butchering business 
in Fredericktown, Mo.; one child also died in 
infancy. 

Mr. Francis is a member of the Episcopal 
Church, an active worker in its interests and con- 
tributes liberally to its support. He is a charter 
member of the Masonic h.dge of Gillespie in which 
he has filled all the chairs and in politics, he .and 
his son are Democrats. He is now living a retired 
life, having by industry and enterprise in former 
years acquired a competence sutticient to keep iiim 
through the remainder of his days witliout his 
again resorting to work in order to supply his 
wants. Blessed in basket and store and surround- 
ed by many friends, he has everything to make his 
declining years the happiest of his life. Those 
who know him respect him for his sterling worth 
and integrity and no one is more worthy of a re- 
presentation in this volume than Charles Francis. 



-^^ 



^^^ 




f/kJi ARTIN DICKERSON, a native of Ken- 
tucky, which is known for its highly culti- 
I vated farms located on undulating ground 
where the sun yellows the wheat as it slants 
upon the hdls, and having virgin forests that are 
comparable with nothing in this country. He 
early learned the comforts of the old Colonial homes 
with their wide southern halls and open piazzas, 
located on some eminence that commands a broad 



574 



perspective of fielrt, river and forest. We are ever 
striigglinor to come up to oi:r ideals and our ideals 
are only a shade better or more beauliful than tlie 
best that we have seen or know. Thus the reaii 
/alion of Mr. Dickerson's home is only a modified 
copy of the beautiful Colonial places aboundinfx in 
his native State. 

Our subject, a son of the late Lewis Dicker- 
man was a native of Virginia. His mother was 
Catherine (Rice) Dickerson. She also was born in 
^ Mginia. After the marriage of Lewis Dickerson 
lie with his wife removed to Jessamine County Ky 
where he died. After his death the mother removed' 
to this county and settled near Carlinville; she died 
at the residence of her son Martin, in Oirard Town- 
ship. Of a family of seven children the original of 
our sketch was the fifth, he was born in Jessamine 
County, Ky., March 5. 1816, and came to Macoupin 
County with his mother when he was a young man. 
Mr. Dickerson was married in Girard Town 
ship, December 20, t.S41, to Miss Mahala Harlan a 
'laughter of Mathew Harlan. She was born in 
Christian County, Ky.; her mother was Mary (Rob- 
erts) Harlan, a native of North Carolina They 
removed from Todd County, Ky., to Sangamon 
County, 111., but lived there only two years, an.l 
then changed iheir abode to Macoupin County 
settling in Girard Township where the wife died 
The father died in Brushy Mound Township. Mrs 
Dickerson was one of the oldest in a family of nine 
children. She was born in Christian County Ky 
December 13, ISl.i. ' ' '' 

When Martin Dickerson was married he with his 
bride settled in what is now Shaw's Point Town- 
ship. They lived there live or six years and then 
removed to Girard Township. In 1 866 they settled 
on section 2, Nilwood Township, where Martin 
Dickerson, our subject, died Januaiy ;j, 1877 Our 
subject and his wife were the parents of nine "child- 
ren, four of whom are living: George W Mary C 
Edwanl H., and Thomas R. George VV.' married 
tiara Clayton and resides in Nebraska. They have 
two bright children who are named respectively 
Mabel and Minnie. Mary C. is the wife of Geor4' 
Beck. She is the mother of one son, Jesse M 
Ihomas R. now resides at home and operates the I 
farm. The youngest son, Edmund H., married Ida I 



J^ORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Langley and resides in Nilwood Township He is 
the father of two children, Ethel R. and E.lward R 
Mr. Dickerson was a man who had won the re- 
spect and esteem of the community in which he 
lived. Open hearted and generous he was ever 
ready to do all in his power for any one who mic^ht 
need his aid. He an,) his estimable wife were con- 
sidered representative people of the township He 
was the owner of two hundred acres of improved 
land and the home that he made thereon was an 
ideal one of comfort and rural life. 



^r LEXANDER THOMPSON represents one 
fUli of the most intelliaent families in North 




Palmyra Township and his fine farm and 
pleasant home are situated upon section 34 
He IS a son of Samuel Thompson who was born in 
^ irg.nia, June 12, 1809, and his mother, Artiinesia 
Hettick was born August 8, 1813, in Ohio They 
first settled in Scoltville Township, but after a short 
residence there removed to Morgan County, this 
State and settled on Ap,,le Creek. They continued 
to reside in Morgan County for some time but finally 
made their home in Seottville Township, where 
they died, she in 1864, and he in 1870. 

He of whom we write was the eldest in a family 
of ten children, an.l w.as born in Seottville Town 
ship, this county, April 24, 1821. He lived with 
h.s father until he grew to maturity and established 
.1 home of his own. He was happily united in mar- 
riage in Sout!. Palmyra Township, March 8, 1860 
with Miss Elizabeth Crura, daughter of William' 
and Lydia (Coons) Crura, who spent their last years 
in South Palmyra Township. Their dau-^hter 
Elizabeth was born in Clark County, Ind., Septem- 
ber 10, 1838, and she came with her parents at an 
early day to Macoupi.i County. 

The seven children of Elizabeth and Alexander 
Tliompson are: Elisha, who mnrrie.l iMatilda Zel- 
mer; Mary J.; John, who died in infancy Alfred 
Frances E., Lydia A., and Clara N. Mrs. Elizabeth 
Thompson died in North Palmyra Township, March 
3, 1882. She had been for many years a faithful 
raeraber of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 



n 




^c^c/aJ ^^ 



PORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



577 



which she had hiboied zealously and in the doc- 
trines of which she had brought up her family. 

Agricultural pursuits have einiiloyed the time 
p.iid energies of Mr. Thompson tliroiigiiout life and 
upon his farm he has erected a pleasant home and 
commodious barns and outbuildings. He owns one 
hundred and eighty acres of land in North Palmyra 
Townshij), and has rendered it a prosperous and 
iitiractive piece of property. He has been School 
Director for two years and has filled that otiice to 
the satisfaction and profit of the district. His 
political views have led hira to affiliate wiili the 
party of .laekson and .lettVrson and he takes an intel- 
ligent interest in jiublic affairs. His children are 
well educated and intelligent and are making their 
mark in the community. They deserve what they 
receive, the esteem and respect of their neighbors. 




"^i ANDAL CLARK. For more than half a 
century this gentleman has resided upon a 
farm on section 20, Gillesiiie Township. 
xj^ Since 1839 he has been the owner of a 
part of his |)resent farm , and during all the \'ears 
which have since come and gone, has been not 
only an eye-witness of the growth and develop- 
ment of the countj', but has also taken a promi- 
nent part in its upbuilding. As one of the [>ionccrs 
and most highly esteemed citizens of Macoupin 
County, we are pleased to present his portrait to 
our readers. Mr. Clark claims .South Carolina as 
the State of his nativit}-. The date of his birth 
is November 30, 1815. and the place Greenville 
County. 

Joseph Clark, father of our subject, w.as also a 
native of Greenville Count}-, and is of Scotch-Irish 
descent. He grew to manhood upon his father's 
farm, and served as a private during the War of 
1812, participating in many important engagements 
during that struggle. When the country no longer 
needed his services he returned to his native home, 
and was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary Ta\-lor, 
who also spent her childhood days in Greenville 
Count}-. Her father, William Taylor, was one of 



the heroes of the Revolutionary War, and under 
fire at many important eng.agements, including the 
battle of Cowpens. His fidelity to duty made him 
a favorite with comrades and otticers alike. His 
last days were S|)ent in Georgia, whcie after a two- 
years' residence he died at the age of eight}- 3-ears. 
His wife survived him four years, and she too was 
well advanced in years wiien called to her final 
rest. 

After their marriage Joseph Clark and his wife 
settled upon a farm in Gieenville Count}-, where 
the husband died at a compaiatively early age, Ran- 
dal being then about eight years ol<l. Mrs. Clark 
afterward came to Illinois and died in Montgomery 
County, at the age of eighty-seven years. She 
was a member of the Methodist Church, and a 
noble Christian woman, whose many graces of 
character endeared her to the hearts of all. 

Our subject is the eldest of five children, and 
has two sisters yet living — Elizabeth, who resides 
in Dorchester; and Eunice, widow of Lawson 
Hoyce. living on a farm which is known as the 
Clark homestesd. At the age of twenty years 
Kaiidal Clark arrived in this county, and not only 
was he without capital, but upon him hung an in- 
debtedness of ?50 which he had incurred to pay 
the expenses of the trip. However, it was not 
long before he found work as a farm hand, and al- 
though ids wages were very small, he was faithful 
to his dul}-. and in course of time became able to 
purchase a small tract. He entereil eighty acres of 
wild land on section 20. Gillespie Township, which 
forms a part of his present fine farm, began clear- 
ing it and in course of time gathered abundant 
harvests as the reward of his labors. For some 
years he also devoted considerable attention to 
stock-raising, breeding good grades of horses and 
cattle, and in this line materially increased his In- 
come. As his financial resources were increased he 
made judicious investments of his capital in real 
estate, adding to his former purchases until his 
landed possessions now aggregate more than one 
thousand five hundred acres in Gillespie Township. 
Much of this has been cleared and developed by 
Mr. Randal's own efforts. He has divided it into 
fields of convenient size, all of which he has sup- 
plied with good farm buildings and has it well 



578 



POKTKAIT AND BlOGRAi'tllCAL RECORD. 



stocked. He also owns considerable properly in 
Kansas. Missouri and elsewliure. 

Notions afler bis arrival in Ibis county, Mr. 
Clark was united in marriage witb Miss Lucv 1'. 
Gray, a Virginia lady, born in tbe Old Dominion 
February 25, 1816. Sbe was only a cbild wben 
ber parents, James and Marian (Haber) Gray, fol- 
lowing tbe course of emigration wiiicb was stead- 
ily flowing Westward, came to Illinois. Tbey 
traveled overland witb teams and spent some years 
in Sangamon Conniy, wbence tbey came to Macou- 
jjin County, making tbeir home in Hilyard Town- 
sbip until tbey departed this life. Tbey were 
members of tbe old school Baptist Cburcb, and are 
numbered among the pioneer settlers of this com- 
munity. 

After a long and happy wedded life Mrs. Clark 
died at ber home in Gillespie Township, July 17, 
1887. .Sbe was the mother of thirteen ciiildren, 
but five are now deceased: Mary, Elizabeth and 
James, all of whom were married, have now passed 
away; and William and F:dward died in childhood. 
Those who still survive are: Marian, wife of Will- 
iam Whitfield, a resident farmer of Gillespie 
Township; Noah, who wedded Rachel Me.ndows, 
and lives in Oklahoma; Josepbus, who wedded 
Jane Walker, and carries on farming in St. Clair 
County, Mo.: Elijah, who was joined in wedlock 
witb Ella Rose, and is engaged in tbe same pur- 
suit in Gillespie Township; Best P., a farmer of 
Texas, first married Miss Dorcas Walker, and after 
her death wedded Matilda A. Rockenbaugh; Ann 
is tbe wife of Newton Gwin, who is engaged in 
farming in St. Clair County, Mo.; Lincoln mar- 
ried Frances Walker, and is a farmer of Gillespie 
Township; and Is.-ibella completes tbe family. Sbe 
is tbe wife of Orange Walker, and they reside with 
Mr. Clark on the old homestead. 

The name of Randal Clark is inseparably con- 
nected witb the county's history. For fifty-six 
years be has here resided, and has done bis part 
toward promoting its best interests and aiding in 
its progress. He has also served as Supervisor of 
bis township, being elected by the Republican 
party, of which he and bis sons are stanch sup- 
porters. The wild and unimproved prairies be has 
seen transformed jnto beautiful homes and farms, 




has seen towns and villages spring up, witnessed 
tbe introduction of tbe railroads, the telegraph and 
telephone, seen countless manufactories established 
and the whole county transformed from an almost 
barren wilderness to a blooming garden. His life 
has been such as to win the confidence and regard 
of all with whom he has come in contact. He is 
now living a retired life, and for some time has 
been confined to bis room by paralysis, but he 
bears his misfortune uncomplainingly, and takes 
pleasure in the enjoyments yet left to him. 

i^^- 

RS. HANNAH MITCHELL is well known 
throughout Brushy Mound Township, and 
her home has been here for many years. 
She is now occuping the old homestead on 
which her husband carried on his work for years, 
and where sbe also labored at those employments 
that fall to the lot of wives and mothers. Her 
dwelling is made attractive by ber geniality and 
good taste and the spirit of true hospitality and 
neigiiborly kindness that actuates her. Sbe was 
born in Worcester County. Mass., and came this 
State with her parents wben quite small, living witb 
them until ber marriage, in 1849, to Elijah Mitch- 
ell. This gentleman was one of the earliest set- 
tlers in Brushy Mound Township, and bis name is 
well remembered by those who are famdiar with 
the former history of this section. The reader is 
referred to tbe biographical sketch of William 
T. Mitchell for facts regarding his life and ances- 
try. 

The maiden name of Mrs. Mitchell was Hollings- 
wortli, and ber parents came from P^ngland. Her 
grandfather, George Hollingsworth, f migrated with 
bis family and spent his last years in Connecticut. 
John Hollingsworth, father of Mrs. Mitchell, also 
came this country. He came some five years before 
bis wife and two children and afterward sent for 
them. He found employment in the woolen mills 
of New P^ngland until about 1838, when he came 
to this State and settled in Brushy Mound Town- 
ship, this county. After a few years be sent for 
family to join him, they having remained in the 



I 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



579 



East, and their home was here for several j'ears. 
During the Civil War Mr. and Mrs. HoUingswortii 
I'einoved to Minnesota, and tlie remnant of tlieir 
daj^s was spent in McLeod County. Mrs. HoUings- 
worlh was in lier maidenhood Miss Sarah Hearst, of 
England. 

The children born to Mrs. Mitchell were nine in 
number, and the following lived to manhood and 
womanhood: Mary, Ansel, Archibald, Nancy, 
Clinton, Ira and Rietta. all mairied but Ira, who 
lives with his mother. Both parents have endeav- 
ored to govern their lives aright, being members 
of the Honey Creek Baptist Church, and every 
possible opportunity was aflforded their children to 
lit themselves for usefulness in the lines of life 
they adopted. Mv. Mitcliell died August 17, 
1877. 



]JI OHN E. HART, is a man who has a reputa- 
tion in the vicinity in which he lives for a 
zeal and enthusiasm in whatever he under" 

'Ml takes that usually procures for him the ob- 
ject for which he is working. He is a man in the 
prime ot life witii worlds before him to be con- 
quered, ar.d as he is ambitious and able, doubtless 
he will attain whatever he desires, be it in mental, 
moral, or Bnancial standing. 

Our subject comes from strong ami able families 
on both sides of the house. His father was .Toiin 
C. Hart who was born in Morgan County this 
State. His mother was Martha Bull, who was born 
in North Carolina. They were married in Morgan 
County, and there settled. From there they came 
to Macoupin County and located, about 1844. in 
North Otter Township, where they died during the 
War of the Rebellion. They left a family of ten 
children, of whom our subject is the fourth. 

Mr. Hart was born in North Otter Township, 
February 8, 185.5. On the tieath of his parents he 
went to live in Morgan County with relatives and 
remained with them until he reached his majority. 
He soon after married Miss Sarah M. Cherry, their 
nuptials being celebrated in North Otter Township, 
June 1, 1876, Mrs. Hart was a daughter of the 



late Pleasant Cherry, and was born in North Otter 
Township. She presented her husband with four 
children, two dying in infancy. Those living are: 
Nora A. and Moses A. Mrs. Sarah Hart died 
February 7, 1883, deeply mourned by her husband 
and children. 

For a second time Mr. Hart united himself in 
marriage, his choice being Miss Laura Hunt, their 
wedding taking place in South Otter Township, 
December 7, 1884. The present wife of our sub- 
ject was the daughter of Araiel and Mary J. (Bat- 
tershell) Hunt, vvho are residents of South Otter 
Township. Mrs. Hart was born in Pike County, 
III., September 27, 1865. They have three chil- 
dren whose names are, Bessie L., John W., and 
Fred D. 

When our subject was first married he lived for 
a short time in North Otter rownshi() and in 1876, 
settled on the farm where he now lives. He owns 
two hundred and nineteen acres of good arable 
land which is in a fine state of cultivation. Good 
buildings have been erected thereon and the neat- 
ness and taste with which they are kept up speak 
well for their owner. Mr. Hunt is a successful and 
progressive farmer. 

Our subject affiliates with the Democratic party 
giving them tin; weight of his vote and intiuence. 
He has held several positions of trust in thf gift of 
the county, having been Highway Commissioner 
and School Trustee. 

^^ HARLES H. KLAUENBERG, druggist at 
[l( Carlinville, is one of the popular and enter- 

^^(^ prising young business men of this county. 
He is a native of this city, and a son of Charles 
Klauenberg, one of its former well-known residents. 
His father was born in Grossen Floethe, Hanover, 
Germany, in .lune, 1829. He in turn w.as a son of 
Conriid Klauenberg, who was born in the same lo- 
cality, .as was also his father, whose given name was 
Divid, who was a farmer, and a life-long resident 
of his birthplace. The grandfather of our subject 
was a stone and plaster mason by trade, and carried 
on his occupation in the Old Country until 1854, 



580 



rORTKAlT AND DIOGRAPHJCAL RECORD. 



wlien iio c 111 iij rated to America, anfl coming to this 1 
county made his home in Carlinville liis remaining 
(lays, following his trade during his activ(^ life. 

The fatiier of our subject attended school 
steadily in his native town until he wa-j eighteen 
years old, thus obtaining a good education. He 
then learned the trade of a barher, and as was the 
custom used t(i practice as a surgeon in connection 
with his calling. In 18.52 he came to this countrj', j 
and for a time was a resident of New Orleans, 
whence he came to Carlinville in the spring of 18.53. 
Csrlinville was then but a small place, and the 
business as a barber that he established liere grew 
with the growth of the village. In 18.54 he had 
made money enough to warrant him in purchasing 
a lot on West Main Street.thc same that our s\ibject 
now occupies, and here he erected the first building 
ever put upon the street, the city jail excepted. He 
had started with one chair, but his business in- 
creased and he put in another chair, and soon 
bought a stock of cigars. 

In 18()1 lie turned his attention to the drug busi- 
ness, which he carried on successfully until his death 
in 1873. During his raan^' years residence in this 
city, he had won his way to an honorable place 
among the solid business men, and there were none 
more worthy of respect than he. He was a single 
man when he came here, but lie soon met and 
wooed for his wife Miss Catherine Zengle, a native 
of Mar joss, Hesse-Cassel, Gcrraanj'. She came to 
America when a 3'ouiig lad}', bravel}' setting out 
in the wide world alone, unaccompanied by any of 
her friends or relatives. She landed at St. Louis 
with but a few dollars in her pocket, and there she 
married Mr. Klauenberg, and proved herself a 
worthy helpmate and true wife. She died in 1888. 
She was the mother of two children, Lillie and our 
subject. Lillie is the wife of II. A. Steinmeyer. 

Charles Klauenberg gained the preliminaries of 
his education in the city schools, and at the age of 
fourteen entered Blackburn University, where he 
pursued a fine course of study. When not in school 
lie assisted his father, anil at the age of seventeen 
commenced business for himself, and has been ac- 
tively engaged since that time, with the exception 
of three years when he was in ill health. During 
that time his building was burned, and he erecteil 



the two story brick that he now occupies on the 
spot where his father first built. His store is neatly 
and tastefully fitted up, and he carries a full stock 
of drugs, stationery, school books, etc., and com- 
mands an extensive trade. 

Mr. Klauenberg and Miss Maggie Winter were 
married in .Iiine, 1876. Mrs. Klauenberg is a na- 
tive of Keyport. N. J., and is a daughter of Conrad 
and Mergerch \Vinter,natives respectively of Ger- 
many and Ireland. Our subject and his wife have 
two childien living, Leo and Grace. Nellie, their 
second child, died at the age of two j'cars. 

Our subject is wide-awake and progressive, and 
is an important factor in helping to carry forward 
the business interests of his native city. He is a 
man of social prominence, and is a member of the 
following organizations: was charter member of 
Orient Lodge, No. 95, K. of P.; Silver Lodge, No. 
024, K. of IL; and belongs to the camp of Modern 
Woodmen of America. 

141 I^ILLIAM N. BUDD. It is always pleasant 
\rJ// to record the success attending upon the 
^^J efforts of an intelligent and energetic man. 
One of the most successful business men in Bunker 
Hill Township is AVilliam N. Budd. He was born 
of English parents in Brighton Township, this 
county, in the year 1853. He has lived for the 
greater part of his life in the county with the ex- 
ception of four years, when he enjoyed the unu- 
sual advantage of school life in an English 
university town. He is the owner of the lea<ling 
drug house in Bunker Hill. This business was 
originally established in the fall of 1874 under the 
firm title of Budd Bros., succeeding that of Dr. S. 
F. Hale, who had conducted the business for twelve 
years prior to this time. In.Tuly, 1889 our sub- 
ject bought out the brother's interest since which 
time he has conducted the business single handed. 
Mr. Budd has a large and fine assortment of drugs, 
school books, stationery, paints, oils, perfumes and 
toilet articles. He is indefatigable in his attention 
and efforts in a business way. 

Mr. Budd's wife was Mrs. Julia B. Dorsey, nee 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



581 






=^EORGE VANIMAN. Broa.l-iniiHlcd and 
intelligent men who can take a just view of 
"'^iil^l the |)ossil)ilitios of their section of connti-y, 
and who are intelligent enough to worii from the 
outset for those principles whicli will tend to the 
nlliinale prosperity of the Slate, are of great valiK; 
in any coraniunity. Such men are public-spirited 
enough to lay aside petty differences and bo willing 
to adjust matters upon a sound basis which will be 
for the good of all, and they thus work most effec- 
tively for the benefit of the section of country in 
whic^h tiiey make tlieir iionies. 

Such a man is George Vaniman, who resides on 
section 16, Virden Township, the son of Jacob 
Vaniman, a Penns3ivaniaii, and Mary 15f)wman. a 



Hornsbj', daughter of one of the prominent phy- 
sicians and old settlers, who is still living in this 
place. Mrs. Hudd's family is from old Kentucky, 
that land of fine horses, Bourbon whisky and beau- 
tiful women. She was reared, however, in this 
county. By her former marriage slic has one 
daughter, Lydia C. Dorsey. Socially, Mrs. Budd 
holds a place among the most prominent ladies of 
the city. She is a well-educated and charming 
woman, presiding with grace and dignity over the 
beautiful home that her husband has built in Bunker 
Mill. It is one of the finest residences in tiic city, 
a two-story brick, with wide verandas and all the 
modern conveniences that the present style of liv 
ing ilcmands. A beautiful lawn stretches away in i 
front of the house and is gaj' with many colored 
flowers. 

Mr. and Mrs. Budd are proniincnt members of 
the Episcopal Church of which they are liberal sup- 
porters. Our subject has been Junior Warden of 
his church for some years. In politics lie is a 
sound Democrat and in 1881 was elected the Col- 
lector of the Township. lie is a member of the 
Iii<lependent Order of Odd Fellows of Charter 
Oak Lodge, No. 251 and of the Encampment, Barry 
Lodge, No. 51, both of lUmker Hill. Mr. Budd 
has been honort'd by being elected successively to 
the Chair of each of tiie orders. 



native of Ohio. These parents settled in Mont- 
gomery County, Oiiio, and it became their home 
througii life. They carefully brought up and edu- 
catetl to tiic best of their ability the nine (iiiidrcn 
who were granted to them, and the fourth among 
that niiinbcr was our subject, who was l)orn Octo- 
ber 18, 18:52, in Montgomery County, Ohio. There 
he was reared to a sturdy and enicicnl manhood, 
and there he contip.ued to live until the spring of 
1866, when ho came to this county and purchased 
three hundred and twenty acres of rich aii<l fertile 
soil, situated in Girard and Virden Townshii)s. His 
life-training and life work iiave l)een u|)on the farm 
with the exceptio.T of about three or four years, 
when he was engaged in milling in Montgomery 
County, Ohio. With general farming he has also 
devoted himself largely to stock-raising. 

The happy marriage of George Vaniman and 
Louisa Decker, was celebrated in Goshen, Ind., early 
in the summer of 1864. The bride is a daughter of 
Samuel and Catherine (Alwinc) Decker, who made 
their home in Elkhart County, Ind., and there spent 
their later years. Their daughter, Louisa was born 
near Johnstown, Pa., April 26, 1843. 

Alter marriage Mr. and Mrs. Vaniman lived 
upon the old home farm in Montgomery County, 
Ohio, until 18CG, when they came to Macoupin 
County. Upon their beautiful farm they have an 
excellent set of farm buildings, most of which Mr. 
Vaniman has placed there. These are not only 
pleasing to the eye, but most conveniently arranged 
and well adapted to the |)urposcs for which they 
are intended. The house is an attractive one, the 
barns a.-e first-class, and the smaller buildings are 
snug and comfortrible. 

Four sturdy sons have come to Mr. and Mrs. 
Vaniman, whom they have trained carefully through 
their ciiildhood years, and u|)oii whom they may 
well hope to lean when they have to go down the 
shady side of life. They are: Chester C, Elmer E., 
Calvin and Vernon. Chester C. is a teacher of mu- 
sic in Indiana, where he is making his mark among 
the young professional men of the day; Elmer is 
still a student, and a bright and capable one, in 
McPherson College at McPlu^rson, Kan.; Calvin 
and Vernon are still at home under the parental 
roof, and are carrying on their cdiication in the 



582 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 
-1 f — 



local schools. The offije of Highway Commis- 
sioner is one which Mr. Vaniman has tilled well and 
acceptably, and much 1o the gratification of his 
neighbors. Perhaps few men have more fully the 
solid endorsement of their fellow-citizens than this 
able and public-spirited man. 




EPTIMUS S. WOODWARD. One of the 
successful business establishraenis in Carlin- 
ville is that of which Mr. Woodward is 
is President. It is the S. S. Woodward 
Hardware Company, well stocked with a carefully- 
selected assortment of goods, and business there is 
conducted according to honorable methods and 
straightforward principles. The store is well-known 
to all who trade in Carlinville, as it has been estab- 
lished since in 1861, and the proprietor can look 
back over a successful career. Mr. Woodward is 
a Kentuckian by birth but has lived in this State 
since his infancy and lias no recollection of his 
birthplace. His natal day wns January 28, 1833, 
and his parents were Henry and Mary (Bell) 
Woodward. Both were born in Kentucky and the 
mother died in Winchester, .Scott County, in 1849. 
The father closed his eyes in death in 1853, in 
Pittsfield, Pike County, this State, where he was 
engaged in the grocery trade. The father was one 
of the pioneers of that county and until 1842 was 
engaged in farming, first near Griggsville and later 
at Winchester. He also gave some attention to the 
trade of a tobacconist, which lie had learned in his 
native State. 

As the parents of our subject were in liirited 
circumstances it was necesoar3' for the lad to aid in 
the support of the family as soon as he was strong 
enough. He worked on the farm until he was six- 
teen years old, then began working out bj' the day, 
receiving seventy-five cents and boarding himself. 
After spending a3'car in this manner he became an 
apprentice at the tinner's trade in Winchester. 
After a few months he changed to Naples, where 
he completed a three years' apprenticeship, receiv- 
ing his board and $35 the first j-ear. and each suc- 
ceeding year So more than the last. He clothed 



himself from the small amount and at the termina- 
tion of his apprenticeship was square with the world. 

Mr. Woodward at once began work as a jour- 
neyman and in 1856 came to Carlinville where for 
five years he labored thus. In the meantime he 
had been industrious and economical and had paid 
for a comfortable home. In 1861 he mortgaged 
the property and with the proceeds purcluased a 
stock of hardware and embarked in business. 
Close attention to the business and prudence in all 
its details resulted in success, and from year to 
year Mr. Woodward has seen his financial condi- 
tion improve. 

The marriage of Mr. AVoodward and Elizabeth 
B. Trumbull took place .January 8. 1853. The 
bride was born in Griggsville, Pike County, and is 
a daughter of Nathaniel and .Sarah (Bickford) 
Trumbull, pioneers of that pl.ace and natives of 
Massachusetts. To Mr. and Mrs. Woodward six 
chihlren have come, who are named respectively. 
Mary A , Nellie May and Charles T. Lora, May 
.and Kattie are deceased. The eldest daughter, 
Mary A , is the wife of Edwin C. Barber, who is 
connected with Mr. Woodward in the hardware 
company; Nellie married .J. W. O'Brien, and 
Charles is associated with his father in business. 

Mr. Woodward exercises the elective franchise 
in favor of candidates on the Democratic ticket. He 
belongs to Carlinville Lodge, I. O. O. F. Public life 
liv.s no charms for him. but he has been a member 
of the Common Council, yielding to the wishes of 
his neighbors. He and his estimable wife are well 
respected, and in business circles Mr. Woodward 
has high standing. 

\ffAMES MORRISON, a resident of Virden, 
was formerly for raanj' years actively en- 
gaged in business as a wide-awake, practical 
farmer, and so successful was he in carrying 
on his operations he acquired a good amount of 
property, and in due time retired to iiis jircsent 
home, that he might enjoy his wealth at his leisure, 
free from the cares and labors that beset his early 
life. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



583 



Mr. Morrison was born in Chester County. Pa., 
near the town of Kinibailville, May 8. 1811. His 
father was Alexander Morrison, and he was also a 
native of that count}-, while his father, James Mor- 
rison, was of Irish birth. He came to America 
with his familj' in Colonial times, and settled in 
Pennsylvania. He offered his services to his 
adopted country during the Revolution, and fought 
bravely in the ranks of the Continental Arra3^ He 
was a farmer by occupation, and carried on agri- 
culture in Chester Count}-, Pa., where he died at a 
ripe age. 

The father of our subject grew to manhood in 
his native State, and continued to reside there un- 
til 1816, when he removed to Ohio with his wife 
and three children, going thither with teams, taking 
household goods along cooking and camping by 
the wav whenever it was deemed expedient. He 
at first took up his residence in the forest wilds of 
•Jefferson Count}-, but in 1828 he went to Seneca 
County, and cast in his lot with its pioneers, buy- 
ing a tract of timber land three miles from Tiffin 
on which to build up a new home. He erected a 
log cabin to slieller his family, and actively entered 
upon the task of clearing a farm. At that time 
timber was of but little value, and large logs that 
would now bring a good price were rolled together 
and burned to get rid of them. There were no rail- 
wjiys for some years after the Morrisons moved to 
tliat part of the country, and Sandusky City, forty- 
miles distant from their home, was the principal 
market and depot for supplies. Deer, wild turkeys 
and other kinds of game offered the settlers a plea- 
sing variation from their usual fare. 

Mr. Morrison in time developed a choice farm, 
on whicli he lived until his death in 1847. His 
widow survived him until 1852, when she too 
passed away, dying on the home farm in Seneca 
County, Ohio. In her maiden days her name was 
Mary Beadle. She was born in Chester County, 
Pa. Her parents were natives respectively of 
Wales and Pennsylvania. 

Our subject is one of a family of ten children, 
seven sons and three daughters. He w-as about 
five years old when his parents removed to Ohio, 
and he was reared under pioneer influences. His 
education w-as obtained in tlie primitive schools of 



Jefferson and .Seneca counties, wliich were taught 
on the subscription plan, each family paying ac- 
cording to the number of scholars sent. Log 
cabins were used as school-houses; the seats were 
made of puncheon; a log was taken out from the 
wall and greased paper pasted over the hole thus 
made admitted the light, while a huge tire-placie 
served to heat the I)uilding. Our subject's life 
was much like that of other farmer's boys at that 
period, and as soon as large enough he was taught 
to make himself useful on the farm. In his youth 
all grain was cut by a sickle until the invention of 
the cradle, which was considered a great improve- 
ment. 

Mr. Morrison continued to live with his parents 
until his marriage, when he rented land for some 
years. In 1854 he came to this State, and entereil 
three hundred and twenty acres of Government 
land in Harvel Township, Montgomery County, 
upon which he immediately erected a dwelling 
and other suitable buildings. The surrounding 
country was theu but little improved, and his as- 
sistance in developing the agricultural resources of 
that region was invaluable. He fenced his entire 
tract of land, and from time to time bought other 
land until he had a large farm, upon which he had 
placed many substantial improvements ere he sold 
it in 1866. After disposing of that property at a 
good price he purchased other land in the same 
county, and was very much prospered in his under- 
takings, so much so that in 1 885 he was enabled to 
abandon active labor, as l.e was in possession of a 
handsome competence, and since that time he has 
lived in retirement at Virden, having first sold his 
land in Montgomery County for a round sum of 
money. 

The marriage of our subject with Miss Rachel L. 
Evans, a native of Virginia, and a daughter of 
Walter and Nellie (Cross) Evans, was solemnized 
February 22, 1832. It was fraught with much 
happiness to both husband and wife, and they lived 
together mutually helping each other to bear sor- 
row when it came to them, and sharing such joys 
as fell to their lot. for nearly thirty-eight years, 
when death parted them January 17, 1870, by call- 
ing the devoted wife to that dreamless sleep that 
knows no waking this side of the grave. Fourteen 



584 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



children were born of that union, of whom nine 
grew to maturity-, namely, Walter A., James H., 
Marj- E.. Caroline. Laura, Melissa, Rachel E., 
Theodore and William Sidnej-. 

Mr. Morrison's cheerful disposition, kindly 
thoughtfulness for others, and excellent qualities 
of I'.ead and heart have gained him a warm pl.aee 
in tlie hearts of his neighbors and other friends. In 
his course as a farmer he displayed those traits of 
perseverance, foresight and business tact that are 
necessary to carrj* on any calling so as to obtain 
success. He has always fulfilled the duties of 
citizenship intelligently- and lo3*allj'. In politics, 
he is closely identified with the Republicans. Dur- 
ing his residence in Pitman Township, he was oc- 
casionally called to hold important offices, and he 
did good service as Collector and Assessor, and 
also as a member of the District School Board. He 
was ai)pointed Postmaster of Herndon during James 
Buchanan's administration which office he retained 
for twelve or fifteen years. 



tOBERT B. .SHIRLEY, a lawyer of good 
repute located in Carlinville, has been act- 
ively engaged in the practice of his profes- 
sion since 1878. As he h.as been located in 
Carlinville since that time, bis name is well known 
here, and the number of clients who visit his office 
will compare favorably- with that which call upon 
any lawyer in the county. He is well grounded in 
the principles of law and equity, has a One knowl- 
edge of the precedents established in the courts, and 
the abilitv to present causes in such a manner as to 
impress the facts upon his hearers. The reader is 
referred to anotlier page for items regarding his 
parents — the Hon. William C. and Jlary J. Shirley. 
The birthplace of Mr. Shirle3- was a farm on 
Silver Creek in Madison Count}-, and his natal dav 
October 9, 1850. He is the oldest living son of 
his parents, and was but an infant when they came 
to this county. He was reared on a farm and 
acquired an education by attending the district and 
other schools whenever it was possible. In the j 



intervals of studj- he was kept busj' on the farm, 
and grew to a vigorous manhood both ph3'sically 
and mentally. 

When tweut^'-two years old Mr. Shirle}' began 
the study of his ciiosen profession in the office of 
Judge William R. Welch, and in July, 1L76. he 
passed the requisite examination and was admitted 
to the bar. After a brief interval he formeil a 
partnership with S. T. Corn and the two gentlemen 
carried on their legal work together until 1886, 
when Mr. Corn was appointed Territorial Judge of 
Wyoming by President Cleveland and removed 
thither. Since that time Mr. Shirley has practiced 
alone. His former partner has remained in the 
Northwest and now makes his home in Evanston, 
Wyo. 

Mr. Shirley's wife was Miss Etta W. Burton, 
onlj- living daughter of Henry W. and Laura Bur- 
ton, of whom further mention is made in the biog- 
raphj- of Frank AV. Burton. The marriage rites 
were solemnized October 16. 1879. Mr. Shirley 
belongs to Stp.unton Lodge. No. 177, F. <fe A. M.. 
and St. Omar Commandery, No. 30. K. T., of Litch- 
field. He is a Democrat and his first Presidential 
ballot was for Horace Greele}-. His legal reputa- 
tion is indicated by the fact that lie has I>een City 
Atlorney three terms and blaster in Chancery one 
term. He was one of the original stock-holders in 
the Carlinville National Bank and at the organiza- 
tion in May, 1890, w-.as elected Director. 



^^EORGE L. BROWN. residing on section 30, 
'll (=, Carlinville Township, who is one of the 
"^^jjl representative men of Macoupin County, 
was born in Berksliirc County, Mass. His early 
youth and manhood were spent in Miissachusetts, 
New York and Virginia till 1352, when he came 
West and settled in Morgan and Scott Counties, 
111., where for a period of several j-ears he was suc- 
cessfully engaged in mercantile pursuits. In Jan- 
uary, 1863, he entered the service of the Govern- 
ment and for three years was Paym.isler in the 
army. In 1871 he settled in Cailinville, III., 
where ho made extensive and valuable improve- 





^-^^^-c/ /^^^^^C^^ 




^'^-(^H^l^ fe^^^?^/^ ^^^^^^^ 




POUTIIAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL UECORD. 



58? 



iiunls, not only in llie city Itut in the conntiy 
iuljac'onl and is tiie ownei' of vnhiable city and 
country property. 

Ilis first ninrriaf,'t! tooi< place in l.itclinelil County, 
Conn., to Miss Mary L. Couch, a nalive of 
that county. Throe children wen; horn to them, 
two sons and one daughter, who were f,Maduates of 
lilackhnrn Ifniversity. Howard S,, the eldest, wag 
niarried to Miss Dora M. l'.ett,ersworlli. dau^^htcr of 
Dr. Hettersworlh, of Carlinville, was fonni-ly cn- 
ga^efl in the land and loan bns-iness. lie died .July 
H, 1 «',)(); Charles W., the .second son, who is a law- 
yer in Rapid City, .S. Dak., married .Miss Adella 
Gore, daughter of lion. David Gore, of Carlinville. 
Caroline I. is the wife of .lohn H. Uobinson. of Pu- 
eblo, Col. Mrs. Mary L. lirown. who was greatly 
esteemed for her many lovable qualities of mind 
and heart, gently passed to her everlasting rest at 
El Paso, Tex., February G, 1880. His present 
wife was formerly Mrs. E. M. Whitl.aker, widow of 
the lale Dr. Whiltakor, of New Jersey. 

Mr. Brown is a believer in Republican principle?^ 
and formerly Ims taken an active part in polilieal 
affairs. He is also a believer in the doctrines of 
Clpislianilv and is n prominent member of the 
I'nsbyteriau Church, in whicli he has (illcd some of 
the important ollices. 

Ill the iK^nie of our subject one can well note the 
air of culture and refinement which there exists. 
Macoupin County can boast of many excellent men 
and .Mr. Brown takes high rank with those whose 
incniories should be perpetuated and kept green. 



'' ' ■ r - -^^a— 



E^' 




? MOX S. CARTER. I'ostm.aster of Hornsby 
and a general merchant at Clyde Station, 
in is one of the prominent and influential 
^^ citizens of Cahokia Township. He claims 

New York as the State of his nativity, his birth 
having occurred in Leyden, Lewis County, Novem- 
ber 24, 1840, and he is the eldest of six children, 
whose parents were Loyal \V. and Lucy Hiose) 
Carter. The father was a native of Berlin, Conn., 
and belongs to an old family of the Nutmeg State, 
of New England ancestry. The mother came of 



an old respected family of Middlebnry, Vt. After 
their marriage they located in Leyden, living on a 
farm in that locality until 1849, when they removed 
to Batavia, N. Y., and spent the remainder of their 
lives at that place; there the f.ather died at the age 
of seventy-three years. They were leading and 
respected people of the community, were members 
of the Presbyterian Church and in political senti- 
ment Mr. Carter was a Republican. 

(Jur subject spent his early life in the State of 
his nativity and was educated in the common 
schools. While still single he emigrated Westward, 
taking up his residence at Clyde, and at Kinder- 
hook. Pike Couiily, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Amanda Churchill, a native of that place, born 
February 10, 1840. Her parents, Melvin and 
Sarah (Hornor) Churchill, were natives of New 
Yfirk and Ohio respectively. Their marriage was 
celebrated in Pike County, 111., where Mr. Church- 
ill had located at the age of sixteen years, emigrat- 
ing Westward with his father, who w.'is one of the 
first .settlers of the county and laid out the town of 
Kinderhook. He became an extensive landowner, 
acfpiircd considerable wealth and was a man of 
prominence and celebrity in that [)art of the State. 
He died .it the age of forty-five years and his wife 
passed away March 19, 1888, at the age of sixty- 
six. 

Mrs. Carter remaineil at home with her parents 
until her marriage. She received excellent e<1uca- 
tionnl ailvanlages, was for som<; time a student in 
the female college of Batavia, N. Y., and prior to 
her marriage successfully engaged in teacliing. 
She figures prominently in social circles and the 
home over which she presides witli so much {.n-ace 
is the abode of hospitality. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Carter are members of the Methodist Church and 
are active workers in the Master's vineyard. Five 
children iiave been born unto them but two are 
now deceased— Nellie May and Nellie Maude. 
Leo M. is now assisting his father in the store and 
Harold S. and Cleon C. are at home. Mr. Carter 
has held the position of Postmaster of Hornsby 
since 1871, with the exception of one yenr dur- 
ing President Cleveland's administration. In pol- 
itics he is a sound Republican, who warmly advo- 
I cates the party [.rinciples and does all in his power 



588 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



for its success. In 1874 he eoi barked in general 
mercliandising and now has a good store, carrying 
a full line of groceries and dry goods. From the 
beginning his trade lias constantly increased and 
owing to his earnest desire to please his customers, 
his genial manner and his fair dealing, he has won 
a liberal patronage of which he is well deserving. 

The attention of the reader is directed to a lith- 
ographic portrait of Mr. Carter, presented in this 
connection. 



J^\ RS. REBECCA VARBLE is a .Southerner 
by birth, and education. Her father was 
Isaac Irwin who was a native of North 
Carolina. Her mother was Rachel (Glas- 
cock) Irwin, also a native of the same .State. After 
their marriage they settled in their native .State for 
a lime and then emigrated to Illinois, first settling 
in Greene County, where they died. A large fam- 
ily of children had come to gladden their last days; 
they were ten in number of whom Mrs. Varble was 
the eldest. .She was born in North Carolina, De- 
cember 6, 1823 and was only about eight years old 
when her parents came to Greene County. Mrs. 
Varble remained under the home roof until she had 
reached womanhood, and was married from the 
home of her father, December 3, 1846, to Philip 
^'arble. Her husband's father was John Varble, a 
native of Kentucky as was also her mother, Sarah 
Admire Varble. They came here from Kentucky 
and settled in Greene County, at an early day. The 
father died in Montgomery County and the mother 
in Greene County. The husband of our subject, 
Philip Varble, was born near Louisville. Ky., .June 
14, 1821; while yet a boy he emigrated with his 
parents to Greene County, where he met the lady 
to whom he was afterward married. 

The young couple continued to live in the phu^e 
where they first settled for nineteen years when 
they came to Macoupin County, in the year 1865, 
and settled in Nilwood Township. He was a farmer 
by bringing up and choice, and at the time of his 
death he owned a good farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres, upon which he placed valuable im- 



provements. His death took place December 18, 
1884, and caused a void in the family which will 
always be felt, both by the widow and their chil- 
dren. 

Mr. Varble was liberal in his religious views and 
was a generous supporter of the Methodist Church. 
Our subject is the mother of eleven children. They 
are: Harriet, James P., Sarah E., Emily, Laura. 
Eliza, Mattie, Lucy, Ida, Katie and Thomas P^ 
The eldest daughter is the wife of George Corry; 
James F. took to wife Mary Murphy; Emily died 
when about twenty-one years of age ; Laura is the 
wife of Christ Remling; Eliza, is the wife of George 
Long; Mattie became the wife of Joseph T. Bay- 
less; Lucy is the wife of John Dorsey and Ida is 
the wife of Frank Plummer. Mrs. Varble is a 
member of the Christian Church and in her daily 
life she is an exemplary example of the teachings 
of the Golden Rule, her delight being to do for 
others. 



-5- 



-^ 



Y( AMES W. DROKE was a farmer who set- 
tled in Macoupin County in 1855, .ind who 
resided there continuously until 1888. He 
was a native of Sullivan County, Tenn., 
and a son of William and Tabitha Droke. The' 
family came to Illinois in 1855, and the father died 
in this county about 1882, and the mother subse- 
quently died in McPherson, Kan., in 1888. 

The early years of our subject were passed upon 
the farm, and here he arrived at early manhood. In 
1857 he married Abigail R., a daughter of Wesley 
and Susan (Range) Butler, natives of Tennessee, in 
which State Abigail was born November 25, 1833. 
The family came to Illinois in 1842, and settled 
on a farm near Seottville, where the mother died, 
leaving six children. The father married a secon.l 
time and there were three children by this mar- 
riage. 

When our subject and his young wife began life 
fo<- themselves they set up housekeeping near 
Seottville, but in 1861 they removed to a farm 
near Carlinville. The Civil War now broke out 
and Mr. Droke, like other young men, felt the 
call of duty to go to the help of his country. He 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORt). 



S89 



enlisted in 1862, and was mustered into service in 
Company B,One Hundred and Twenty-second Illi- 
nois Infantry. During his three years' service he 
was neither wounded nor taken prisoner and at 
the close of the war he was enabled to resume his 
usual avocations. In 1866 he settled on section 1, 
Western Mound Township, where he purchased 
two hundred and five acres and subsequently added 
one hundred and sixty more. 

Six of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Droke are now living, namely: Jannie, Mrs. Al- 
baugh; Martha A., who married Carman Gavett, 
and who died in 1889; Elizabeth E., Mrs. Thomas 
Dawson; Susan Ida; John E.; and Norah I.. Mrs, 
Dawson. Politically Mr. Droke was a Republican 
but was not a politician in the ordinary sense of 
the word. H<i was ever ready to serve his fellow- 
citizens and acted upon the School Board for sev 
eral years. He was also a local preacher in the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he gave 
considerable lime for thirty years. 

The war record of our subject is as follows. He 
wasenioUed August 13, 1862, in Company B. One 
Hundred a.id Twenty -second Illinois Infantry, and 
discharged July 15, 1865, at Mobile, Ala., in com- 
pliance with general orders Nos. 64 and 94 from 
the War Department, bearing date May 15, 1865. 
He took part in the battles of Parker's Cross 
Roads December 21, 1862, and at Tupelo Decem- 
ber 15 to 16, 18G4. Mrs. Droke still resides on 
the homestead and is universally respected and 
esteemed by her neighbors. 



\ 



*OHN D. SCHROEDER, who is numbered 
I among the early settlers of Macoupin County 
] of the year 1854, is now engaged in gen- 
eral farming on section 7, Dorchester Town- 
ship, where he owns a good farm of eighty acres. 
He claims Germany as the land of his nativity, 
having been born in the Province of Hanover, 
September 24, 1830. There were but two children 
. in the family, himself and a brother, Henry, who 
' (lied in Germany. The parents, J. Adam and Dora 
(Temka) Schroeder, were also natives of the same 



Province. The father died in the prime of life, 
after which the mother was again married, becom- 
ing the wife of Henry Neimeier. They resided 
in Hanover on a farm until her death, which 
occurred at the age of fifty-five years, after which 
Mr. Neimeiur crossed the Atlantic to America and 
died at the home of his son Fred, in Gillespie 
Township, this county, in 1888, at the age of 
seventy-one years. The parents of our subject 
and also Mr. Neimeier were members of the Luth- 
eran Church. 

John D. Schroder, whose name heads this sketch, 
spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his 
native Province, where he remained until twenty- 
four years of age, when he determined to seek his 
fortune in America. Bidding good-by to home 
and native land, he took passage upon the vessel 
"Neptune," which sailed in the spring of 1854, 
from Bremen to New Orleans, where after a voy- 
age of forty days the vessel was anchored. Pro- 
ce«ding up the river to Sv Louis, he then made his 
way to Jtlacoupin County, and since then has lived 
within her borders. As he was without money, 
he began to work as a farm hand and served in 
that capacity for a time until he rented land. By 
industry and economy he secured some capital 
and at length purchased his present farm in 1876, 
which has been his home since 1881. As before 
stated, it comprises eighty acres of good land, all 
of which is under a high state of cultivation and 
well improved, being furnished with good build- 
ings and !ill the accessories of a model farm. The 
stock which he raises is also of excellent grades, 
and he is numbered among the leading and pro- 
gressive farmers of the community. 

Mr. Schroeder has been twice married. In Bun- 
ker Hill he was joined in wedlock with Miss Cath- 
erine Erich, who was born in Holstein, Germany, 
and in her maidenhood came alone to this country. 
She spent two years in Cleveland, Ohio, and came 
to Bunker Hill, where she was afterward married. 
She died in that city some twenty-eight years 
later, in the faith of the German Methodist Church, 
of which she had for some years been a member. 
Of the eight children born of her marriage four 
are now deceased— one who died in infancy; 
William and Elizabeth, who died in childhood; 



590 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



an.l John F.. who at his death left a wife and one 
child. Charles married Gusta Doebrincr and is 
an engineer in a coal mine in Mt. Olive, III.; 
Henry, who married Laura Doehrinff. is employed 
in the same capacity as his brother; Dora is the 
wile of Benjamin Pepper, who lives on a farm near 
Ohlman Station; and Anna, who is at borne. For 
a second wife Mr. Schroeder wedded Eliza Hespe. 
a native of Hanover, who when a young lady ac- 
companied her brother Christopher to America and 
made her home in Bunker Hill. Mr. and Mrs. 
Schroeder are both members of the German Meth- 
odist Church and in poli:ir-s he is a Democrat. 
For his integrity and sterling worth he is held in 
high regard in business circles and both rank higl, 
in the social world. 



■^ 



PREDEKICK BUMAXN. Mayor of Bunker 
Hill, i I as for many years been one of the 
_ prominent business men of tiiat place, but 
has now practically laid aside all business c.res. 
One of the honored early settlers, he dates his resi- 
dence from 1849, covering a period of forty-two 
years. Of the many worthy citizens which Ger- 
many has furnished to Macoupin County, none are 
more deserving of a representation in this volume 
than he. 

Mr. Bumann was born in Holstein, Germany, 
February 29, 1828, and is a son of Jorjan and 
Sophia M. (Castor) Bumann. both of whom were 
also natives of Holstein. where they spent their 
entire lives. Mr. Bumann was an overseer of a 
large farm when young, and later owned a small 
farm. He died in 1839, at the age of sixty-lhree 
years. His wife survived him some years, being 
called to her final rest at the age of seventy-fou.t 
Both were members of the Lutheran Church. After 
his father's death our subject remained with his 
mother until 1844, when he left home to learn 
the trade of a mason and plasterer in the cities ' 
of Lichtenburg and Kiel. After a period of 
four years he determined to try his fortune in 
America, of which country he had heard such 
favorable reports concerning its excellent advan- 



tages and opportunities. In consequence, with 
his twin brother Claus, a carpenter by trade, he 
crossed the Atlantic to the United Stales, taking 
passage on a three masted vessel, which sailed from 
Hamburg and arrivetl at New Orleans after a long 
and tedious voyage of eight weeks. The brother! 
proceeded up the Mississippi to St. Louis in De- 
cember, 1848. and the following year came to 
Bunker Hill, arriving on the 9th of June. 1849. 
They were poor men at that time, but they at 
once began work, Frederick following his trade 
of a plasterer for many years. However his opera- 
tions in that line were interrupted by the break- 
ing out of the Civil War. 

At that time he began business as a grain 
dealer and for two years was associated with a 
Mr. Butterfield. The succeeding year he carried 
on operations alone, and in 1865 admitted to part- 
nership J. H. Bauer, which firm continued business 
until 1880. when the partners turned over the 
management and care of their interests to their 
respective sons, Emil F. Bumann and Albert Bauer, 
but the latter is now deceased, leaving the former 
in sole charge. Frederick Bumann owns consider- 
able real estate in Bunker Hill and the surround- 
ing country, and his possessions have all been 
acquired through his own efforts. He may truly 
be called a self-made man. for when he came to 
this country he had no capital save a young man's 
bright hope of the future and a determination to 
succeed. And he has succeeded far beyond his 
expectations, being numbered among the wealthy 
citizens of this community. 

A marriage ceremony performed in Bunker Hill 
on the 2d of May, 1851. united the destinies of 
Frederick Bumann and :\riss Dora C. Kuhl, who 
w.as born in Holstein. Germany, May 2, 1825, 
and there resided until after the death of her 
parents, when, with a sister, she left her native 
laud in 1850, and came to America. Landing in 
New York City, she made her way to St. Louis, 
Mo., and soon afterward came to Bunker Hill. 
Unlo .Mr. and Mrs. Bumann have been born ten 
children, five of whom are now deceased Ma- 
tilda. Emma, George and Fredericka died in in- 
fancy. F. Segel accidentally broke one of his lower ' 
limbs in 1889, and died from the effects twelve 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



591 



weeks later. He left a wife and one child, who are 
living in Bunker Ilill. The living members of 
the family are: Adolph, wiio married Louisa Spen- 
cer and is a successful young merchant and busi- 
ness man of Bunker Hill; Theodore, who married 
Catherine Heiitz, of Bunker Hill, where he carries 
on a hardware business; Emil F., who wedded 
May Morgan and is a grain dealer of Bunker 
Hill; Anna M., wife of Harry AV'^ise, of the firm of 
Wise, Mercer & Co., millers, of Bunker Hill; and 
Albert M., Superintendent of a manual training 
school in Omaha, Neb. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bumann attend the Presbyterian 
Church .as do also tiieir cliiklren, and the father 
and sons are stanch supporters of the Republican 
parly. ]Mr. Bumann has taken an active part in 
political affairs and has been honored with a num- 
ber of positions of public trust, having served as 
Councilman of the city for several \cars, and 
is now the efficient Mnyor. Tlie duties of the 
office he faithfully ' discharges, and tiiereby lias 
won the confiiience and commendation of his po- 
litical enemies as well as his constituents. 



^WEN WARD. Many of the best citizens of 
Illinois have come from that excellent stock, 
the Protestant families of Xoilhern Ireland. 
Among these we find the citizen wliose name ap- 
pears at the head of this paragraph, who, with bis 
excellent wife resides on section 30, Ililyard Town- 
ship, where they carry on general farming, upon a 
well-impioved tract of eighty acres. This has been 
his home for some thirteen years, and he has lived 
in the State since 1841, coming to this county in 
1847, and making it his home here, with the excep- 
tion of a few years which he passed in Jersey 
County. 

Mr. Ward was born in Ireland about the year 
1816, and grew up in his native country until lie 
became a young man, when he emigrated to Amer- 
ica and settling in New York City, learned the 
trade of a carpenter. He followed ship carpenter- 
ing in the Navy Vartl for some years and later 



came West and followed his trade in Alton and 
other places for some years. His work was mainly 
in the line of building houses, until he came to 
this county and settled upon his present farm. 

This handsome property belonged to Mrs. Ward, 
whom our subject married after coming to this 
county. Her maiden name was MaryTaggart and 
she was a native of Ireland, being born about the 
year 182o, and was still young when she came 
with her father, Adam Taggart, to the United States. 
Her mother, Fnnnie nee Morrison, had died when a 
young woman in her native land, leaving four chil- 
dren to be cared for by her husband. Mrs. Ward 
is the only one now living. After living one year 
in Pennsylvania, the father came to Ohio and died 
there a few years later, while still in the prime of 
life, and while this daughter was yet a child. Both 
Mr. and Jlrs. Taggart were members of the I'rotest- 
ant Church. 

Mrs. Ward was reared bv an uncle, Andrew 
Taggart, wno brought hei' in her girlhood to Ma- 
coupin County which has since been her home. She 
is a true wife and mother and has had four chil- 
dren, one of whom RLary .1., has passed to the 
other world. James is a farmer inShi|Hnan Town- 
ship; Thomas is now working on the Mississippi 
River and Adam is at home and carries on the 
farm. The Democratic party receives the |)olitical 
allegir.nce of Mr. Ward. The happy home of this 
old couple is a pleasant place of resort to all the 
neighborhood, and their true-hearted kindness and 
worth make them beloved b}- all who know them. 




NTON HUBER. The business interests of 
Bunker Hill have been represented more 
extensively by the Iluber family than by 
any one famil}' in the city. At the head 
of the business stood our subject and associated 
with him were his two sons, but Anton Huber has 
now retired from active life, having through his 
own efforts acquired a handsome competency which 
enables him to lay aside business cares, while he 
rests in the enjoyment of the fruit of former toil. 



592 



PORTKAIT A:SD BIOGRArHICAL RECORD. 



TLe story of his life is as follows. He was born 
in Biden, Germany, June, 9. 1826, and bis father, 
also named Anton, was .i native of Baden, where 
his entire life was spent. By occupation he was a 
laborer and he died at the age of seventy-six 
years. In the place of his nativity he wedded 
Miss Mary Beckley, who lived and died in her 
native province. She was killed by falling from 
a cherry tree at the age of Qfty-eighl years. Both 
she and her husband were members of the Roman 
Catholic Church. 

Our subject is one of twelve children, three of 
whom came to this country and are yet living, 
while two still make their home in the fatlier land. 
In the common schools Anton acquired his edu- 
cation and at the age of twenty-eight years started 
for America, embarking from Havre. France, on 
the •■ Maud Livingston," a three-mast sailing ve&sel, 
November 5, 1854, and reaching his destination. 
New Orleans, after forty-seven da^'s. He had only 
money enough to get his trunk off the boat and 
thus without means, a stranger in a strange land, 
he began life in America. It was necessary tliat 
he should have occupation to suppl\- his daily 
wants and so he accepted a position as a wood 
chopper. For three months he followed that 
business, working in the swamps of Louisiana, 
where often times the water was nearly up to his 
knees. He remained in the vicinity of the Cre- 
scent City for tliree months, during which time he 
had secured money enough to lake him up the 
river to St. Louis, where he worked as a laborer 
for some time. He was industrious and economical 
and at length had saved enough money to start in 
the grocer}' business, opening a small store in 1863. 
In August, 1865, he sold out and from S'.. Louis 
went to Prairietown, Madison County, III., where 
he bought out the stock of Conrad Cramer, a 
general merchant of that place. He was very 
successful in his undertaking and when his financial 
resources were somewhat incre.ised he came to 
Macoupin Count\- where he invested his capital. 

Not long after his arrival in the United States, 
Mr. Huber was married to a lady, an old acquaint- 
ance of his. who on the same vessel with him crossed 
the Atlantic. Her maiden name was Elizabeth 
Oebhardt, and she was born September 24, 1831, 



in Germany. Her parents lived and died in Baden. 
Mrs. Huber has proved a true helpmate to her 
hutband and has done not a little towards securing 
the competence which they now possess, although 
her work has been of a less public character. 
Seven children have been born of their union, six 
of whom are 3-et living; Andrew, who married 
Augusta Falirenkrog. and he is engaged in business 
in Bunker Hill; Herman, who wedded Mary 
Schoeber of Madison Count}'. III., and is now a 
general merchant of llarvel, III.; Caroline: Charles 
who married Ella Heneke. and is now a leading 
grocer of Bunker Hill; Lousia and Henry. The 
mother and children are identified with the Luth- 
eran C lurch, and Mr. Huber and his sons are 
stanch Republicans in politics. 

In 1882. Anton Huber erected a fine two storj', 
brick business block with a basement and hall, the 
latter known as the Huber Opera House. The 
building is located on the corner of Washington 
and Warren Streets and is 81 x 71 feet. The first 
floor is occupied by a grocery store, 32 x 48 feet, 
facing the North, and the remainder of the store, 
48 X 48 feet, is occupied by a dry goods store. 
also a clothing establishment and boot and shoe, 
hat and cap store. Behind this is a large ware 
room 20 x 50 feet. The building was erected in 
1882, and at the same time Mr. Huber began 
l)usiaess in the various lines of trade above 
mentioned, carrying on a general merchandise 
store until 1884. when the dr}' goods and clothing 
department was placed in charge of his son 
Andrew, who carried on that branch of the busi- 
ness, while the father was in charge of the grocery 
department. This, however, he afterward placed in 
charge of his son Charles, who has been numbered 
among the leading grocers of Bunker Hill since 
1888. Mr. Huber, our subject, is still the owner 
of the building and has in his possession one of 
the fine farms in this vicinity. Andrew Huber 
also controls one of the elevators of Bunker Hill, 
with a capacitj' of five thousand bushels, which he 
took possession of in 1884, and is doing an exten- 
tive coopering business and also buys and ships 
apples, selling in one year as high as six thousand 
barrels of tliat fruit. The dry-goods bus'ness run 
by AnJrevy ^loounts to upward? of 120,000 annu- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



593 



ally, while the grocery department under the man- 
agement of Charles takes in about $10,000 annually. 
As we stated at the beginning of this sketch 
no family is so largely connected with the business 
interests of Bunker Hill as the Huber family. 
Father and sons are enterprising, sagacious and far- 
sighted and the success which attends their efforts 
is justly merited. 



♦^^ 



^^ 



/^\ ^^- SARAH J. MAXFIELD, a prominent 
lady among tlie citizens of Barr Township, 
is known far and wide as a true-hearted 
woman of genial nature and charitable dis- 
position, who willingl} takes her part in every 
movement for the good of the community, and 
stands unflinchingly for the right, whenever expe- 
diencj' and principle come in conflict. Her womsnly 
character makes her beloved bj- all who know her, 
and her intelligence gives to her a strong influence 
with all. 

The father of our subject, Jacob Petefish, was 
born in Rockingham County, ^'a., as w.as also her 
mother, whose name in girlhood was Elizabeth 
Price. They emigrated from the Old Dominion to 
the Prairie State in 1834, and settled in what is 
now Cass County, where they both died. Their 
daughter Sarah, was like themselves a native of 
Rockingham (.'ounty, Va., and .as she was born No- 
vember 9, 1810, she lifld reached the age of eight 
een years, when she came with her parents to Illi- 
nois. 

The marriage of Sarah Petefish with Robert H. 
Maxfield, took place in Cass County, this State, De- 
cember 17, 1840. Her husband wasason of George 
and Sarah E. (Thomas) Maxfield, who came from 
Boone County, Ky., to Illinois, early in the '30s, 
settling in Greene County. The father died in Barr 
Township, and the mother passed away while re- 
siding in Waverly, 111. 

Robert II. Maxfield was born in Boore County', 
K}'., March 20, 1810, and came to Illinois early in 
the '30s. He was a carpenter by trade, which call- 
ing he followed in connection with farming. Dur- 
ing the later years of hi§ life he devoted his atten- 



tion exclusively to agriculture. After marriage 
this couple settled upon the homestead in Barr 
Township, now occupied by the widow, and here 
this faithful husband died .June 15, 1876. 

Mrs. Maxfield is the mother of eight children: 
John W., a farmer in Barr Township, who was 
thrown from a wagon in Scottviile Township, and 
died October 31, 1887, from these injuries; Sarah 
Elizabeth, who is the wife of Caleb Capps, of whom 
our readers will find more under that name ; James 
K.. who is a Methodist clergyman in Nebraska; 
Ella P.; Clarissa A., the wife of John Kissick ; 
Robert L., a farmer in Nebr.aska; Martha Belle, the 
wife of James M. PuUiam; and Edwin G., a farmer 
in Nebr.aska. 

The husband of our subject was an active mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal CUuireh,and his loss 
was greatly felt by his pastor and brethren as well 
as by his bereaved family. His widow is identified 
with the same church and an active laborer in re- 
ligious work. Mr. Maxfield owned at one time 
aliout eight hundred acres upon which he made sub- 
stantial improvements, and erected excellent build- 
ings. 



■^ AMES II. HAMNER who h.as been promi- 
nent in North Otter Township, both as a suc- 
cessful agriculturist and as a township of- 
ticial, resides on section 30, where liis finely 
improved farm is an ornament to the neighborhood. 
His father was the late John S. Hamner, and his 
mother Mary Rohrer still survives. Their home 
w.as in Morgan County, 111., and there the father 
died. Two of their four children have passed from 
earth, and our subject is their onlj' son now living. 
He w.as born in Morgan County, May 31, 1843, 
and was left an orphan by the death of his father 
when he was quite young. After his mother's sec- 
ond marriage she removed to Macoupin County, 
and James grew to manhood in North Palmyra 
Township, where he was reared upon a farm. 

The lady to whom James Hamner was united in 
marriage March 10, 1854, bore the maiden name 
Nancy E. Nevins. She was a daughter of Austin 
and Margaret (Steel) Nevins of North Palmyra 



594 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Township. Mrs. Nevins died in tli.it township 
and her bereaved husband now resides in Girard. 
Of tlieir seven children Mrs. Hamuer was tlie fourth, 
being born August 29, 1843. They settled on sec- 
tion 30. Nortii Otter Township, which they have 
made their lionie up the present da}-. 

Our subject has througli life engaged in agricul- 
tural pursuits and has made many improvements 
upon ids farm, where he is tlie owner of two bun- 
hundred and eight}- acres. He and his excellent 
and amiable wife are tlie parents of seven cliildren, 
namely: Mar}- E., the wife of X. H. Wallviuglon. 
Amanda J., the wife of William T. Turner; Emma, 
who is now Mrs. Isa.ic Drennan; .John, Effie a'nd 
James H., Jr. A little one named Albert was 
snatched by death from the aims of the parents 
when he was onl}- two years old. Tlie offices of 
Highway Commissioner and School Director have 
been filled by our subject with credit to himself 
aud advantage to the communit}' which he repre- 
sented. His political views are embodied in the 
declarations of the Democratic party and he be- 
lieves that its doctrines are adapted to increase the 
prosperity of the country. His wife is an active 
member of the Christian Church and finds in its fel 
lowship and activities an abundant field for her 
religious efforts. 



^^n LFRED READER is engaged in general 
( @j/L[ farming on section 2, Brighton Township. 
il' li England has furnished a number of good 
v@J^ citizens to Macoupin County, but none are 

more worthy a representation in this volume than 
the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He 
was born in Dorsetshire, October 15, 184G. and is 
a son of Robert and Sarah (Rowlins) Reader, who 
were also natives of Dorsetshire and came of Eng- 
lish parents. The father was a farm laborer and 
died in the county of his nativity about 1856, at 
the age of fifty-eight years. Some years after the 
death of her husband, Mrs. Reader crossed the At- 
lantic to America where a number of her children 
had previously emigrated, and lived with her 
daughter, Mrs, Gilbert Keirl of Bunker Hill Town- 



ship, until her death which occurred August 15, 
1891. The Reader family was quite large and most 
of the children cim 3 to the Unitt-d States and are 
living in Illinois. 

Under the parental roof Alfred Reader grew to 
manhood and in the public schools acquired a good 
cttramon school education, such as would fit him 
fo: the practical duties of life. Having heard muoh 
of America and the advantages here afforded young 
men, he determined try his fortune in the United 
States aud in 1855 when nineteen years of age, took 
[lassage at Liverpool upon a sailing vessel bound 
for New Oilcans, where he arrived after a voj-age 
of nine weeks. Coming up the Mississppi River to 
Alton he traveled across the country to Macoupin 
County where ho has since made his home. He was 
then a young man with no capital with which to 
begin life but possessing plenty of English pluck 
together wiih energ}- and a strong determination to 
succeed. Through his own efforts he has acquired 
a handsome propcrtj- and is now numbered among 
the substantial farmers of Brighton Township. 
Since 18G1 he has resided upon his presont farm 
which now comprises one hundred and twenty acres 
of arable land. In the rear of his comfortable and 
commodious home good barns and other outbuild- 
ings are seen and these are surrounded by fields of 
waving grain which speak of the thrift and enter- 
prise of the owner and yield to him a golden trib- 
ute as the reward for his care and cultivation. 

In this country Mr. Reader was united in marriage 
with Miss Rhoda Wheeler, a native of .Somerset, 
England, who <luringher maidenhood days came to 
America with her parents, the family settling in the 
northern i)art of Illinois. Two 3'ears later, however, 
they came to Macou|)in County, where her father 
and mother, Richard and Ann (Eddington) 
Wheeler, both died when well advanced in yeai-s. 
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Reader were born six children, 
as follows: Alice, wife of Henry Eddington a res- 
ident farmer of Brighton Township; Fred, who 
married Jennie Eddington and is engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits in the same township; Joseph, 
who married Anna Bctts and makes his home in 
Woodburn; Jennie, wife of John Reader who ope- 
rates the home farm of our subject; Emma, wife of 
Richard Lockyar, a faimerof Dorchester Township; 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RF.CORD. 



597 



and WilliaQi who is now working on a farm in 
Cherokee. lowa. The mother of this family was 
callc.l to her final rest July 15, 1890. She was for 
many years a consistent member of the Congrega- 
tional Church and in her death the church lost one 
of its best members, her neighbors a kind friend 
and her family a loving and tender wife and 
mother. 

Mr. Reader and. the children are also members of 
the Congregational Church, to the support of which 
he contriljutos liberally, and in politics he is a 
Democrat. With the iii.building and growth of 
Brighton Township he has been closely connected 
for a third of a century and as a true citizen has 
aitlcd in many ways in its progress and develop- 
ment. The interests of Hie community he has 
made his and his upright life and strict integrity 
has won him many friends. 



fcllOMAS S. RIGBY, an extensive and suc- 



!^, ccssful dv;ikr in liorsesat Bunker llill.cliuras 
1^' Ohio as tlie State of his nativity. He was 
born in Ashland. May 12, 1836, and is a son of Will- 
iam Z. and Temperance (Norris) Rigby, who v.-ere 
also born, reared and married in the Buckeye State 
and now make their liome in Fosloria. Ohio. The 
father has reached the ago of seventy-six years and 
the mother is now seventy-four years of sge. He 
is a prominent attorney in that part of the State, 
where he has been engaged in the legal i)rofession 
for forty years, and is the counselor and warm 
personal friend of ex-Gov. Foster. In politics he 
is a supporter of Democratic principles and has 
twice been elected Mayor of the city in which he 
makes his homo. He is also a warm advocate of 
the cause of temperance and his second election was 
on the Prohibition ticket. 

Under the parental roof our subject was reared 
to manhood and his en.ly life was marked by no 
event of special importance. When the war broke 
out he responded to the call for troops an<l enlisted 
for three months' service in the Third Ohio lufan- 
try. Afterward he went to Grand Rapius, Mich., 
TvUeie he again enlisted in the Sixtii Michigan 



Cavalry for three years' service under Gen. Custer. 
The regiment was assigned to the Array of the 
Potomac, and he particicated in many of the im- 
portant engagements of the Eastern campaigns, 
including the battle of Gettysburg, Culpeper. 
ChancellorsviUe, the battle of the Wilderness and 
the raids around Richmond. Later he witnessed 
the surrender of Gen. Lee and subseqently followe<l 
his commander to the West wliere he served en the 
frontier until at the expiration of his three years' 
enlistment he was honorably discharged. 

Immediately thereafter Mr. Rigby came to Bun- 
ktr Hill, whore he has since made his home, and 
began business as a dealer in and trainer of horses. 
On the outskirts of the city he has large and com- 
modious barns and a fine iialf-inilc track, one of tli-2 
best in the Slate, which he uses to develop the 
speed of his horses and those brought to him for 
that purpose. From all over Illinois he receives 
iiorsos which he fits for the race course, and many 
of those he lias trained when put upon the track 
have won premiums at the fairs in this and Mis- 
souri. From his youUi he has been a lovor of 
horses having made them his study and is iliere- 
fore very successful in the business which he has 
undertaken. 

Mr. Rigby was joined in wedlock November 7, 
1867, with Miss Mary V. Payne, who was born in 
Bunker Hill Township on lier father's homestead, 
June 28, 1849. Her parents, William and Mary 
(Hickley) Payne, were natives of Kentucky and 
Maryland, respectively, and during their childhood 
they both lived for some time in Louisiana, where 
they were married, coming tlience to Macoupin 
County. Tliey are numbered among the early set- 
tlers of Bunker Hill Township, where Mr. Payne 
developed a good farm from wild prairie laii(L 
After many years, on account of the failing health 
of his wife he went to Texas, but she rajjidly grew 
worse and died shortly after their arrival. Her 
remains were interred in the Lone Star State and 
Mr. Payne then returned to his old homo in Bunker 
Hill, where he is still living at an advanced age. 
He is a well-known citizen of this community and 
has taken a prominent part in the upbuilding of 
the county's best interests. 

Mrs. Rigby has spent lier entire life in this county 



598 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and has won liosts of friends by her kindness, court- 
esy and the hospitality which she extends to those 
who visit her home. Eight children grace Ibe union 
of our subject and his worthy wife, four sons and 
four daughters— William J.. Charles. Katie. Rosa. 
Silva. Mary. Frank and Thomas. In politics Mr. 
Rigby is a Democrat. He is cumbered among the 
leading business men of Bunker Hill and in social 
circles himself and wife r.ink high where worth 
and merit are received as the passports into good 
society. 

A lithographic portrait of Mr. Rigby accom- 
panies his sketch. 



W\ ^'C)RE\V J. KEISER, of the firm of Kejser 
yy Bros., proprietors of the Anchor Rolling 
I 1 Mills, of Mt. Olive, is a native of Germany. 
yl The date of his birth is September 28, 
1845, and the place Prussia. In 1854 he aceom- 
panied his parents to this country, the family mak- 
ing tbeir tirst settlement in Mreoupin County. 
(See sketch of C. J. Keiser for parental histor3-'.) 
He acquired a good education in private and pub- 
lic schools in this county, and in 1869 started out 
in life for himself. He came into possession of one 
hundred and eighty acres of land, to the develop- 
ment of which he gave his undivided attention for 
several years. In 1875 by purchase he secured .nn 
additional two hundred acres, making his farm 
three hundred and eighty acres in extent. This is 
situated just across the line in Montgomery County 
and was brought up to its [)resent high standard of 
improvement through his own efforts. Supplied 
with good houses, barns and other buildings, it is 
accounted one of the best farms in the community. 
In 1874 Mr. Keiser became connecfed with his 
brother C. J. and others in oijening up and oper- 
ating mines under the film title of the Mt. Olive 
Coal Company. The brothers had personal con- 
trol of the mines as long as they were the property 
of that company. About sixty car loads per day 
were taken out, but afterward the mines were sold, 
becoming the property of the Consolidated Coal 
Company. There is now a yield of about one i 



hundred and twenty cars daily, these being among 
the best mines in the State. There is a rich vein 
of coal seven feet in thickness and the shaft leads 
down into the ground four hundred feet. 

In 1869. in Mt. Oli^e Township. Mr. Keiser was 
united in marriage with Miss Anna Ross, who was 
born in Alton in 1852 and is a daughter of Gerd 
and Marcke ( Arkebauer) Ross, both of whom were 
natives of Germany, and when young came to the 
United States. They were married in Alton, spend- 
ing some years in Madison County, after which 
Ihpy removed to a farm near Mt. Olive, where 
they are now living. They are members of the 
Lutheran Church and are numbered among the 
best and most highly resi^ected citizens in the com- 
munity. Tnto Mr. and Mrs. Keiser were born 
thiee children, but Mary and John are now de- 
ceased. Anna G. is an intelligent and cultured 
young lady of twenty summers. The mother of 
this family was called to her final rest in 1875, 
dying at her home in Montgomery Couutv when 
j in the prime of life. Mr. Keiser was again married, 
his second union being with a sister of his first 
wife, Frances L. Ross, who was born in Alton in 
1854 and when one year old came to Macoupin 
County. Four of the seven children born of that 
union died in childhood, namely : Ann.i, George, 
Mary and Martha. John G.. Herm.an A., and 
Andrew J. F. are still at home with their parento. 
The business with which .Mr. Keiser is now con- 
nected has beeu earned on under the firm name of 
Keiser Bros. A- Co.. owners of the Anchor Rollins; 
Mills since 1881, .it which time he became a part! 
ner. He has since devoted his entire attention to 
the interests of the business, having the manage- 
ment of the operating of the mill under his per- 
sonal control. He is one of the enterprising busi- 
ness men of Mt. Olive and is meeting with excel- 
lent success in his work. The product of the An- 
chor Mills is of excellent quality and therefore a 
fine trade is secured. This is one of the leading 
industries of the place and in fact is one of the 
largest businesses of the kind in this part of the 
count\-. 

Mr. and ilrs. Keiser are both members of the 
Lutheran Church, in which he has been tin officer 
for twenty years, and in the work of the church 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAFHICAL RECORD. 



599 



they take an active interest. In politics he is a 
Republican and has held a number of local offices. 
Fail- and honest in all his dealings he has won the 
confidence of all and by his pleasant manner and 
gentlemanly deportment has secured many friends. 



^ ^-^'^- 



;OnN PATRICK, who is engaged in farming 
on section 27, Bunker Hill Township, and 
is numbered among the early settlers of the 
/ county of 1840, was born on the 14th of Ju- 
lvri822, in Ayershire, Scotland, about nineteen 
miles from the home of Robert Burns. His father 
and his grandfather were both named John Patrick 
and botTi were natives of Ayershire. The latter 
was a carpenter and mechanic and died at his home 
in Scotland, at the .age of ninety-five years. He 
was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a 
prominent man in the community where he made 
his home. He married a Scotch lady of the Low- 
lands and she too reached an advanced age. -Tolin 
Patrick, llie father of our subject, grew to man- 
hood in Ayershire, and learned the trade of a silk 
weaver, which he followed in his native land. Af- 
ter he had attained to mature years he married, 
in Ayershiic, Miss Margaret Stirat, daughter of 
James Stirat, who was a dyke-builder and died in 
Dalri, Scotland, where lie spent his entire life. He 
attained to the ripe old age of ninety-five years. 
He was never sick a day in his life, but passed away 
quietly and peacefully, the flame of life growing 
dimmer and dimmer until at last it flickered and 
went out. Through his business operations he ac- 
quired quite a fortune. Both he and his wife were 
members of the Presbyterian Church. 

For some years after their marrisge, John Pat- 
rick and his wife, the parents of our subject, re- 
sided in Ayershire. There all their children were 
born unto them, and in 1839, their son James came 
to the rnited States, locating in New Jersey, where 
he embarked in business ^s a silk manufacturer. 
Two years later the parents and their remaining 
seven children crossed the broad Atlantic on a ves- 
sel which sailed from Liverpool and after a long 
find tedious voyage readied New York, from 



whence they traveled to Pittsburg by way of the 
railroad and canal, then down the Ohio and up the 
Mississippi River to St. Louis, Mo. Continuing 
onward lo Alton, the family there spent the win- 
ter, while the father and sons came into Macoupin 
County, and bought land on section 27, Bunker 
Hill Township, where tliey rented a log cabin. In 
lliis home the family were installed the following 
spring and John Patrick and his wife resided upon 
lliat f:n-m until they departed this life. The hus- 
band's death occurred at the age of seventy-eight 
years, and his wife died in her eighty-third year. 
True to the faith in which they had been reared 
they were life-long members of the Presbyterian 
Church. 

Under the parental roof our subject spent his 
boyhood days and with his parents came to Amer- 
ica. In his native land he had learned the trade 
of a blacksmith which he has followid in pursuit 
of fortune through many years. His residence in 
tills community rovers half a century and few are 
the intervals when he has been absent from his 
home. In 1849, he crossed the plains to Califor- 
nia, attracted by the discovery of gold. Leaving 
home in the month of May,l:e fordeil the Missouri 
River at St. Joe, and thence followed the 
trail to the Pacific slope, landing at Johnson's 
Ranch on Bear River, on the west side of the Sierra 
Nevada Mountains, where for a time he engaged 
in mining. Later he went to Sacramento, Cal., 
and subsequently went into the Nevada raining 
country, where for two and a half years, near Ne- 
vada City, he engaged in digging for the precious 
metal. With the gold dust which he had secured 
he started for his home in 1853, traveling by way 
of the Isthmus of Panama and New York City, 
whence he returned to Illinois. Meanwhile the 
gold fields of Australia were atUacling atten- 
tion and before his return in 1852. he visited those 
mines where he worked for nearly one year. 

Mr. Patrick has been twice married. In this 
county he wedded Jar.ct Longwill, who was also a 
native of Ayershire, and came to America with 
her parents during her girlhood. She and their 
only child died at their home in 1849, with the 
cholera, during her husband's absence in Califor- 
nia. The marriage of Mr. Patrick and Miss Sarah 



600 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



A. David was celebrated in Bunker Hill Town- 
ship, in 1854. Tbe lady was born in Parke Countj', 
Ind., and with her family came to Illinois about 
1850. She died at her home in this township in 
1887. when sixty years of age, and her death was 
sincerely mourned by many friends, as well as her 
immediate family. She was a faithful member of 
the Christian Church and was held in universal es- 
teem. Seven children were born unto Mr. and 
Mrs. Patrick, one of whom died in infancy. John 
married Josie Stehline, who resides in Topeka, 
Kan., where he is engaged in blacksmithing; .Tames 
is a blacksmith of Denver, Colo.; William, who 
wedded Althea Carter, follows the same business 
iji Oklahoma City; Lizzie is the wife of William 
Ch.'ippel, a farmer, residing in Iloldou, Mo.; Belle 
is the wife of O. F. Stehline, a hardware merchant 
of Arkansas City, Kan.; and May is the widow of 
F. Seigel Bumann, who died, leaving one child, 
Sarah G. His death occurred .luly 28, 1889. since 
which time Mrs. Buman has made her home with 
her father. 

On his return from California. Mr. Patrick es- 
tablished a smithy in Bunker Hill and engaged at 
work at his trade for mon; than thirty- years with 
excellent success. He is an efficient workman, re- 
ceived a liberal patron.age and became one of the 
prosi)erous business men of the community. De- 
ciding to retire to more private life, he began the 
improvement of his farm which he had purchased 
some time previous. He now owns two hundred 
and eight acres of valuable land, the greater part 
of which is under a high state of cultivation and he 
is numbered among the substantial and highly re- 
spected farmers of the community. 




^ AVID X. IIOW.SER w.as born on the farm 
which he now occupies August 31, 1844. 
His father was one of the first settlers and 
was born in Tennessee. He was of Ger- 
man parentage, as his father, Nicholas, was a na- 
tivce of that country and came to America during 
the progress of the Revolutionary War. He made 
bis home for a time in Tennessee, and thence went 



as a pioneer to Kentucky. He bought land there 
and engaged in farming, making it his home to the 
end of Ins life. 

The father of our subject was reared in Ken- 
tucky and resided there until the fall of 1833, and 
then came with his family to Illinois. They made 
their journey in wagons drawn by ox teams, and 
brought with them everything they could call 
their own. He located in what is now Scottville 
Township and entered one hundred and twenty 
acres of Government land. Here he erected a log 
hou-se, which is still standing and in use. His fam"- 
ily occupied this house until I860, when he erected 
a pleasant frame residence, in which he lived until 
his death in 1870, being called away from life Au 
gust 30. 

The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Sarah Jackson. He was a native of Tennessee, 
and a daughter of David Jackson, who was born 
in North Carolina, and moved from there to Ten- 
nessee and came on to Illinois about the year 1833, 
settling near Athensville, Greene County. There 
he improved a farm and resided on it during the 
remainder of his life. His daughter Sarah was 
first married in Tennessee to Wesley Henderson, 
and came from that State to Illinois in 1830, set- 
tling in Morgan County in the locality known as 
Buck Horn, and resided on the same place until 
after the death of her husband. She died upon 
the home farm May 3, 1887. In the period when 
these early pioneers made their home in Macoupin 
County markets were almost inaccessible, and it 
was next thing to an impossibility to obtain manu- 
factured goods. It therefore fell to the lot of the 
women of the families to not only manufacture the 
garments of the household, but to manufacture the 
cloth out of which they were cut. Mrs. Howser, 
like the other matrons of her neighborhood, spun 
and wove and ma.le all the cloth used in the fam- 
ily. Deer and wild turkeys were plentiful and 
wandered at will over the farms of Macoupin 
Count}'. 

Young Howser continued to assist his father on 
the farm, attending the district school as he had an 
opportunity, but after he was large enough to be 
of much help on the farm his school days were 
short. After the death of his fathgr he bought out 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



601 



the Interest of the other heirs, and made the old 
homestead his own. He now resides in it with his 
family. 

The marriage of David N. Howser with Keziali 
J. White took place in 1866. She was born in 
Macoupin Count}', and is a daughter of Samuel 
and Cyrona Wliite. Eigiit chihlren have blessed 
this union, namely; Leonard M., Iva E., Sarah C, 
Celia S.. Bertha IT.. Colia A., Howard H., and Elva; 
C. W., A. H. and a baby unnamed are deceased. 
Their mother is a devoted and active member of 
the United Brethren Cliurch. 

This gentleman's political affiliations are with 
the Democratic party, and he has a number of 
times been placed in positions of trust and respon. 
sibility. He served for one 3ear as Highway Com- 
missioner, and four terms as Assessor. His 
religious training was in the Baptist Church, 
as his father joined that body in his younger 
days, and was a consistent member' of it tlirongh- 
out life. 

-S^^ 



^^ HESTER H. COGSWELL. Among the 
il business men, agriculturists and old soldiers 

^^^J of Macoupin County, we are pleased to 
mention the name which appears at the head of tJiis 
paragraph, the name of a man who has made a good 
record in every one of the departments noted above. 
He is the proprietor of the Virden nursery, and 
Secretarj' of the Farmers' JSIutual Aid Association, 
of Virden. 

Norman P. Cogswell, the father of our subject, 
was of New England birth, being a native of Hamp- 
shire County, Mass., as was also the mother whose 
maiden name was Eliza Farley, whose birth place 
was Goshen in that county. Like many New Eng- 
landers they early set their faces Westward, and 
t)rought with them to new homes the sterling in- 
tegrit}', conscientiousness and practical industry 
which characterized the early settlers in that part 
of the country. 

Mr. and Mrs. Norman P. Cogswell, emigrated 
from Massachusetts to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in 
1836, and made their home there for some sixteen 
years, after which the^' came to Illinois and resided 



in Jerseyville in Jersey County, where they lived 
from 1851 to 1854. They then came to Macoupin 
County, and in the fall of that year settled upon 
section 15, Virden Township, which became their 
last home upon earth. The mother passed away in 
1855, but the call of the father to the heavenly 
home did not come until 1881. 

In a family of four children our subject was the 
youngest, being liorn in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, 
August 14, 1839. He received the best education 
whicli was to be obtained in the vicinity of his 
home, and was a lad of thirteen years when his par- 
ents brought him with them to Illinois, and his 
education was continued in the'cominon schools 
of Jersey Count}'. He came with his parents to 
Macoupin County, where his home has been from 
that day to this. 

At the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion 
the Cogswell familj- at once took a keen interest in 
the conflict, actively sustaining the Government in 
its attempt to suppress secession, and giving freely 
of their influence and services in this hour of trial. 
Our subject enlisted in August, 1862, in Company 
G, One Hundred and Twent^'-second Illinois Infan- 
tr}-, and served through until the close of the war. 
He took part in the engagement at Trenton, Tcnn., 
and was there taken prisoner by troops under com- 
mand of Brigadier-General N. B. Forrest, but was 
at once paroled and his exchange was effected about 
nine months later. He was at the time of his cap- 
ture, serving on detached duty in the office of the 
District Provost Marshal. He also saw the smoke 
of battle at Tupelo, Nashville, Spanish Fort and 
Ft. Blakeley. During a large portion of his time 
he was serving on detached dutv, and was mustered 
out of the service at Mobile, Ala. 

When the war was over tiie young soldier re- 
turned to the peaceful pursuits of agricultuie at 
his old home, and about that time began to build 
up a nursery business of which he has made a suc- 
cess, and in which he has since continued. Besides 
his nursery he raises general crops, and has forty 
acres of excellent land. His marriage to Mary Col- 
lins took place in Jerseyville, in October, 1866. This 
lady was not long lived, and died in Jerseyville, 
111., in Januar}', 1868, leaving no children. He was 
again married to Abbie C. Janes, of Cuyahoga 



602 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



County. Ohio, the marrinoje taking place in July, 
18G9. By this union he had two children, Frank 
H. and Edwin J.; the former is studying law with 
B. Cownc; the latter died in infancy, and the 
mother passed away in May, 1873. He was again 
married in Marsh.all County, Ind., in July, 1881, 
to Miss Sarah Hess, who died at their home in 
August, 1882. 

Mr. Cogswell is a member of the John Baird Post 
No. 285, G. A. R., of Virden, where he is a promi- 
nent member and commander of the Post. His 
honorable reputation as a loyal soldier, and his 
standing as a straightforward, thorough-going busi- 
ness man. gives him great influence in the commu- 
nity-, and makes his opinions of weiglit with all who 
know him. As a conscientious and devoted ad- 
herent to the Republican cause, he takes an active 
interest in local affairs of a political kind. 



-^^" 



► :3x: .< 



eT. DRIPP.S, A. M., M. D.. a leading an.l 
successful physician of the Allopathic school, 
who for ten years has engaged in practice in 
Staunton, was born not far from that city, October 
19, 1850. Tradition tells a curious storyabout the 
origin of the name of Dripps. The family was 
Scotch and they were known by the name of Sel- 
don. However religious persecution at one time 
caused them to flee from their home to escape the 
wrath of the King of England and they took refuge 
in a cave. This cave leaked and when the Seldon 
family emerged with wet clothing they were called 
by strangers -'Drips." Ever afterwards they re- 
tained the name which has come down to our sub- 
ject with only the change of an additional p. 
Thomas Dripps, the father of the Doctor, was born 
in Ireland and when a young man sailed to the 
United States. He settled in Staunton Township. 
Macoupin County, III., where he began life .as a 
farmer and wedded Miss Mary A. Patterson, who 
was also an early settler of the county. He bought 
and improved a good farm which he made his 
home for some years, when he retired to Staunton 
where he and his worthy wife are yet living at an 



advanced age. They are members of the Reform 
Presbyterian Church and are highly respected*] 
people. ^j 

The Doctor is one of quite a large farailv. He 
lived at home and aided in the farm work until 
wishing to .acquire a better education than the 
common schools afforded he entered Monmouth 
College, of Monmouth. 111., from which he was 
graduated in the Class of '75, carrying off the first 
honors in English literature. He was a diligent 
student and won the confidence and regard of the 
faculty. He was one of the originators of the idea 
of giving oratorical contests, which is now one of 
the leading features in the colleges of this State. 
He graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts 
and some 3ears later, in 1880, the degree of A. M. 
was conferred upon him. he being the first native 
citizen of Staunton Townshi|) to receive that de- 
gree. When his literary education was completed 
he was appointed by the prison warden, Maj. R. 
W. .McClaughry, to a |)ositlon in the hospital of 
the State Prison at Joliet. Here he acquired con- 
siderable knowledge of medicine, and in 1879, he 
entered Rush Medical College of Chicago, from 
which he was graduated in the Class of '80. 

In 1889, Dr. Dripps was joined in wedlock with 
Miss Mary L. Bley, who w.as born in Rock Island, 
111:. June 10, 1859, and is the youngest child of 
Dr. George Bley. (See sketch of Dr. Robert E. 
Bley.) Almost her entire life has been passed in 
this county where she lived with her parents until 
she gave her hand in marri.age to Dr. Dripps. She 
is a lady possessed of many graces and excellencies 
of character and figures prominently in the social 
circles of Staunton. She is also a worthy member 
of the Presbyterian Church and for some years has 
been connected with the church choir. The Doctor 
takes considerable interest in civic societies and is 
Past Master of Staunton Lodge, No. 177, A. F. & 
A. M.; also a member of Litchfield Commandery, 
No. 30, K. T. In Staunton Lodge, No. 685, I. O. 
O. F., he is P.ast Noble Grand, and in politics he is 
a stalwart RepuUican. 

Soon after his graduation Dr. Dripps located in 
Staunton and began the practice of medicine on Lis 
own account. Later he bought out Dr. R. E. Bley 
in the firm of Bley Bros., and in June, 1888, the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



603 



firm name was changed to Drs. Blev <fe Dripps. 
Since this connection was formed they have en- 
joyed a fine practice and are ranked among tlie 
leading medical hrms of the county. Dr. Dripps 
is a learned, scholarly gentleman of genial character 
and has many warm and admiring friends among 
his large circle of acquaintances. 



ENRY E. WHITTLER. The German- 
American citizens who have made their 
homes in M.acoupin County have done 
^ much in many ways to advance the material 
prosperity of this section. Their steady and per- 
severing industry, their thrift and frugality have 
not been without effect in bringing prosperity to 
the county. Their neat and thoroughly cultivated 
farms are productive and their good business 
habits have lielped forward the commercial rela- 
tions of this region of the State. 

Henry E. Whittler, who resides on section 15, 
Viiden Township, was born in Bremen, Germany, 
on the 30th April, in the year of 1830. His parents 
emigrated to America in the fall of 1842 and land- 
ing in New Orleans came on to St. Louis, Mo., 
where they resided for a short time. After four 
months there they went to Perry County, that 
State, where they remained nearly eighteen years. 
Illinois proved more attractive to this family 
than Missouri, as they loved the air of freedom 
and did not choose to bring up their son in a slave 
State. In 1860 they came to Sangamon County 
and after residing in S)iringiield for a short time, 
came in tiie spring of that year to Macoupin 
County, and settled in Virdeu Township, where 
they spent the remainder of their days. The fath- 
er's name was John D. Whittler and tiie mother 
bore the maiden name of Adelina Crumb. They 
had but one child who is the subject of this bio 
graphy, and has always since the spring of 186i) 
been a resident of Macoupin County, where he has 
carried on farming and placed bis one hundred and 
sixtj' acres in an excellent state of cultivation and 
erected upon it good improvements. 

Henry Whittler was united in the holy bonds of 



matrimony .June 13, 1852 with Elizabeth Scbrlner 
at her home in Perry County, Mo. Mrs. Whittler 
was born September 23, 1833, in Hesse- Darmstadt, 
Germany, -And came across the ocean with her 
parents when she was a little child of four years 
old. Her f.itber was John -Suhriner and her mother 
Ivatherina (Olley) Schriner. They made their 
home in Perry County, Mo., and there spent tlieir 
last days. 

Eight living children bless the home of Mr. and 
Mrs. Whittler. The sons are: Philip J., Henry E., 
William, Benjamin E. and Edward. The daugh- 
ters are: Mary, Sopiiia and Minnie. Three lit;,le 
ones passed away in infancy. Katie became the 
wife of John Eifert and die<l in Girard, III. in 
January, 1885. Adelina was tiie wife of Paul 
Eifert, and died in Elgin, III. Philip J. has mar- 
ried Miss Nora Lilly; Henry E. has taken to wife 
Miss Nettie Davidson; Mary married Mr. James 
Ridgeway; and Sophia is the wife of George Wil- 
ucki. 

The gentleman of whom we write is wide-awake 
in regard to the political movements of our coun- 
try and earnestly espouses the doctrines and policy 
of the Democratic party, taking an active part in 
local movements and supporting the candidates of 
tiiat party. The esteem in which he is held by his 
fellow citizens is indicated by the facf. tliat they 
have placed him in the office of High Commission- 
er and that they have insisted upon his filling tor 
fifteen years the responsible position of Justice of 
tlie Peace. In these capacities he has served the 
community with good sense and good judgment 
and has powerfully aided in maintaining the peace 
of the neighboriiood. 

_ .^^ ^ 



Wj OHN DOWZER, who is now carrying on a 
large coopering establishment where barrels 
are manufactured for the Staunton Milling 
Company, began business in this line soon 
after locating in this place in 1868. He purchased 
a cooper shop of Mr. McAllister, and soon built 
up an excellent trade. So rapidly did his business 
increase'th.at it soon became one of the leading in- 



604 



PORTRAIJ- AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



dustiies of tlie county and fiirnislied employment 
to thirty men, while the daily output was about 
four hundred barrels. The greater part of these were 
for the exclusive use of tiie Royal Gem Mills Com- 
pany and he continued to supply them until 1882, 
when the mill was blown up. For about ten years 
afterward he lived a retired life, doing little busi- 
ness until 1891, when he again opened a cooper 
shop near the coal shaft of the Wabash depot, 
where he now follows his trade. He supplies the 
entire demand of the Staunton Milling Company 
and lias a good business. 

As Mr. Dowzer is widely known throughout this 
community wc feel that a sketch of his life will be 
received with interest by many of our readers. Me 
was born among the hills of Wicklow County. Ire- 
land, on the 18th of December, 1830, and belongs 
to a family which was originally of English origin. 
His ancestors emigrated from England to the Em- 
erald Isle during the Conquest. Michael Dowzer, 
father of our subject was born in Ireland, and 
when a young man learned the trade of a cooper, 
which he followed throughout his entire life in 
connection with the occupation of farming. In 
the county of his nativity he remained until iiis 
death, which occurred at a ripe old age. He mar- 
ried Miss Sarah Hopkins, a lady of Irish birth 
who also spent her entire life in her native land. 
Both were members of the E,;iscopal Church and 
were highly respected people. 

Mid play and work John Dowzer spent his boy- 
hood days and when a youth, entering his father's 
shop, he learned the trade of a cooper, which he 
has since followed in pursuit of fortune. Believing 
that the new world afiforded better advantages to 
young men than the old countries, he determined 
to emigrate to America and in 1850 crossed the 
broad ocean, locating in Toronto, Canada. Sub- 
sequently he crossed the line into "Free America," 
and after spending a few years in the South, came 
to Macoupin County, 111., in 1868. 

In Staunton, Mr. Dowzer was united in marrino-e 
with Mrs. Mary (Carson) Smith who was born in 
Ireland, and when young came to America. Almost 
her entire life has been passed in St. Louis and in the 
city where she yet makes her home. She has been 
a faithful wife and a true helpmate to her husband 




and is a lady of intelligence and worth. Both Mr. 
and Mrs. Dowzer are identified with the Covenan- 
ters Church of Scotland. Their union has been 
I blessed with three children, a son and two daugh- 
ters — Mollic D., John C. and Maggie. The sou is 
now assisting his father in his business. Mr. Dow- 
zer is a self-made man who began life without cap- 
ital and has worked his way steadily upwaid, ovor- 
: coming by a determined will and energy the ob 
I stacles in his path , until he has reached a proud posi- 
tion and is numbered among the substantial citi- 
zens of the comnuInit3^ 

EOHGE H. CLARK, Postmaster and gen- 
eral merchant at Piasa, one of the native- 
"^WJi I'orn citizens of this county and has been 
identified witli its interests since he was able to 
understand what lay before him in the way of 
man's work and obligations. He was born March 7, 
1852, and is a son of Edward B. and Nancy (Park- 
er) Clark, of whom a sketch is given on another 
page in this Record. His birth-place was in Ship- 
man Township and his early life was passed on his 
father's farm. His fundamental education was 
obtained in Piasa, and he attend the Illinois State 
Normal University at Normal two terms. Taking 
up the profession of teaching, he devoted himself 
to the work in Maconi)in, Jersey and Greene Coun- 
ties five years, and demonstrated his ability to im- 
F)art instruction, his power to guide and control 
the young and his interest in the growth of civil- 
ization. 

After the period mentioned Mr. Clark entered 
upon mercantile life, clerking six months for C. B. 
Wilson and then buying out the business. He has 
increased the slock and added linos of trade until 
he now has nearly every branch of merchandise re- 
presented in his store. He has been in business 
ten years and has no reason to be dissatisfied with 
the results he has achieved, although as he is enter- 
prising and ambitious he is constantly aiming at a 
larger trade and more extended opportunity. He 
was appointed Postm.asler during the administra- 
tion of President Arthur. 





^ 



^CJ 



■yn/Z-f-UL 



i^i^r^ 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



607 



lu October, 1879. Mr. Clark was married lo Miss 
.Jennie Price, daughter of Evan and Ann ( Lewis) 
Price. Mr. and Mrs. Price were natives of Wales 
and after their marriage c.nine to the United States 
and located in Alton, this State. There Mrs. Clark 
was born December 24. 1857. She is the fourth 
of five chiiilren, the others being Marj-, wife of -John 
Blolne, Rebecca, who married William Armstrong; 
Anna, wife of William Powers: and Henry, who 
was adopted into the family of Henrv Hiinkhouse 
and has taken the name of his adopted father. Mr. 
Price was a miner and worked in the mines at Alt- 
OD. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have two sons — Charles 
and Viclor — whose habits are being carefully 
molded by their parents and who are being given 
opportunities suited to their age for cultiv.iting 
their mind and fitting them for the duties of cit- 
izenship. 

In exercising the right of suffrage Mr. Clark al- 
ways deposits a Republican ticket as he has firm 
faith in the principles of the parly. He has served 
as Township Clerk and Collector and has done well 
in office. He is a member of the Knights of Hon- 
or. He and his estimable wife move in the best 
circles in Piasa, take much interest in that which is 
for the best good of her {)eopIe and are looked up- 
on as honoring the place by their residence. 



1_^ ENRY PRANGE. a wealthy German-Amer- 
J ican citizen and a large land owner of Ma- 
--)^ coupin County, residing on section 2. Mt. 
!^' Olive Township, near the village of that 
name, was born in Prussia. Germany. November 
14. 1821. His people were indastrious and ener- 
getic Germans. His father, Frank H. Prange, was 
a native of Prussia and a hard working mun but 
was not in very affluent circumstances. He mar- 
rie<I a Prussian lady, Anna Leimknller, who was 
born, reared and died in her native province, de- 
parting this life at the age of fifty-three. In relig- 
ious faith she was a Lutheran. 

After her dtalh the father and his family took 
passage upon a sailing-vessel which left Bremen on 



the 24th of September, 1853. and arrived at New 
Orleans on the loth of November. They made 
their way up the Mississippi River, landing at St. 
Louis, and then continued their journey to Mt. 
Olive, Macoupin County. III. The father was not 
long permitted lo enjoy his new home, for his death 
occurred on June 26, 1854, and his remains were 
laid to rest on the farm now owned by our subject. 
He was then sixty-eight years of age. He too w.os 
a member of the Lutheran Church and a mau whom 
all respected for his sterling worth. 

The early life of our subject was spent at hard 
work upon a farm in his native land, few advan- 
tages anil privileges being afforded him. He was 
married in Prussia to Miss Wilhelmina Poppenwert, 
a native of that province, born December 10, 1825. 
She has proved a true helpmate to her husband and 
a faithful wife and mother. Their union has been 
blessed with nine cnildren. and only one is now de- 
ceased — Louis, who died at the age of twenty-four 
years. Frank H., who wedded Anna Keiser, is liv- 
ing on a farm in Montgomery County; Henry wed- 
ded Minnie Eikmeyer and is engaged in agricultural 
pursuits in Cabokia To^^nship: Minnie is at home; 
William married Ida Ghenler and is a miller of 
New Douglas Township, Madison County; John F. 
married Minnie Niehaus and they resided on a farm 
ia Montgomery Countv; August, who was joined 
in wedlock with Emma Budde, is engaged in mill- 
ing at Xew Douglas: Charles H. wedded Minnie 
Nollman and operates a farm in Christian County; 
Edward, who completes the family, is at home. 

Mr. Prange has resided upon his present farm 
since 1854. having there located when it was all 
wild prairie, entirely destitute of improvements. 
The county too w.as new and the village of Mt. 
Olive had not yet sprung into existence. Although 
when Mr. Prange came here he was a poor man he 
has worked hard and by his industry, perseverance 
and goo<l management has made a fortune. In 
addition to the large and valuable farm on which 
he resides be also owns considerable landed prop- 
erty in Madison and Montgomery Counties. He 
is a man of strong determination who accomplishes 
whatever he undertakes and thus when he resolved 
to make of his life a success, adversity and difficul- 
ties could not deter him. He made much of bis 



608 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



money during the time when the war had inflated 
all prices, and with a remariiable fore-sight and 
sagacity- be invesled his surplus earnings in lands, 
which, as the country has become more thickly set- 
tled, have rapidly arisen in value and made him a 
wealthy man. He feels a juit pride in his success 
and certainly is entitled to much credit. 

In connection with general farming, Mr. Pran<re 
was largely interested in opening up the mines at 
Mt. Olive and was once one of the most extensive 
stock holders in the Mt. Olive Coal Com,jany. In 
politics. Mr. Prange is a Republican and has held a 
number of local offices. Both he and his wife are 
active members of the Lutheran Church and he 
gives liberally of his means to its support. The 
handsome property which lie has acquired now en- 
ables him to live a retired life and he is resting in 
the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. 

Accompanying this brief biographical notice, the 
reader will find a lithographic portrait of Mr. 
Prange. 



-*-->^>^^^^^ff;ff^k^< 



:^^EX. .STEPHEN FRENCH RICE, a min- 
/ ister of the Gospel who is well-known 
- \\ throughout Macoupin County as the org- 
\\g/ anizer of a number of flourishing voung 
churches and who resides in Medora, was born in 
Shipman Township, this county, .January 10, 1842. 
His father, Judge Thomas Brown Rice, was one of 
the pioneers of the county who did grand yoeraan 
service in the early days. He was born in Fred- 
erick County, Va., August 17. 1806, and was of 
English descent. His father came from England 
to America and died in Frederick County. Va. 
. Thomas Rice was reared in his native county 
and learned the iiadc of a saddler which he fol- 
lowed there until 1855 when his establishment was 
burned out and became with his family consisting 
of his wife and foui children to Illinois. They made 
the entire journey overland with two teams, and I 
brought with them in their iirairie schooners most 
of their household goods. They rested as was 
necessary on the way, camping out and taking 
their time so that they made a very comfortable 
journey. At lirst they rented a vacant log cabin 



in Medora Township, but soon located themselves 
fiermanently. 

Thomas Rice entered a tract of Government 
land upon section 6, of what is now .shipman Town- 
ship, and at once erected a log house which is still 
standing and occupied. The family celebrated 
Christmas Day by moving into this new domicile, 
and as soon as winter brcke up the father began 
work upon the farm, which he continued to make 
his home until claimed by death. He had in the 
meantime been very successful and accumulated a 
handsome property. 

The mother of our subject whose maiden name 

was Mahala Farrow, was unite.l in marriage with 

Thomas Rice, April 17, 1828. She was a native 

of Culpeper County, Va., her natal d.iy being 

December 22, 1807, and she was of German an" 

cestry. Through all the poverty of her early 

married life and the struggles of pioneer existence 

she was a faithful and devoted wife and mother, 

and reared carefully and to an honorable manhood 

and womanhood ten children, who are named as 

I follows: Susan Catherine. Elizabeth Strather, 

I James Washington, John Williams, Thomas Brown, 

' Mary Virginia. Stephen French, Amanda Mahala, 

Emma Ann and Charles Arthur. 
I While she was bringing up these children, 
her cares were great and her conveniences 
limited. She cooked, washed and ironed by 
the open fireplace and clad her children in home- 
spun, which was made by her own hands as she 
carded, spun and wove the cloth which she cut 
into garments and made with the needle, for sew- 
ing machines were not then introduced. There 
were then no railroads within many miles of them, 
and Alton and St. Louis were their nearest market 
towns. Hundreds of deer, wolves and other kinds 
of wild game loamed at will through the region 
and were often to be seen from the cabin door. 
Both she and her worthy husband were faithful 
and conscientious members of the Baptist Church, 
as they united with the Mt. Pleasant Baptist 
Church, August 6, 1826, and he was elected Dea- 
con the following year. In his political views he 
was a Democrat and a leading man in that party 
and indeed among all thoughtful citizens. He 
served as Postmaster at Rhodes Point (as Medora 



II 



I 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



609 



was formerly called). He was collector for the 
Chicago, Burlington and Quinc\- Kaihoad for two 
years and served two terms as Associate Judge of 
Macoupin County. 

The subject of this sketcli was roared upon the 
Iiome farm, a part of vv-hicli is now included in 
the village of Mcdora, so tiiat we may say that he 
has been a life-long resident of that place. In his 
early years lie attended school and resided u|)on 
the farm, assisting his parent, until he reached the 
age of twenty two years. He became a decided 
Christian in IHtU and during the same jear joined 
the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Churcli and in 18(Ji( was 
ordained a preacher and joined the Applet Creek 
Association in whicli connection he has been ever 
since administering the rites of religion. He or- 
ganized tlie church which is known as Little Flock 
and assisted in organizing others. 

The marriage of our suliject August 8, 181)3, 
was an event of great importance in his life, as he 
was then united with Lnelta Keele who has proved 
to him a noble and self-sacrificing hel[imato. She 
was born in Shipman Township ami was also of 
pioneer parentage, her father being Enoc h and her 
mother, Margaret Ta|)er Keele. Three childien 
only have crowned this union. Alonzo, I\Laggie 
and Charlie. The Rev. Mr. Rice was in his early 
years an adherent to the doctrines of tiie Demo- 
cratic party, but of late years he has become a Pro- 
hibitionist in his convictions and vote. 



■^T=l 



JAMES W.LUMPKIN is the senior member of 
the firm of J. W. Lumpkin & Son, propri- 
etore of the Macovpin County Inquirer, an 
ably conducted journal, that is classed 
among the leading newspapers of this part of the 
State. Our subject is a representative of one of 
the pioneer families of this county, and is one of 
its native-born citizens, his birth taking place in 
Bird Township, November 15, 1836, he being the 
only son of John and Emily A. (Rafferty) Luniii- 
kin. His father was a Virginian by birth, as was 
also the grandfather of snl)ject, whose name w.<)s 
William Lumpkin. The latter moved from his 



native State in 1818, after his marriage, in Ken- 
tuck}-, and resided for two or three years in Jeffer- 
son County. He then went to Davis County, that 
State, where he bought a tract of timber land, built 
on it, and coniraonced to clear a farm, upon which 
he lived the remainder of his life. The maternal 
grandfather of subject, James Rafferty, is sup- 
posed to have been a navive of Kentucky. He 
married Mary Booth of the same State. By occu- 
pation he was a farmer, and in 1835 he came to 
Macoui)in County, where in time he improved a 
farm in Polk Township, upon which he continued 
to reside until his decease. John Lumpkin was a 
lad of ten years when he went to Keiitucky with 
his parents. In his youth he learned the trade of 
brick-lajer. which he pursued in the afore men- 
tioned State until 1835. when he came to Illinois. 
He was accompanied thither by his wife, and came 
by the way of the (^hio and Mississippi Rivers to 
St. Louis, from whence he journe3-ed to his des- 
tination in this county with an ox-team. He ar- 
rived here with but fifty cents in his pocket, but 
he had a sturdy, self-reliant spirit and a good trade 
for capital, and was well-fitted to cope with the 
trials of pioneer life. He purchased a tract of 
wild prairie land on lime, located in Bird Towii- 
shii), and his first work was to erect a log house 
for shelter, riving the boards to cover the roof, 
which was held in place by weight poles, and mak- 
ing the door and floor of split puncheons. As 
soon as his dwelling was completed he commenced 
to improve his land, doing all his farm work and 
marketing for some time with oxen. He worked a 
great deal of the time at his trade, except in the 
winter seasons, and he assisted in building the first 
brick courthouse at Carlinville, besides other brick 
buildings erected here. He continued to make 
his home on his farm until his life was closed b}' 
death in 1871. His wife had passed away before, 
her death occurring on the old homestead in 1865. 
The subject of this biograpliical sketch is the 
only child l)orn to his parents, and the primitive 
dwelling erected by his father when he first came 
to this county was the scene of his birth. He was 
reared amid pioneer influences; his early education 
was obtained in the schools of bis native county, 
and was supplemented by an excellent course of 



610 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



study at Shurtlefif College. .After leaving college 
lie caught school one terra, and then gave his at- 
tention to farming and dealing in livestock, which 
he continued until 1880, when he removed to Carl- 
iiiville and for one 3'far engaged in the sale of 
farm implements. In 1882 he was appointed 
Deputy Sheriff, and remained in the Sheriff's office 
four years. In June, 1886, Mr. Lumpl<in formed 
a partnership with his son, Clement J., and pur- 
chased the Enquirer printing office, since which 
time he has devoted his attention to the manage- 
ment of the paper and to the general business con- 
ncctea with the printing department. 

In 1857, Mr. Lumpl<in and Miss Eizina Bates 
were united in marriage, and theirs has been a 
pleasant union, that has brought them two child- 
ren, Clement J. and Mattie K. Mrs. Lumpkin is 
also a native of Macoupin, and is a ilanghter of 
James and Martha Bates. 

Our subject was a man of liigii charncter and 
standing in his native county professionally, and 
also as a private citizen and a civic official. He has 
occupied various offices of trust, and is at pre&ent 
serving his third term as a member of the City 
Cour.eil. 

While a resident of Bird Township he was Town- 
ship Collector, and has also held the office of Jus- 
lice of the Peace. Politically, his sympathies are 
witii tlie Democrats, and he gives his party earnest 
support through the columns of his paper, though 
he is by no means violently partisan. Socially, he 
belongs to Mt. Nebo Lodge, No. 76, A. F. & A. M.; 
is a member of Macoupin Chapter, No. 187, R. A. 
M.; and of St. Omar Commandcry, No. 30, K. T. 
of Litchfield, 111. 



^^ 



(HARLES T. HANSHAW, President of the 
lV 111 ^'^"'^ °^ Palmyra and one of the prominent 
'^Z busine,ss men of Macoupin County, was 
born in Botetourt County, Va , January 31, 1847. 
His father, Elisha Hanshaw, was born in the same 
county and his grandfather Benjamin was. it is be- 
lieved, born in Maryland and went to Virginia 
with his parents when very young. He was a 



farmer and followed agricultural pursuits through 
life. He came from Botetourt County to Illinois 
ill his old age to spend his last days witli his 
children. 
: The father of our subject was reared in his nat- 
I ive State and there learned the trade of a miller, 
which he followed until 1847 when he came to Ill- 
inois, accompanied by his wife and four children. 
They traveled by what was then the most conveni- 
ent and expeditious route, overland to the Ohio 
River, thence on that beautiful stream by bo.at to 
! the Mississippi, and up that river to St. Louis. 
There they took a team and journeyed in a prairie 
schooner to Auburn, Sangamon County, this 
State. He engaged in farming in tliat vicinity for 
a year or two, and then went to Hart's Piairie, 
Morgan County, where he bought an interest in a 
I mill and operated it for two years, after whieli he 
resumed farming. A little later he took charge of 
Crow's Mill, east of Auburn until 18.56, when he 
came to Palmyr.i, and in company with his brother 
j Hezekiah and A. C. Farmer, erected a flouring mill 
at this place. He operated this until 1865 and 
then went to Cliesterfield, and managed a mill 
there for one year, after which he retired from 
active business, making his home at Palmyra until 
1877, when he moved »o Auburn, where he died 
two years later. 

The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Mary S. Vandegrift. She, like her husband, 
was born in Botetourt County, Va., and is the 
daughter of John and Barbara (Wineman) Vande- 
grift. She reared four of her five children. Sus- 
an, the eldest married J. T. King, and resides in 
Wichita, Kan.; John H. is represented by a sketch 
in this volume; Charles T., is the second son and 
the youngest child Minna, resides with her mother 
in Auburn. 

The subject of this sketch was but an infant 
when he was brought to Illinois by his parents and 
was nine years old when lie came to Palmyr.i, 
when he was reared and educated. When twenty 
years old he commenced clerking in a general 
store and had clerked but a short time wiren he 
became a partner in the business, continuing there- 
in until 1871. For ten years after that date he 
was not regularly engaged in any active business, 



I 



PORTRAIT A^T) BJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



611 



but in 1881 he fonned a partnership with D.N. 
Solomon, S. L. Bov<l, and II. C. Hamilton and then 
or.'anized the Bank of Palmyra. Of this institu- 
tioli Mr. Hanshaw was Cashier until 1885, when 
Mr Hamilton withdrew, and Mr. H.inshaw was 
elected president which position he has since held. 
The lady who uresides with so much grace and di- 
.rnity over tiie household of our subject bore the 
raaiden name of Etta Nichols and was born in Ind- 
iana and reared and educated in Auburn, 8anga- 
tuon County. She became Mrs. Hanshaw in June, 
1888. Mr. Hanshaw was one of the organizers of 
the Palmyra Loan Building and Savings Associa. 
lion and has been president since its formation. 
He is a member of Palmyra Lodge No. 348, 1. O. O. 
F In his political views and vote he affiliates with 
the Republican party, of winch he is an intelligent 
adlierent. He is a man of public spirit and an act- 
ive promoter of all movements which tend to en- 
hance the prosperity of Palmyra and increase the 
advantages of its citizens. 



-^,, LBERT E. MORRIS is one of the repre- 
(@M sentative and leading men in Polk Town- 
1 ship, where lie resides. He is a live wide- 
^ awake citizen, and enjoys the confidence 

^d esteem of those with whom ho mingles. He is 
probably one of the youngest .luslices of tlie Peace 
in Maconi-in County. His father was the late 
Richard Morris, a man of British origin being born 
iu Somersetshire, England, -Tune 2-4, 1818. His 
mother was Martha A. Rusher, an American, born 
in Sullivan County, Ind., January 2b, 1828. The 1 
grandfather, John Morris, died at the old home- 
stead in Somersetshire, England, and the grand- 
mother, ISIary (Wilton) Morris, spent her last days 
in Wales. 

The father of INIrs. .Martha Morris was Henry 
Rusher who died in Montgomery County, 111., April 
U, 1828. His wife, Catherine (Newton) Rusher, 
dying March 29, 1875. Tliey came to Macoupin 
CouiTty in 1840, and after living here about eight- 
een years returned to Montgomery County, where 
they spent the remainder of their days. Upon the 



marriage of Richard and Martha Morris, December 
26, 185'4, they settled in Polk Township, and here 
m.ade their home through life. Richard Morris 
passed away August 19, 1884, leaving his bereaved 
widow to make her home with our subject at the 
old liomeslead. Their four children are: Albert E., 
who is the subject of this brief sketch; Mary J., 
who became the wife of J. W. Kissel and was the 
mother of Samuel U., and Florence M. She died 
on her twenty-fourth birthday, June 6, 1884, in 
Madison County, 111.; Willie O. died in infancy as 
did also Lillie M. thus leaving our subject now the 
only surviving child of his bereaved mother. 

Albert E. Morris was born in Polk Township, 
May 24, 1858, and here was reared to manhood and 
has found at the old homestead a congenial home 
and a suitable place for carrying on the business 
which he has chosen. He received a good education 
in the common schools of the county, and lias be- 
come an intelligent and prosperous farmer. The 
old homestead which he carries on consists of one 
hundred and eighteen acres upon which are situa- 
ted excellent farm buildings and every appliance 
necessary to the successful prosecution of farm 

work. 

February 15, 1881. was the wedding day of 
Albert Morris and Mary Brown, and this union 
was solemnized in Sliipman Township, at the home 
of the bride's parents, Jolin H. an.l Ellen L. (Good- 
ell) Brown. This lady was born in Polk Township 
and Mr. Brown in Tennessee, and of their goodly 
sized family of two sons and four daughters, Mrs. 
Morris is the eldest daughter. She was born in 
Shipman Township, October 11, I860. Four lovely 
ehiUb-en came to share the paternal affection and 
solicitude, namely: Bertha A., Robbie, Ada, and 
Cassie M. The son Rolibie died in infancy. 

'xhe ftllow-citizens of Mr. Morris hold him in 
hi<.h esteem and have placed him in the office of 
School Director. He has also filled since the spring 
of 1889 the office of Justice of the Peace in which 
his knowledge of the law and liis good sense and 
well known reputation for just rulings have made 
bis services in that position highly prized and of 
.reat benefit to his neighbors. He is a man who is 
well read in political matters and casts his vote 
with the Democratic party. 



612 



PORTRAIT AND lilOGRAPlllCAL RECORD. 



Mrs. Morris' paternal grandfather was Peter 
Blown, who (lied in Shipman Township. His faith- 
ful companion, Catherine (Baiier) Brown, survives 
hira at the very advanced a^^e of ninety-two years, 
being born in the summer of 1799. Mrs. Morris' 
maternal grandparents, Joshua E. and Laura 
(Mprse) Goodell, were people of intelligence and 
culture who passed away some years ago, Jlrs. 
Goodell dying in Polk Township, and her husband 
in Iowa. The standing of every brancii of this 
family connection is such as to give influence to 
each member of it, and every one in the community 
rejoices in the prosperity which has crowned Mr. 
Morris' efforts in life. 

Since the above was written the subject has been 
deprived by death of one of his children. 



"■'i'":"-^'>""^ 



!J J,' Hill, was born on tiie 2d of Dec£ 
'^^ 1 800, in Scott County, Iowa, and 
from a family of |)hysiclans, havinj 



R. ROBKRT E. BLEY, residing in Hunker 
Hill, was born on tiie 2d of Deceml)er, 

comes 
iig two 
brothers and a broliier-in-law engaged in the prac- 
tice of medicine, while his father, George Bley, 
Sr., was also a prominent Doctor of this county. 
The latter was born in Wnrtemliurg,Germany. .Jan- 
uary 12, 1821, and was a son of GJeorgo and Sophia 
(Mullcr) Bley. The family eniigraled to America 
iu 1832, settling in Berks County, Pa., where 
George Bley, Sr. died. The father of onr subject 
left home at the age of twelve years to l)egin lire's 
battle for himself and at the age of fifteen began 
serving an apprenticeship in a drug store in Phila- 
delphia, where he remained until he had attained 
bis majority, when he began business in that line 
for himself. Soon after this he determined to be- 
come a physician and attended lecUires at the 
Jefferson Medical College in 1845. From 1848 
until 1850 he v.as a student in the Philadelpjjia 
College of Medicine, from which he was graduated 
and then began practice in that city, where he re- 
mained until his removal Lo Scott Countv, lowj, 
in 1855. Three years later he located in Rock 
Island, 111., and after a year went lo Monroe 



County, whence he removed to Staunton, Macoupin 
County, in October, 1861. He at once opened an 
office in that place and soon built up a large and 
lucrative practice. In connection with his profes- 
sion he curie d on a fine drug store, which is known 
as the Palace Drug Store and also did a successful 
business in that line, becoming one of the substan- 
; tial citizens of the community. 

Dr. George Bley married Elizabeth W. Davis, 
: of Philadelphia, who was a native of Pennsylvania 
i and of English descent. Their marriage was cele- 
brated October 1, 1845, and the lady is still living 
at a ripe old age in Staunton. Their family uum° 
bered six children— Nellie, wife of D. C. Wurtz of 
Jersey ville. III.; Lizzie W., wife of Thomas Blair, 
Postmaster of Staunton: David, a physician and 
surgeon of Staunton; George who is engaged in 
the practice of medii;ine in Beardstown; Robert E. 
of this sketch ; and Alary L., wife of Y^t. C. T. 
Dripps, asucccssful physician of Staunton. The 
father of this family was a member of the Presby- 
leri.Tn Church as is also his wife. 

Dr. Rubcit Bley was only three years of. age 
when he came to Illinois and since he was a lad of 
six summers has resided in Macoupin County. 
His e.lncation was acquired in the public schools 
and when a vouth he entered the Palace Drug 
Store, owned by his father, where he continued vo 
act as one of its managers until 1882 when the 
store was purchased by Buchheit h Westemeyer. 
The love of the medical profession seemed inbred 
into him and after studying with his father he en- 
tered Jefferson Medical College of Pliiladel|>liia, 
from which he was graduated in the Class of '77. 
He at once embarked upon the practice of his 
chosen profession and in order 10 keep abreast of 
the times has since returned to Philadelphia, where 
for about a year he made a S|)ecialty of the study 
of those diseases which do not come within the 
range of general practice. His practice is a large 
and lueraiivc one. He makes his work a life study 
and his reputation is justly deserved. 

While residing in Staunton. Dr. Bley was united 
in marriage with Miss Mamie L. Hall of St. Louis, 
Mo., who was born in Pike County, that Stated 
March 11, 1859. Their union has been blessed 
with ope c;hild -Robert E., a bright child of three 



PORTRAIT AND BlOG RAl^liCAL^ECORD. 



613 




years The Doctor is a membrr of Bunker 11.11 
Lodge, No. 151, A. F. & A. M., of which he is now 
junior warden and also belongs to Charter Oak 
Lodge, No. 258, L O. O. F. of Bunker II.H. An 
enterprising and progressive citizen, he takes an 
active part in everything pertaining to the ad- 
vancement and welfare of the community and is 
esteemed by all who know him as a man of sterling 
worth and integrity. 

^ AIILON ROSS, of the firm of Ross & Ross 
attorneys-at-iaw, Virden, is not only one 
of the leading members of the bar in this 
section of the State, but he is prominent as 
a public-spirite<l citizen and an able business man, j 
whose name is associated with various enterprises 
that have furthered 'he best interests of the county. 
Mr Ross was born on a farm in Sandy Creek Town- 
ship, Mercer County, Fa., November 12, 1821. 
His father, Edward C. Ross, was a native of New 
.Jersey and he was a son of Edward Ross, who was 
also born in that State. He was there reared and 
married, and subsequently went to Pennsylvania, 
where he became an early settler of Washington 
County He lived there for a number of years, but 
the latter part of his life was passed in Mercer 
County with his son. 

The father of our subject grew to m.inhood m 
Washington County and w.is there married at tlie 
age of twenty-eight years. After that important 
event in his life he removed to Mercer County and 
was a i.ioneer of Sandy Creek Townshi]), where he 
purchased two hundred acres of forest land. He 
erected a log house and in that primitive dwelling 
his son, of whom we write, was born. The father 
labored incessantly to clear his land and in due 
time had improved a good-sized farm. He planted 
an orchard and erected a cider-mill, which, so far 
as known, is standing yet, a relic of the p.ist. 
While a resident there he served as a soldier in the 
War of 181 2. In 1835 he sold his property in tliat 
locality and crossing the boundary line into Ohio 
with teams, he cast his lot with the pioneers of 
Delaware County, buying land peav Delaware. 



lie built an addition to the log cabin that stood on 
the place, ere.-ted a log barn and was engaged in 
makin.r fmther improvements, when his busy life 
w.as cut short in June, 1836, by his untimely death 
at the age of fifty-two years, when scarcely past his 

prime. 

The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Mary Axtel, and she was a native of W.ashing- 
ton County, Pa., a daughter of Luther and Hannah 
(Conduit) Axtel. By the sad death of the father 
the mother was left with a large family to care for 
and nobly did she perform her task. She reared 
nine of her ten children to maturity and to honor- 
able lives. The family remained on the home 
farm in Delaware County until 1839, when they 
sold the place and removed to the Territory of 
Iowa, making the removal with teams. At that 
time Illinois was still mostly owned by the Gov- 
ernment aiKl its fertile land was for sale at a low 
price. But the Rosses would not settle here on ac- 
count of the excessive tax incurred by the build- 
ing of the canal. The mother made a claim to a 
trlct of Government land in Linn County, Iowa, a 
mile and a half from Marion, and when the land 
came into tlie market entered it at the land office. 
The surrounding country was in a wild, sparsely- 
settled condition ; there were no railw.ays for some 
years and Muscatine, sixty-five miles away, was the 
nearest town to which the pioneers could go to mar- 
ket their produce or procure supplies. Mrs. Ross 
in <hie lime had a comfortable home, her children 
attended diligently to improving the farm and 
there her life was closed in death in 1846. 

Mahlon Ross was in his eighteenth year when 
the family went to Iowa. At that time Linn 
County was on the Western frontier and deer, ante- 
lopes .and buffaloes roamed over the prairies in the 
western part of the State. Our subject witnessed 
much of the growth of the country from its prime- 
val wildness and he can well remember shucking 
corn on the present site of the most densely-settled 
par- of Cedar Rapids. He carried the chain in the 
survey of the Territorial road that led through 
Marion from Davenport to Iowa City, the survey 
bein- made in 1840. There was then but one 
buildino where Cedar Rapids now is and that was 
a lo- clibin owned by a man named Shepard, who 



614 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



was holding the land as a claim. Three men of the 
names of Green, Roach and Brown, bought the 
claim of Mr. Shepard and laid out the town of Ce- 
dar Rapids, which is now a flourishing city. 

Mr. Ross laid the foundations of a sound educa- 
tion in the pioneer schools of Pennsylvania and 
Ohio, which were conducted on the subscription 
plan in log houses that were furnished with slab 
benches and had greased paper windows. In 1842 
he went to Quincy to enter Mission Institute, a 
Presbyterian school, and was a student therein four 
years. After leaving school he utilized his educa- 
tion for a while by teaching, making that vocation 
a stepping stone to the legal profession, as so many 
of our famous lawyers and statesmen have done. 
He taught one summer in Missouri, and then com- 
ing to Illinois, had charge of a school at Bluflfdale, 
Green County, one winter. In the meantime he 
had studied law and in 1850 he was admitted to the 
bar. He opened an office in Hardin, Calhoun 
County, whence he went to Carrollton, where he 
engaged at his calling one year. In 1854 he came 
to Virden and has ever since been in active prac- 
tice in this city. He has risen to prominence in his 
profession by the exercise of his talents and by pur- 
suing only the most honorable methods, and his 
numerous clients place the most implicit confidence 
in him, feeling that their affairs are safe in his hands. 
Mr. Ross was united in marriage to Miss Harriet 
E. M. Roberts, in 1857, and their home is among 
the most attractive in Virden. Mrs. Ross is a na- 
tive of Kirtland, Ashtabula County, Ohio, born 
June 27, 1825, a daughter of .Joel and Tabltha 
(Fellows) Roberts. Her father was a native of 
New York. Mr. and Mrs. Ross have two children, 
Alva and Ellie. Alva received his early education 
in the public schools of Virden. He became a stu- 
dent at Jacksonville Business College, where he 
pursued an excellent course, and after that he en- 
tered the Law Department of the Northwestern 
University at Chicago, from which he was gradu- 
ated in 1890. In June of that year he was ad- 
mitted to the bar and commenced practice with bis 
father. He is a member of the Phi Delti Phi, 
and he has a bright and promising future before 
him in his profession. 
A man of ripe intellect, of a cle&r and vigorous 



mind and broad outlook, with a keen understanding 
of all subjects of public import, Mr. Ross wields an 
unmistakable influence on the social .and civic life 
of his community. He ranks high as a lawyer of 
stainless character, who possesses the cour.age of his 
convictions and is fearless in their expression, both 
with tongue and pen. Ha is very liberal in his 
religious views and is the author of a thoughtful 
and well-written work entitled, "The Substantial 
Theology," which is a valuable contribution to the 
literature of modern Christianity and has received 
favorable comment from the leaders of the liberal 
movement in religion. 

Our subject is honored and trusted by his fellow- 
citizens, who know him as a wise and able counsel- 
lor, who is pure, honest and perfectly upright in his 
life and they have often elected him to responsible 
positions. While a resident of Carrollton he was 
elected Justice of the Peace, and he has held the 
same office at Virden three terms. He has served 
one term as Police Magistrate of the city and six 
terms as City Attorney and he has also been Presi- 
dent of the Village Board. 



ENRY LEMONS. The honest and industri- 
'/ )i ous class of agriculturists form the bone and 
sinew from which the body politic is made. 
^ This is the element upon which we must 
depend not only for a healthful growth in country 
communities but also for the best material of which 
our great financiers are to be made. A city which 
•'epends upon a prosperous and virtuous farming 
community has before it years of prosperity, while 
it would sink into hopeless disaster without that 
r source from which to draw. We therefore take 
great pleasure in describing the homes and lives of 
the sturdy agriculturists who make up the bulk of 
the community in the country. 

Our suliject, a well-known farmer and a stock- 
raiser of Girard, was born in the city of St. Louis, 
Mo., February I, 1852. At the age of seven years 
he went to reside with the family of Mrs. W. C. 
Roach, who was then residing on a farm near Carl- 
inville, and hore the boy grew to manhood, gain- 




JAMES P. PEARSON. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



617 



ing his education at the district schools and learn- 
ing the minutia and drill of farm life. He lived ^ 
with Mrs. Roach until he reached the age of fifteen ; 
years and then worked by the month on a farm for 
Mr. Tliacker, of Nilwood Township, continuing [ 
working for him until he obtained a home of his j 

own. 1 

The marriage of Henry Lemons and Mary Etta 
Roach was soremnized in 1877. She lived in Girard 
and was a daughter of John F. and Martha H. j 
(Cherry) Roach. After marriage the young couple 
went to housekeeping upon a farm belonging to ! 
Mrs. Lemons' father, and there they made a happy j 
home until 1H81, carrying on the farm and devoting 
their altenlion also to the raising of good grades of 
stock. When they removed from that farm they set- 
tled upon one hundred and seven ocrcs.lwo and one- 
half mdes northwest of Girard which still consti- 
tutes the home farm. To this worthy couple five 
fhildren were granted, namely: Ethel, John R., 
Henry McCoy, Calvin C. and Roscoe Harrison. 

Mr. Lemons lakes a lively interest in poliiical 
movements and his convictions have led him to 
ally himself will, the Republican pa ly. He is well- 
read and intelligent in regard to the history of the 
parly and honors its leaders, as is shown by his 
bestowing the names of the two most prominent 
leaders of that party upon his youngest son. He 
is an earnest and active member of the Baptist 
Church, in which he finds a broad field of influence 
and effort. His wife is connected with the Pres- 
byterian Church, and unites her labors with those 
of her fellow. members to forward its interests, and 
do worthy work for the Master. 



-— 5-i-S-^^«^='l+-J-- 



'S] AMES P. PEAR.SON. Among the honor- 
ed pioneers of Macoupin County, where he 
located in 1835, was the gentleman whose 
_ portrait accompanies this sketch. He was 
bunted one of the best citizens of the commu- 
nity and his death was deeply mourned by many 
friends. The record of his life is as follows: He 
was born in Yorkshire. England, March 29, 1816, 
»nd was still a young lad at the time of his father's 



death. With his mother and stepfather he crossed 
the Atlantic to America, the family settling m 
Ohio, where our subject was reared to manhood. 
On coming to Illinois he settled in Macoupin 
County, in 18.35, where he secured a wild and un- 
broken tract of land upon which not a furrow had 
been turned and began the development and im- 
provement of a farm. 

Not long after this Mr. Pearson led to the mar- 
riage altar Tabitha Gwin, a native of Tennessee. 
bom near Nashville. Her parents. Elias and Tabi- 
tha (Weatherford) Gwin, were natives of South 
Carolina and Kentucky respectively and were 
married in Middle Tennessee, where they began 
life upon a fa-m. The wife and mother died In 
that locality, after which Mr. Gwin with his family 
of ten sons and daughters left Tennessee in 1830 
and emigrated westward to Macoupin County, 111., 
where he spent the remainder of his life. He was 
born Seplembei 11, 1783, and died April 5, 1853. 
In politics he was a life-long Democrat and in rel- 
igious belief was a Methodist. 

°Mr. and Mrs. Pearson were married in 1837, 
and after a happy wedded life of eleven years the 
wife was called to her final rest. At her death she 
left six children, two of whom have since died, 
namely: Elizabeth, wife of Franklin Johnson and 
Elias who died in boyhoofl. Rebecca is now the 
wife of Edward Huddlestun, a resident of Kansas 
City, Mo.; Martha A. is the widow of Nelson Pope 
and also makes iier home in Kans?^ City; Mary is 
the wife of Robert Drury. who is living on a farm 
in Brushy Mound Township; James M., who mar 
rled Susie Rose, is the youngest of the family and 
occupies the old Pearson homestead. 

The motiier of tnis family was a noble woman 
and a member of the Methodist Church. For a 
second wife Mr. Pearson wedded Mrs- Rebecca 
(Gwin) Little, their union being celebrated in 
1859. She was born near NMShville. Tenn., Janu- 
ary 15. 1808. and is a sister of the first wife. Soon 
after her father came to this State she was married 
November 23, 1831, to William Little, the mar- 
riaae taking place in Mt. Vernon. He survived 
les^than four vears, dying March 15, 1835, in this 
county, in the prime of life. Two children were 
born of that marriage, hut Margaret, wife of Hus- 



618 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ton Maybeny, is now deceased. James, the son, 
follows farming in Orgeon. He wedded Hannah 
Fa^-. who is now dfciased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
Pearson was born a daughter, Tabitlia, who died at 
tiie age of seven years. 

The subject of this sketeli followed farming on 
the first land which he purchased for some years, 
but in 1850 removed to what is known as the Pear- 
son iiomestead on section §, Gillespie Township. 
His land he soon placed under the plow and as the 
result of his industrj- and enterprise his farm soon 
became one of the best in that locality, three hund- 
red acres of highly improved land paying a golden 
tribute to his care and cultivation. He died at 
the old home on March 27, 1S90, at the age of 
seventy-four years; in his death the county lost 
one of its best citizens, his neighbors a kind friend 
and his family a loving and faithful husband and 
father. Mrs. Pearson still survives her husband 
and is one of those old ladies whom every one 
loves for lier kindness, charity and many excel- 
lencies of character. She is a sincere Christian 
woman and a faithful member of the Methodist 
Church. 



1^ 



VW| ONATHAN L. WOOD, 'l^he late Jonathan 
jj L. Wood had many acquaintances in this 
^,,^11 and the adjoinino counties, as he had lived 
(^^' here for many years and was one of the pio- 
neers of Bunker Hill Township. He was born in 
Washington County, Tenn., Jiniiary 18, 180.S, and 
was |)as) two years old when his parents re- 
moved to Ivpntucky. Our subject was a son of 
Thomas and Mary (Bay less) Wood who were na- 
tives respectively of Virginia and i)robabIy Ten- 
nessee or North Carolina. He grew to manhood 
there and learned what is necessary to promote the 
interests of an agriculturist, together with the 
principles on which to base his conduct. He also 
learned the trade of a wagon-maker, and thus 
gained a thorough equipment for the battle of life. 
In 1829 he came to this State with a cousin, Thomas 
Wood, and in March of that year located in Madi- 
son County, and in a short time was engaged as a 



journeyman in Edwardsville. He followed his trade 
for eight years and later learned that of a mill- 
wright under "Boss" Lincoln, a prominent worker 
in that line. He was in the employ of that gentle- 
man eight years, during which period they put up 
largo flouring mills at Hillsboro, Naples, Beards- 
town, Alton and other places. 

As early as 1830 Mr. Wood entered some Gov- 
ernment land in Macoupin County and be finally 
turned his attention to farming here. The house 
that he built on the farm and his first habitation is 
still in good shape, but it is inescrved only as a 
land-mark of former days. Mr. Wood acquired a 
good property, consisting of about three hundred 
acres, most of which he himself placed under ira- 
provemcnt. He lived here honored and respected 
until November 20, 1887, when he was called from 
time to eternity. When the Re[)ublican party was 
organized he was in sympathy with the movement 
and he heljjed to organize it in this section, going 
as a delegate to the first convention. He was 
always opposed to any form of human slavery and 
was a sincere believer in the rights of all men to 
-life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." He 
w.as one of the first three School Trustees in Bunker 
Hill Township and in fact was one who organized 
this division of the county. His religious home 
was in the Baptist Church. 

In Madison County, this State, the marriage of 
Mr. Wood and Miss Aurora B. Foster, was solemn- 
ized. The bride was born in Maine. September 5, 
1811, and was descended from an old Massachusetts 
family. Her parents Oliver and Hannah (Eldred) 
Foster left their native State in 1818, and started 
west, stopping for a time in Pennsylvania and 
thence coming down the Ohio River to Shawnee- 
town, where the3' landeil about Januarj- 1, 1819. 
February 22 they passed Edwardsville for Alton 
and in 1826 they removetl out on a farm in Madison 
County-. There was an immense amount of wild 
game in the section, in which Mr. and Mrs. Foster 
were among the earliest settler.s. They lived to be 
very aged and were widely known as the oldest 
pioneers of Southern Illinois, having outlived all 
others who ha<l come hither as early as they. 

Mrs. Wood was carefully reared, and having 
naturally fine traits of mind and character, she be- 



PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



619 



came a noble woman and for well nigli half a cen- 
tury was a true wife to her husband. She has been 
devoted to her, children, of whom she has two liv- 
ing and has lost three. Oliver P. died in infancy, 
Hannah M. when eight years old, and Fred F. was 
cut down in early manhood, when twenty-two 
years old. The surviving members of the family 
are Reuben O. and Thomas G. They are partners 
in business and occupy the undivided homestead in 
which they have an equal interest. Reuben O. 
married Jenny Howell of Bunker Hill Township, 
but has no children; Thomas G. married Margaret 
Rinker of Madison County and they have four 
children— Hannah M. L., Fred R., Edna and Inez. 
Mis. Wood, widow of our subject, is living in 
Woodburn. She is a consistent member of the 
Baptist Church and has many warm friends. 



<^/BRAHAM FREY, who is now acting in 
#^|j the capacity of County Treasurer, has been 
variously occupied since he set up his 
^ home in this part of America. He was 

born in the village of Oggersheim in Bavaria, 
Germany, August 8, 1833. His father, .Jacob 
Wilhfclm Frey. was born in Donnast and learned 
the trade of a bulcher, which he followed apart of 
each year, devoting the rest of his time to farming. 
In April, 1847, he took passage .at Manheim on a 
steamer for Havre and then embarked on a sail 
vessel, landing at New Orleans after an ocean voy- 
age of sixty-two days. He was accompanied by 
his wife and five children, the eldest being the sub- 
ject of this sketch. From New Orleans they came 
up to St. Louis, where the mother died ten days 
later. The father came to Staunton, this county, 
and leaving his children in care of their maternal 
uncles, Jacob and John Hausam, went to look for 
work. It was not long ere he fell ill and died, 
leaving his children or|)haned in a strange land. 

Abraham Frey at once set about earning his 
own living and Hist found employment on a farm 
at %i per month. He spent two years at this work 
and then began to learn the trade of a harness- 
maker and served an apprenticeship of two years 



and a half in Alton. He tlien returned to farm- 
ing, at which he worked industriously until the 
war began, when he resumed his trade in Staunton. 
He did journey work two years, then engaged in 
business for himself at Gillespie, which was his 
home until the fall of 1890. Since that lime he 
has been living in Carlinville, to which place his 
reputation had preceded him. 

The wife of Mr. Fi-ey was known in her girlhood 
as Armindy Grant. She was born in Madison 
County, this .St.ate, in 1843, and is a daughter of 
Thomas Grant, who is numbered among the pion- 
eers of that county. She entered upon the duties 
of wifehood in 1864 and has been faithful to the 
obligations which she then assumed. Her home 
h.as been brightened by the presence of five child- 
ren, whose respective names are Emma, Edward, 
Charlie, Lewis and David. Mr. Frey belongs to 
tlie Democratic party. He is identiHeil with Gill- 
espie Lodge, No. 214, F. & A. M.; and with 
Lodge, No. 220, I. O. O. F. His thorough honesty 
and interest in the financial condition of the 
county led to his candidacy for County Treasurer 
and to his election to that responsible office. 



^r 




I'.NRY SNELL is one of the sagacious, 
skillful farmers who are actively helping to 
carry on the agricultural interests of this 
county, and he is the fortunate proprietor 
of a fine prairie farm, comprising the northeast 
quarter of section 28, Girard Township. In Bethel 
•Township, Miami County, Ohio, he first opened his 
eyes to the light of the world June 18, 1836, in 
the pioneer log house that was the home of his par- 
ents, Jacob and Barbara (Harshbarger) Snell. His 
father, who was born in Rockingham County, Va., 
in 1806, was reared in his native county, and there 
carried on his trade as a carpenter in connection 
with farming until his removal in 1831 to Ohio, the 
journey being made with teams. He bought a tract 
of land in Bethel Township, on which stood a log 
house, in wiiich he and his family took up their 
abode. In the intervals of pursuing his trade he 
gave his attention to improving a farm, and in- 



620 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



creased its size by the purchase of land adjoiniug. 
He lived there in peace anil comfort, respected by 
all who knew him. until death called him hence in 
1855 when he was scarcely past the meridian of life. 
His wife, who was a native of the same county as 
himself, and was a daughter of Henry and Eliza- 
beth Marshbarger. also died on the home farm, her 
death occurring In December. 1860. They reared a 
family of five children, named as follows: .John. 
Elizabeth, Heniy and Susan (twins) and Annie. 

Our subject began to assist his father on the farm 
as soon .IS he could make himself useful. His edu- 
cation was conducted in the local public schools. 
He remained with his parents until their de.-ith. and 
after that purchased the old homestead, which he 
occupied until 1864; be sold it then and bought a 
mill in the same township, which he operated^until 
1867. In that year, wishing to resume farmins. 
and feeling satisfied that this county oflfcred him 
Letter chances of prodt than the more worn soil of 
his native .State, he took up his residence in North 
Otter Township on a farm that he bought. Eigh- 
teen months later he sold that and bought the place 
upoi. (vhich he has since lived in Girard Township. 
Its fields and jtasturcs are very fertile and are un- 
der careful cultivation, while subsianial buildings 
adorn the pLice, which bears every indication of "a 
thrifty, energetic and capable manager at the head 
of affairs. 

December 9, 1858 Mr. Snell took unto himself a 
wife in the person of Miss Amanda Maver. a na- 
tive of Fairfield, Greene County, Ohio.' born No- 
vember 7. 1840. Her father was David Mayer, 
and he was born in Lancaster County, Pa., a son of 
Christian Mayer, who w.as a lifeloug resident of 
Lancaster County, where he was engaged both .as a 
blacksmith and a farmer. 

David Mayer learned the ir.ade of a miller, and 
in the tarly settlement of Greene County. Ohio, he 
went there to carry on his calling. After marriage 
he rented a mill at F.airfield, and he subsequently 
erected a brick building, in which he conducted the 
mercantile business, while at the same time he 
operated the mill. Thence he removed to Huffere- 
ville, where he bought a mill, in which he engaged 
in the manufacture of lumber for years. FLrily 
he sold that property and took up his residence in 



I Miami County, and bought and operated a mill 
there the ensuing twelve years. In 1864 he sold all 

I his possessions in Ohio, and coming to Macoupin 

I County, invested in a farm in North Otter Town- 
ship. There his attention was given to agricul- 

I tural pursuits until death closed his busv life°April 

I 31, 1890. 

Mrs. Snell's mother's maiden name w.as Eliza 
Hnflfer, and she was a native of Lanc.nster County. 
Pa. Her father, grandfather of Mrs. Snell, w.as one 
of the pioneers of Greene County, Ohio, the local- 
ity where he settled being named Huffersville in 
his honor. He purchased an extensive tract of land 
there and improved a water power by building a 
woolen mill, a saw and grist mill and a distillery. 
In addition to carrying on these varied interests 
he superintended the improvement of a farm. The 
maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Stoner. and 
she was a native of Lancaster County, Pa. Both 
she and her husband spent their last years in Huf- 
fersville. Mrs. Snell's mother, who h.as attained a 
venerable age, occupies the home farm with her son 
John. 

Mr. and Mrs. Snell have five children living, 
whose names .are Anna Mary, Emma L., John V., 
Eliza C. and Charles H. Our subject and his wife 
are peo|>le who bear themselves sensibly and up- 
rightly in their intercourse with others, and arc 
always ready with sympathy and practical help to 
aid any who are in trouble, and are valued as 
neighbors and friends in their community. The 
German Baptist Brethren Church finds in them de- 
voted members and true disciples of its faith. 




EMPSEY N. .SOLOMON, one of the old- 
est settlers of the county now living in 
the village of Palmyra, was born in 
Muhlenberg Count3-, Ky., January II, 
His father Lewis Solomon, was born in 
Franklin County. N. C, in 1778, and the 
grandfather of our subject, who .also bore the name 
of Lewis, was a revolutionary soldier in North 
Carolina. The father of our subject was reared 



1821. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



621 



and eriucated in his native county, and had but 
scant opportunities for an education, but being an 
excellent scholar with a special aptitude for 
raatheniiitics, made unusual progress in his studies. 
He resided in his native State until 1813. and then 
accompanied bv his wife aud children, emigrated 
to Kentucky. He bought a tract of timber land 
upon which he paid part cash, but on account 
of the depreciation of currency*, he lost largel}- 
and giving up his property, he emigrated to 
Illinois in 1825, making the entire distance of land 
with one horse attached to a cart, and two pack 
horses (one of them blind), on the backs of which 
a portion of the household goods were packed. In 
this way they made tin; entire journe3-. The male 
members of the family who were old enough, 
walked the entire distance, and they camped by the 
way. 

The Solomon family arrived at Jacksonville, 
November 2, and found it a village of one frame 
house, and three or four log cabins. Fifty cents 
constituted the contents of the family exchequer. 
Tliey moved into a vacant log cabin located near 
where the Duolap House now stands. It had 
neither floor nor door, and the father split clap- 
boards and made them a door which he hung upon 
woollen hinges, and also hewed out puncheons for 
the floor. The land surrounding .Jacksonville was 
owned by the Government and was for sale at ^1.2.5 
per acre; but as Lewis Solomon did not have the 
money, he could not buy. In the spring of 1826 
he rented a tract of land south of .Jacksonville, 
and lived there until 1827, when he settled in what 
is now Macoupin County. North Palmyra Township. 
He built a log cabin which was chinked with chips, 
daubed with mud and had a chimney built of earth 
and sticks. No sawed lumber was used in the con- 
struction of tliis building. The floor was of punch- 
eon, and Mr. Solomon rived the boards of which 
the door was made, and it was hung on wooden 
hinges. The clap-board roof was held in place by 
weight poles. 

At that time deer, wolves, bears and panthers 
were to be found here the former being abundant. 
For }-ears there was no railroad and the [>eople 
lived on the products of their farms. Coffee was 
a luxury which could be partaken of only on Sun- 



day mornings. The mother of our subject used 
to card and spin and his sisters worked at the 
loom, and thus the entire family was clothed. In 
the course of time Alton became quite a market, 
and the settlers took their grain there. Hogs were 
taken to Sc. Louis where they would sell at |!l.50 
to *3.00, dressed weight. 

As improvements came, the father erected a 
dwelling house which was weather-boarded, and in 
it they resided until his death in 1849. He was a 
man of rare good judgment and common sense, 
and at that period in the history of the county, few 
men possessed more business ability tiian he. His 
integritj' and honesty of purpose w.as never ques- 
tioned. He was an active and useful member of 
the Baptist Church, which he joined under the 
mistralion of that noble man and eminent pioneer 
divine. Elder Peck. In February 18-19, he was 
called to part with his wife and he survived her 
only a few months, when, on the 28th of July, he 
passed from life to the realms of eternal rest. The 
maiden name of the mother of our subject was 
Sarah Bowden, and she was born in Franklin 
County, N. C, being the daughter of John Bow- 
den. Lewis Solomon was elected to the office of 
Justice of the Peace soon after the organization of 
the county and many of its legal documents are 
signed with his name. 

"We will now turn to the more direct personal 
history of our subject. He w.as in his fifth year 
when he came with his parents to Illinois, and 
remembers well the incidents of pioneer life here, 
especially his early school life, which was in one of 
the first schools ever taught in this part of the 
county. It was taught in a log house which had 
no window, but a part of a log was taken out on 
one side of the house and a piece of board was 
hung over the opening on a leather hinge, so that 
it could be raised to admit light whenever the 
weather was favorable. The seats were made of 
puncheons and had no desks in front. 

The bo3' assisted his father on the farm and also 
learned of him the shoemaker's trade. After 
doing a days' work on the farm, he would si)cnd 
his evenings on the bench, and bj' making shoes ho 
earned the money to enter the first tract of land 
he ever owneti. It was in the j'ear 1839 that he 



622 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



entered this land which was located on section 20, 
North Palmyra Towiiship. Here he commenced 
-to work when he reached his majority and here he 
settled at the time of his marriage. After a year 
spent upon the new farm, the young couple re- 
turned to tlie old home to care for the parents. 
In the spring of 1850 they returned to their own 
farm, but in 1854, Mr. Solomon placed it in the 
hands of v. tenant and moved to Curaraington, 
now a part of Palmyra, and engaged in the mer- 
cantile business, which he had carried on. with the 
exception of one year, up to the present da}'. 

In the spring of 1855, Mr. Solomon laid out 
the sout,l)ern part of the village of Palmyr.i, and 
during the same year opened a store, the first one 
ever started in Palrajra. He took as his partner, 
J. F. Nifong. He has been extensively engaged in 
farming all the while and has nearly one thousand 
acres of farming and pasture land, besides his town 
property. On the 4th of .June, 1846, he was 
married to Elizabeth C. Newell, a daughter of 
James and Ann Newell. This lady was born near 
Franklin, Ky., and has the foUowiiig children: 
Mary J., wife of Z. C. Ridgway, of Palmyra; 
Sarah A., wife of William C. Martin, who is a 
partner with Mr. Solomon in merchandising; 
George W., Salome F., who married Dr. R. M. 
Wilson, of Lincoln; Cliarles D. ; Minnie F. wife 
of Dr. Marvell Thomas of Gillespie, and Carrie 
Josephine who resides at home. 

The political record of Mr. Solomon begins with 
his vote for Martin Van Buren, and he is and 
always has been a Democrat. During the late 
Civil AVar, he was a stanch supporter of the 
Government, and .assisted in raising a company for 
the suppression of the Rebellion. He was appoint- 
ed Assessor for the county in 1843, and soon after 
was elected School Director, and served as Super- 
visor several terms until in 1878, he declined 
further service in this line. He served as Scliool 
of South Palmyra Township for twenty-two years. 
He is a member of Palmyra Lodge No. 463 F. & 
A. M. and joined ihe Masons in 1849, he was made 
a Mason at the Mount Nebo Lodge No. 70. Mr. 
and Mrs. Solomon are members of the Christian 
Church with which they united themselves in 1867, 
and their oldest daughter belong to the same 



chuich. Our sul>ject was the first Postmaster of 
Palmyra and served in this capacity until the 
breaking out of the war. The social success of 
Mr Solomon is the natural sequence of his genial 
nature and the prosperity which has attended his 
efforts is the result of integrity and honesty rather 
than a love of worldly gain. 



'iJOHN C. GIBBS, an active and progressive 
farmer residing on section 23, North Pal- 
myra Township, is the son of a sturdy and 
honorable Englishman, John C. Gibbs, who 
was born in Yorkshire, England. The mother of 
our subject was Ma;y Ward, who was born in 
Yorksliire and married in her native county. Mr. 
and Mrs. (iibbs emigrated to Canada, many years 
ago and in 1835 settled in what is now Scott 
County, 111., but their home in the new country was 
not to be long undisturbed as the father was 
snatched away from the household, leaving his 
widow with four children to rear and educate. She 
was a faithful and judicious mother and brought 
them up in liabits of industry, economy and thrift, 
and d3'ing in Winchester, this Slate, iu 1872, left 
them the inheritance of her worthy example. 

The subject of this sketch was the youngest of 
this household and was born in Toronto, Can.ada. 
January 28, 1835. He passed the early years of 
his life on a farm until the age of fourteen years, 
when he learned tlie trade of a wagon and carriage 
maker, at which he served for three years. After 
completing his apprenticeship he worked at his 
trade for others for a number of years, and then 
opened a shop in Milton, Pike County, this State. 
At the breaking out of the war this young man, 
not enjo^'ing the privilege of being born in this 
land of freedom, felt that he must fly to the defense 
of his adopted country, and enlisted August 12,1862, 
in Company I, Ninety-ninth Illinois Infantrj-, 
spending about three years in the service. He took 
part in the battles of Hartsville, Vicksburg, Cham- 
pion Hill and other important engagements. He 
was slightly wounded at Vicksburg in tiie neck 
and at another time was seriously wounded in the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



623 



left foot. Upon being discharged from the army he 
returned to Winchester and for a short time fol- 
owed his trade, but he had decided to taiie an interest 
in agricultural affairs and engaged a farm in 8cott 
Count}' upon which he resided until 18611. 

Since that time Mr. Gibbs has been a resident of 
North Palmyra Township, and has followed farm- 
ing, making himself a successful and thorough agri- 
culturist. He owns about two iiuntlred acres, 
upon which he has made improvements. He was 
mirrled in North Palmyra Township, March 12i 
1871, his vvife being Mary M. O'Neal, a daughter of 
Lewis L. and Elizibsth (Crum) O'Neal. !Mr. 
O'Neal was born in Biuibon County, Ky., and his 
wife was a native of Clark County, Inl. After 
their marriage in Morgan County, III., they resided 
there for a few months only and then settled in 
North Palmyra Township, where they lived until 
his death, March '^S, 1854. They had six children, 
of whom Mrs. Gibbs is the third in order of age. 
She was born in North Palm^-ra Township, Decem- 
ber 20, 1842. 

Two children only came to bless the home of Mr. 
and Mrs. Gibbs: James M. and a little one who died 
in infancy. The subject of this sketch is an active 
and useful member of society and he has efficiently 
filled the office of School Director. He and his 
valuable wife are both earnest and active Christ- 
ians, he being connected with the Christian Church 
and his wife with the Presbyterian bod}-. Mrs. 
Elizabeth O'Neal who is the mother of Mrs. Gibbs, 
will be written of more fully elsewhere in this 
volume. 



4^^ AMUEL J. HAYS. The owner and resi- 
^s^^ dent of the farm located on section 34, 
(||i£_lj) North Otter Township, is he whose name is 
above. His father was Samuel Hays, who 
w.as born in Martin County, Ind., July 5, 1812. 
He continued to live in bis native State and county 
until he arrived at nineteen years of age, when he 
removed to Macoupin County, being one of the 
early settlers in the State. At that time the peo- 
ple in Illinois were scattered and the present me- 
tropolis of the State was only an airy figment in 



the brains of traders who passed through the coun- 
try along the lake. 

While yet a young man Samuel Hays took tp 
himself a wife from among the maidens in his 
adopted State. His wife's name was Rebecca (Mo- 
len) Bond. She was a daughter of Aquiila Molen, 
of Kentucky, and the widow of Joel Bond. Mrs. 
Hays was born in Virginia, March 11, 1807. Af- 
ter their marriage they settled in South Otter 
'lownship, but removed to No''tli Otter Township 
in the fall of 1848, where the}' have since resided. 
Mrs. Hays died early in October, 1887. They 
had four children, three sons and one daughter. 
Our subject was the third child. His birthplace was 
South Otter Township, and his natal da}', Novem- 
ber 10, 184u. The years that intervened between 
his coming into the world and the lime he reached 
his majority were passed as were the days of the 
average pioneer settler. He lived with his parents 
until he was married. 

Our subject learned the blacksmith's trade, but 
farming has been his chief occupation and his at- 
tention has been almost exclusively devoted to the 
improvement and culture of the one hundred and 
fifty-eight acres that his farm on section 34 includes. 
He was married in Carlinville, March 24, 1864, to 
Miss Ellen F. Shores. She is a daughter of Jon- 
athan and Marinda (Jennings) Shores. Her pa- 
rents came from Tennessee and settled in Macoupin 
County about 1859, selecting North Otter Town- 
ship as the place of their abode. There the mother 
died ; the father passed away in Mai ion County, 
this State. 

Mrs. Ellen F. Hays was born in Wilson 
County, Tenn., January 4, 1847. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hays are the i)arents of ten children. The eldest 
died in infancy; Mary E., is the wife of James 
Swift; Eli married Miss N. Seymour; the fourth 
child died in infancy; Thomas J. died at the age 
of nineteen; Charles E. and William E., were twins, 
the former dying in infancy; the next child also 
died in infancy; the two youngest are George E. 
and Herby H. Mrs. Ellen F. Hays died in North 
Otter Township April 18, 1888, having filled the 
sacred office of wife and mother most graciously 
and having been an example of patience and un- 
selfishness to her friends. 



624 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RPXORD. 



Mr. Ha}s was again nianied, January 6, 1889. 
His second wife was Miss Marinda M. Lowdermilk, 
a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (lienlie^') Lowder- 
milii. Mrs. Marinda M. Hays was born in Ten- 
nessee, May 3, 1847. One child has been the out- 
come of this union — Albert Ray. The present 
Mrs. Hays has conscientiously and lovingly taken 
the place of mother to the children that were be- 
reft of their maternal jjarcml. 

Mr. Hays takes an active interest in political 
affairs and is a follower of the Democratic l>arty, 
finding its platform consonant with his own ideas 
of equity and justice. Under ids party he has held 
several minor offices, having been Justice of the 
Peace for fourteen consecutive years. He also has 
been Highway Commissioner for six years and has 
satisfactorily discharged the duties of School Trus- 
tee and Director. Our subject with his wife is a 
member of the Missionary Baptist Church. He 
was the first ordained Deacon of the Union Baptist 
Church in North Otter Township and lu.s been 
Clerk of that body ever since its organization. 



^ 



^ 



^i(®j\INCENT SMITH, who for many years fol- 
\ // lowed general farming, but is now living a 
^y' retired life, is the owner of a pleasant home 
and valuable property situated on section 14, Bun- 
ker Hill Township. He v/as born in the city of 
London, England, June 7, 1808, and is the only 
child of Vincent and Hannah (Ridgley) Smith. 
The family is only three generations removed from 
the crown, and upon their coat of arms is inscribed 
the stag and seven stars. An uncle of our subject 
was Lord Mayor of London for some years, and 
other prominent positions have been filled by his 
relatives. The father of our subject died when 
the latter was only three years of age, after which 
the mother crossed the Atlantic to America in 
1816, sailing from Bristol to Boston, Mass., whence 
she afterward removed to Baltimore, Md., where 
her death occurred in the prime of life about two 
years later. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith were mem- 
bers of the Episcopal Church. 

After the death of his mother, Mr. Smith lived 



with an uncle in Maryland for some years, during 
which time he arrived at man's estate. Shortly af- 
terward he started out to seek his fortune, and 
went to Yellow Springs, Ohio, where he spent a 
few years. He then came to Illinois, locating in 
Warren County, and a short distance from Mon- 
mouth, developed a good farm. It was during his 
residence in that county that on the 25th of Jan- 
uary, 1840,- Mr. Smith led to the marriage altar 
Miss Rhoda Bird, who was born December 19, 1824, 
in Massachusetts, and is a daughter of Lemuel and 
Rhoda (Ridgley) Bird. Her father was a native of 
Dorchester, Mass., but her mother was born in Will- 
shire, England, and when sixteen years of age came 
to America with her parents, Thomas and (Cross) 
Ridgley. who were also natives of Willshire. They 
embarked from Bristol upon a sailing-vessel, and 
after eight weeks reached Boston. They settled in 
Medford, where later Miss Ridgley gave her hand 
in marriage to Mr. Bird. With her husband and 
her parents she came West. Her father died in St. 
Louis, Mo., at the age of eighty-four years, and 
Mrs. Ridgley spent her last days in Warren County, 
dying when well advanced in years, being seventy- 
four 3 ears old. This worthy couple were mem- 
bers of the Methodist Church, and were highly 
respected people. From Warren County*, Mr. and 
Mrs. Bird came to Macoupin County, where the 
former died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. 
Smith, in 1870, at the age of seventy-two 3'cars. 
His wife also dying at the home of Mrs. Smith, 
aged ninet3'-two years, three months and three days. 
She was wonderfully preserved for a person of her 
age, being as bright and active as she was when in 
the prime of life. Her eyesight had never failed 
her in the least, and she yet had perfect use of all 
her f.o.culties. She was a member of the Congrega- 
tional Church, to which Mr. Bird also belonged. 
Her father was an Episcopalian in religion, but at 
the time of the persecution of the Wesleyans in 
England, he became a Methodist, and erected a 
church upon his farm, which church is still stand- 
ing. He had eleven children, as follows: George, 
John, Thomas, Rhoda, William Stephen, Robert, 
Eliza and Richard, and three died in infancy. 

Our subject and his wife began their domestic 
life in Warren County, whence they came to Ma- 






''M 




^^ 



^.^Aeyi. U-^t^J^-t-j^c 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



G27 



coupin County, and upon tbeir present farm they 
have now resided for forty j-ears. Unto them have 
been horn twelve children, but six of that number 
are now deceased: Ella M., Lucy and Anna, died 
in childhood; Cluilus, Ilattie and Marj-, all died 
after they had attained to mature years; Mary 
E. becarao the wife of Henry Parker, and died five 
months after iier marriage; Stephen, tiie eldest of 
the surviving children, is extensively engaged in 
farming in Franklin, Iowa; Ilaney ^'. is at home; 
Hannah is the wife of John Boswell, a farmer of 
Si"'o\.'.in, III.; Katie E. is living with an uncle in 
St. ijouis. Mo.; Lemuel B. is now in Jlonnioutli; 
and Edward L., who comi)!etcs the faniilj' is at 
home. Mr. and Mrs. Smith and their children are 
members of the Methodist Cimrch, and lake a 
prominent part in the work and in its upbuilding. 
He has served as Steward, Trustee and Class-Leader. 
A warm friend of temperance, he supports the 
party which has t.aken a pronounced slan<l in its 
favor, and votes with the Pruhibitionisls. True to 
his convictions of right and wrong, he has lived so 
that the confidence of the community is accoi'ded 
him and he has won the good will and good wishes 
of his many acquaintances and frienils. 

, ETER KEPLINGER. Among the old resi- 
dents and vvorlhy citizens of Honey Point 
^ Township is Peter Keplinger, who was born 
in Washington County, Tenn., August?, 
1815. His grandfatiier, Jacob, removed to that 
county from Pennsylvania, and buying timber land 
for a farm became a jiioneer and resided in Tenne- 
ssee until his death. He had a son John who came 
to Illinois witli his wife, Elizabeth Rubel, to whom 
he was united in marriage December 18, 1806, and 
with them they brought their nine children. They 
came overland with five horses attached to one 
wagon and four hoiscsto nnother, and in addition 
had a one-horse gig. They journeyed slowly, 
camping out on the way and after several weeks 
arrived in Morgan County-. 

John and Elizabeth Keplinger were the parents 
of ten children, of wiiom our subject was fifth in 




the order of birth. He was fifteen years old when 
he came to Illinois, and lie had enjoyed but scant 
opportunities for obtaining an education and school 
advantages were still poorer in tiie new home. The 
family spent some time in Morgan County and then 
came to a i)oint near Jacksonville. The settlers 
gatliered around the edges of the timber, reserving 
the prairie for grazing purposes, as it was not then 
known that the prairie land was good for farming. 
Peter Keplinger remained at home and worked for 
his father until he was twenty-one and then began 
life on his own account. 

The marriage of our subject to Miss Sarah E. 
Harris was celebrated Fel)ruary 28, 1839. She was 
also a native of East Tennessee, being born in Eliza- 
bethtown. Carter County. May 10, 1820. Her 
father, Benj.imin Ilariis, was a native of Maryland 
and a soldier in the War of 1812. Her mother, 
Mary Ragan, was a Virginian, wliose father, Jere- 
miah Ragan, had been one of the Revolutionary 
heroes. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kei>linger had brothers 
who served in the Black Hawk War. Primitive 
housekeeping was "all the rage"' iti those da\s and 
homemade furniture was most popular. By indus- 
try and economy the young couple gathered to- 
gether enough money to purchase some land. L'pon 
it they moved in the fall of 1843, jiut up a little 
log house and began breaking the land. 

The nearest market in those days was Alton, and 
to this place ]\Ir. Kei)lingcr hauled his wheal and 
oats, selling the former fc)r forty cents, and the lat- 
ter for ten cents a bushel. Flouring mills were 
scarce, the nearest one being at Edwardsville. 
There was a rude kind of horce mill which was 
nearer but it tiirncil out a black looking substance 
which no housewife now-a-days would thinic of 
making into bread. Our subject has braved the 
hardships of a pioneer life, and has lived to see the 
countr}' dotted over with farm houses of architect- 
ural beauty, to see first-class flouring mills in every 
town in tlie county, and to find a good home mar- 
ket for every kind of farm produce. His first log 
house was of crude material and structure and he 
rived boards to cover its roof. 

Money was verj' scarce then and almost ever}'- 
thing had to be obtained by barter. Just before 
coming to the new home he had sold a pair of 



628 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



three-.year- old steers for $7.50 each, and when a man 
offerotl to go to a sawmill to get boards wiiich Mr. 
Keplinger needed he pulled out his pocket book 
and the neighbors were astonished at the sight 
of ^5515. 00. Such a large amount of ready cash 
was notable indeed, and he was called the moneyed 
man of the neighborhood, intone time a brother- 
in-law was hard beset to raise the nione}- to paj' his 
taxes. He had grain but there was no sale for that 
in the neighborhood. He finally traded some oats 
for pigs which he was able to dispose of to Mr. 
Keplinger for cash and thus obtained the where- 
withal to pay his taxes. For many years the peo- 
ple lived almost entirely upon the products of 
their farms and the women spun and wove and 
made all the cloth that w.as used in the family. 

Mr. Keplinger lost liy deatli the wife of liis youth 
August 30, 1887. His second marriage took place 
March 1, 1888, when he was united with Mrs. Par- 
thcna (Clark) Crowder. She was born in Randol[)li 
County, N. C, June 3, 1826, and is a daugh- 
ter of Joseph and Sarah (Johnson) Clark. Mrs. 
Keplinger's paternal grandfather, Robert John- 
son, was a farmer and carpenter who rettioved 
from Nortli Carolina to Tennessee and there pur- 
chased a farm upon which he spent his last years. 
Mr. Clark died in 1827, leaving his widow with a 
family of small children. She removed to Knox 
County, Tenn., and died there in 1839. These 
doublj' orphaned children bravely kept together 
until all were grown, when they secured for them- 
selves homes of their own and entered successfully 
upon life's duties. Mrs. Keplinger early learned 
to spin and weave flax, cotton tow and wool, and 
for many years all the cloth used in the familj- was 
made by herself and her sisters. In 1850 the fam- 
ily removed to Illinois and settled in Macoupin 
County, where she resided with her brothers until 
her marriage in 1854 to Mr. Mark Crowder. 

That gentleman was one of the thoroughly self- 
made men of Carlinville, who at the age of nine- 
teen started out in life for himself, determined to 
have a thorough education. After attending the 
common schools he entered Shurtleff College at 
Upper Alton. He attended here for four years, 
maintaining himself by working at the coopers' 
trade during vacations. For years he followed the 



profession of teaching and was afterward Assessor 
of Macoupin County. He was a private in Com- 
pany A, One Hundred and Twenty-second Illi- 
nois Regiment. He was wounded in the thigh 
at the battle of Parker's Cross Road, and 
being disabled from further duty, was discharged 
February 3, 1864. After returning home he en- 
gaged in mercantile business and was then elected 
City Marshal. Parthena C. Clark was his second 
wife and she bore him four children, all of whom 
have passed away. 

Peter Keplinger has two children living: J-mes 
T. and Sarah Ellen. The son married Sarah Entri- 
can and has seven children: Etfie, William, Peter, 
Luther, Clara, Mabel and Millie. The daughter is 
the wife of Luther J. Wilder, :ind has live children : 
Meldrum, Newton, Ethel, Earl, and Pearl, the last 
two being twins. James T. was a soldier in the 
Thirtieth Illinois Infantry and was with Sherman 
in his celebrated march "from Atlanta to the Sea". 
Another son, John, served in the First Marine 
Brigade of Illinois Volunteers. After one year's 
service he was taken down with the consumption. 
His father brought him home from the hospital and 
sent him to Minnesota hoping that this would re- 
store his health, but all was in vain. While Mr. 
and Mrs. Keplinger were living in Morgan County 
they became connected with the Methodist Church 
and now belong to the church in Carlinville. The 
main elements that have entered into Mr. Keplin- 
ger's success are untiring energy and industry. 
His character has never been tarnished by any acts 
of dishonesty and he bears a reputation of strict in- 
tegrity. He has contributed largely to the progress 
and growth of the county, and as such a man we 
are pleased to record his name and present his por- 
trait to our readers. 

- . ,s .''^riS-g-^i e , ... 



^^EORGE KLAUS. The name that heads 
111 ^' ^'"^ sketch is that of an estimable, German- 
^y^JI American townsman who, though deceased, 
still lives In the deeds that redound to his honor 
and credit. At the time of his death he was the 
proprietor of a farm located in Nilwood Township. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



629 



Since liis decease his son and namesake, George 
Klaus, has operated tiie farm in tiie interest of tlie 
widow, and so well has the young man sustained 
the methods employed by his father in the manage- 
ment and arrangement of their agricultural inter- 
ests that there is no perceptible difference in the 
])roductions thereof. 

Our subject was a native of Alsace, Germany. 
He came to America about 1853 and first located 
in Louisville, Ky., where he remained about two 
years and tlicn came to Springfield, 111., where be 
followed his trade, which was that of a shoemaker. 
This trade he had learned in the old country and 
until the time of his emigration hitiier had em- 
ployed it there to gain his daily bread. He was mar- 
ried in Springfield to Theresa Netz. in 1855. The 
lady is a native of Baden, Germany. After their 
marriage they settled in Auburn, this State, where 
our subject worked at his trade two years and then 
came to Nilwood again following his trade for five 
years. He then turned his attention to farming, 
which calling lie pursued until the time of his 
deatti, which occurred in Nilwood Township in 
1884. 

Mr. and Mrs. Klaus were the parents of nine 
children whose names are as follows: Charles; 
George was marrieil February 22, 1891, to Miss 
Lena Bheme and lives in Nilwood Township; 
Emma, Kate, Mary, Frank. William, Walter and 
Albert. The father with characteristic German 
thrift, built a comfortable and cozy home upon his 
farm, which comprised at the time of his death 
two hundred and sixty acres. Most of the children 
have arrived at years of maturity and have gone 
out into the world to b.altle for themselves. Charles 
took to wife Miss Emma Keune and is a resident 
of Nilwood Township; Emma is tlie wife of Fer- 
nando Winter, a son of Fernando Winter, of Car- 
linville Township and is a resident of South Otter 
Township; Mary is the wife of William 8. Talley, 
.and is also a resident of Nilwood Township. 

The widow of our subject was the loving hclp- 
mtite and co-worker of her husband, gifted with a 
strong physical constitution and having clear and 
bright perceptions. Her opinions and estimates 
were seldom in error, and she has been by her 
economy and prudence one of the main sources of 



Mr. Klaus' success in life. She is, as she should be. 
still the head of the family, and her sons and 
daughters, who have a sincere affection and pride 
in their mother, m.ay well look back upon the paren- 
tal care that she has bestowed upon them and 
call her blesseiL 



l^EV. LEBIN L. HARLAN is one of the 
H pioneers of 1840, at which date he emi- 
Ji\\\ gr.ated from the Blue Gr.ass State and lo- 
cated at Cavlinville. He w.as born in Barron 
County, Ky., now Monroe, March 19, 1812, being 
a son of the Rev. George B. and Mary Ann 
(Kelly) Harlan. Tlie parents were n.'Uives of Vir- 
ginia. The pfiternal grandfather of our subject 
was .Tohn Harlan, whose early life was spent in 
Maryland, and who, after some years' residence 
in Virginia, became one of the early settlers in 
Kentucky. 

The subject of these paragraphs was reared on 
a farm and obtained such an education as the 
schools of the neighborhood afforded opportunity 
for. In 1830 he married Eliz-ibetti Smith, a na- 
tive of Kentucky, who shared his fortunes until 
1866, when she bade adieu to the scenes of time 
and sense and entered into rest. She had had ten 
children, three born in Kentucky and the others in 
this State. Eight of the sons and daughters lived 
to years of maturity, and of them we note the 
following: George died in Chesterfiebl; Margaret 
Huldah married Samuel Cramer and now resides 
at T.aylorville; AVdIiam died near Chesterfield; 
Mary, who was a teacher for many years, Ijreathed 
her last in this neighborhood; Sarah married Jo- 
siah Harlin .and died in this county ; Harriet, who 
became the wife of .Tames Marshall, died in Ohio; 
John F. lives on a farm in Chesterfield Town- 
ship; Alice married .Tames H. Cliristoi)lier and 
lives near Morrisville. Mr. H.arlan w.as a second 
time married in 1869, his bride being Mrs. Sarah 
Nix, nee Smith, who died ten years after their 
union. 

When Mr. Harlan came to this county he lo- 
cated in Carlinville and for a time sold g<>Oi;s, but 



630 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



later engager! in fanning. At a still later period 
Le was engager! in tiie sale of merchandise at Ches- 
terOeld, but for a short time onl}-. He bought a 
farm in Chesterfield Township and made all the 
iminovements. It consisted of two hundred acres, 
and ."Mr. H.i'lan still owns one hundred and twent}', 
on whicli his son John resides. He ;:lso has prop- 
erty in the village of Chesterfield, and, having re- 
tired from active life, he makes his home in the 
village. 

Like'his father before him, the Rev. L. L. Har- 
lan is an earnest Methodist, and since 1840 be lias 
preached the Gospel. His labors have chiefl3- 
l)een as a local preacher, but for a few years he 
was an itinerant in Christian County. All the 
members of the family belong to the same church 
as himself. He is a faithful publisher of Oospel 
Tidings and by his example as well as his pre- 
cepis he inculcates a faitii in Christianity that 
has an important bearing on society. He was 
reared to believe in the principles of the Whig 
party and cast his first ballot for Henry Clay. 
When there seemed no further use for the old 
clement, new issues having arisen, he was one of 
the organizers of the Republican party in that sec- 
tion of the country in which he lived. He is a 
friend of prohibition and a strong advocate of 
temperance principles. His upright and active 
life entitles him to respect, and his usefulness dur- 
ing half a century in this county is unquestioned 
by its people. 



--S.V- 



[^ENRY D. O'NEIL, Sheriff of Macoupin 
County, is an able and trustworthy official, 
well-adapted in every respect for his pres- 
ent position. He is a native of Carlinville, 
born April 6, 1856, and is the son of the late John 
O'Neil. a former respected citizen of tliis county. 
The father is a native of the Southern part of Ire- 
land, and was a son of Thom.as and Rose O'Neil 
who were both born in the same county .is himself, 
and spent their entire lives there. 

When a young man Joim O'Neil came to Amer- 
ica in search of fortune's favors denied him at 




home. The father of our subject located in Penn- 
sylvania after his arrival in this country, and was 
employed in the construction of the Reading Rail- 
road. At Catawissa he met and married Miss Nancy 
Klingeman, a native of Columbia County, Pa., and 
a daughter of John and Lucy Klingeman, who 
were born in the Keystone State, and were of Ger- 
man antecedents. In 1852 he came to Carlinville, 
and was the first section foreman here on the Chi- 
cago <fe Alton Railway. He was a man of vciy in- 
dustrious habits, and as he was aml)itious to secure 
a home, he carefully s.-^.ved his money, and in 1861 
had enough to buy a tract of wild land near Sliip- 
roau. upon which he built, and he developed a 
good farm in the busy years that ensued. He re- 
sided there until death closi d his useful life June 
30,1879. His good wife survived him until July 
2, 1881, when she too passed away. They were the 
parents of eight children, named as follows: M:iry, 
John, James, Annie, Hugh. Owen, Henry D. and 
Stephen A. D. The family was well represented in 
the late war by John and James, the former serv- 
ing in the Fourteenth Illinois Infantry and the 
Litter in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Ill- 
inois Infantry. 

Thp sul)ject of this sketch remained an inmate of 
the parental home until he was twent3'-one years 
old, and then tcok up his residence at Shipman 
where he remained until tiie fall of 1890. During 
the last ten years that he lived there he was pros- 
perously engaged in the livery business. In his 
official position he has shown himself eminently 
worthy of the trust imposed upon him by his fel- 
low-citizens when they selected him for this impor- 
tant place, as he discharges its duties promptly, 
without fear or favor, and is |)Otent in preserving 
law and ordf^r within bis jurisdiction. 

To the lady who presides over his hospitable 
home Mr. O'Neil was married February 24, 1879. 
Mrs. O'Neil was formerly Miss Mary A. Garvc}-. 
She is a native of Dubuque, Iowa, and a daughter 
of Patrick and Bri(iget Garvey, natives of Ireland. 
Her pleasant wedded life with our subject has been 
blessed to them by the birth of these three chil- 
dren — Maggie, John and Edward. Mr. and Mrs. 
O'Neil are members in high standing of the Catho- 
lic Church at Shipman. They stand well in social 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



631 



circles, and have many warm friends, .is they pos- 
sess in a fuH degree lliosc trails of character that 
indicate true natures and command regard and con- 
iidcnce. 



RANK E. WKIDNER, a successful and gen- 
ial fanner on section 30, of Gillespie 




Township, owns one hundred acres and 
oVevates an additional one iiuudred. He has lived 
on this farm since the spring of 1884 and has in it 
one of the most substantial places in this section of 
the country. He has lived in Uns county since 
1872, coming here at that time from Jersey 
County, where he was born Augus:, 12, 1857. 

John G. Weidner, the father of our subject, came 
as a single man from his Fatherland, Germany, to 
the United Stales in 1852. He settled in Jersey 
County, this State, and there married Miss Chris- 
mothy Lippoldt, who came from Germany when 
she was a young woman. After John G. Weidner 
and his wife had improved a large farm in Jersey 
County, they removed to this county and here 
purchased a large tract of improved land, where 
they now live. For further particulars in regard 
to the family history tlie readier will i)lease consult 
the sketch of John G. Weidner which appears upon 
another page. Our subject grew up on a farm and 
has always been successful in tliis line of work be- 
ing thoroughly alive and energetic, and devoting 
himself largely to the breeding of thoroughbred 

swine. 

Anna C. Keiser is the maiden name of the lady 
who became united with our subject in marriage in 
Montgomery County, this State, in February, 1884. 
She was born in thai county August 16, 1264, and 
is a daughter of Hiram and Mary Keiser. Mr. and 
Mrs. KeTser are now living in Montgomery County, 
which has been their home for many years. They 
have been and still are, successful in agricultural 
pursuits and are now in middle life. 

Mrs. Weidner is a lady of more than ordinary 
capabilities and her reputation as agenialand true- 
hearted neighbor has gained for her the good will 
of every neighbor. She was reared and well edu- 



cated in her native county and has brought to her 
vocation as a wife and mother, well trained facul- 
ties and a thoroughly good and sound judgment. 
Her three children, Mary C, Clara H. L. and 
Henry II., arc being brought up to understanii and 
apply thorough and common sense plans of domes- 
tic and farm life. They are also reared and nur- 
tured in the Christian faith their parents being 
devout and earnest members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Mr. Weidner takes an intelli- 
gent interest in public affairs and his political 
views are in accordance with the doctrines of the 
Republican parly. 



^ 



^S^ICHARD R. R.\GAN, a prominent resident 
"'^'^ of Palmyra Township, lirst saw the light 
in Sevier County, Tenn., September 3, 
_ 1828. His father, Joshua Ragan, was a 
native of the Old Dominion, but went to Tennes- 
see when still a young man, and was there married. 
He was by trade a gunsmith and wood turner, and 
found occu|)ation in this calling. He resided in 
Sevier County until 1831, when he removed to 
Missouri, and made his home thereuntil the winter 
of 1835-36, when he removed to Illinois. He re- 
mained a few months in St. Clair .County, and in 
June of 1836 he came to Macoupin County and 
bought a claim in what is now Bird Township. 

At that time Macoupin County was very sparsely 
settled and deer were plentiful. The settlers were 
familiar with this animal, who often browsed on 
the hazel brush near the door of the cabin. There 
was no railroad in that part of the country, and Al- 
ton was the nearest market for some years. It was 
ditlicult to obtain first-class agricultural imple- 
ments and they used shovel and wooden muldboard 
plows. Only a few acres of his land was under 
cultivalion, and there were no buildings upon it. 
He hastily constructed a small cabin which served 
to shelter them from the weather, and the nest 
year built another adjoining it, thus furnishing 
comfortable accommodations for the household. 

Five years later Mr. Ragan sold the farm which 
he first took, and went to what is now North Pal- 



632 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



myra an 1 rented land for three years, and in 1844 
bouglil eighty acres of land in Pkut Township. 
Upon this was a hjg cabin, and a few acres of it 
were improved and he resided there nntil 1856, 
when he made his liome in Missouri, settling in 
riielps County. Tliere he remained until after the 
dt-ath of his wife, after which sad event he made 
his home with his children for the remainder of his 
earthly career. The maiden name of the wife of 
Mr. Ragan was Jane Ihiskey; she was the daughter 
of James and Jane Iluskey who were natives of Vir- 
ginia and Tennessee. Mrs. Ragan is supposed hv her 
children, to have been born in Virginia, and she 
died on the home farm in Phelps County, Mo. Ten 
children constituted Ijer family, nine of whom she 
reared with careful and watchful solicitude to years 
of maturity. 

The subject of this sketch was but three years 
ol<l when his parents removed to Missouri, and was 
in his eighth year when they came to Macoupin 
County. He remembers with lively interest many 
incidents of pioneer life in Illinois, and tells how 
in those d.ays before reapers were known the grain 
was cut with a cradle, and loves to recount the 
good day's work which his father could do with this 
primitive reaping machine. He resided with his 
parents until he reached the ago of twenty-two, af- 
ter which he undertook the profession of a teacher, 
and presided at, the desk for some eight years. Af- 
ter marriage he bought his father's farm in Barr 
Township, where he carried on farming until 1865. 
The military career of Mr. Ragan began in 1865, 
when he enlisted February 8, in Company B, Sixty- 
second Illinois Infantry, joining the regiment at 
Pine Bluff, Ark., and serving for one 3'ear in that 
State and the Indian Territory. With the other 
members of his regiment he was honorably dis- 
charged in February, 1866. After returning home 
he sold his farm in Barr Township, and purchased 
another in South Palm\ ru Township, and there 
farmed until 1877. 

About that time this gentleman dccideii to re- 
move to the village of Palmyra, and in 1878 he 
opened up the hardware business in which he is 
now engaged. His marri.age in 1853, united him 
with Sarah K. Patterson, who was born in Moro-an 
County, III., and died in 1857. His second mar- 



riage in 1858 was with Margaret (Simpson) Patter- 
son, a native of Sangamon County, 111. By his first 
marriage Mr. Ragan has one child, John, who mar- 
ried Emily Story, and is the father of four chil- 
dren, n,amely: OUie, William R., Reuben and Mar- 
garet. His second marriage gave him one daughter, 
Rosa Bell, now the wife of C. P. Angelo, and the 
mother of four children— Florence J., Bird Ella, 
Margaret and Una. The political convictions of 
Mr. Ragan are in accordance with the tenets of tiie 
Democratic party, and his religious belief has 
brought him in connection with the Presbyterian 
Church, while his wife is a member of the Metho- 
dist Ei)iscopal Church. In their church relations 
they are earnest and active helpers in every good 
work, and are most valuable citizens. 



I 




HARLES HOFFMANN. Our subject is 
one of the successful men of Dorchester; 
his business is that of a practical blacksmith 
and a breeder of horses and mules. He came to 
this village October 4, 1860, establishing here a 
business as a blacksmith to which he has devoted 
most of his time and attention, only varying it with 
that of a breeder of horses and mules, which he has 
eng.aged in for the [)ast four years. In this last 
mentioned occupation Mr. Hoffmann has brought 
to bear a knowledge of the physical needs and con- 
stitution of the noble animals that have led to an 
improvement of the stock which has been bred 
U)uler his charge. 

Mr. Hoffman came to the county in 1858 and lo- 
cated first at Staunton where he learned the trade 
of a blacksmith. Soon after this the first call was 
made for three hundred thousand volunteers to 
fight for their country's flag and freedom. Our sub- 
ject soon enlisted in the Fifth Illinois Cavalry of 
Company L, whose captain was E. R. Sparks. The 
regiment was mustered into the service at Spring- 
field and our subject who had enlisted August 2 
1861, was with the regiment .at their first meetincr 
of the enemy in the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark. He 
was a participant in many skirmishes and engao-e- 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



633 



mcnts that continued until the close of the war. 
During bis service iiis regiment w.is confined to the 
"Western Division of the army. For a time Mr. 
Hoffmann served as a detailed blacksmith and later 
as brigade blacksmith, having at tlie same time 
fought at the Yazoo River, where the Union forces 
were defeated, but later whipped the enemy at Ar- 
kansas Post. Our subject escaped unhurt from this 
battle and, except from the exposure incidental to 
army life, he carried away no evil effects of his ex- 
perience, although his mind w.as full of incidents of 
military life. He received an honorable discharge 
at Springfield, 111., September 5, 18C4. He returneil 
to Staunton, Macoupin County, and engaged at his 
trade as a blacksmith. Later he went to Mont- 
gomery County. 

July 3, 1865, Mr. Hoffmann was m.srricd to Miss 
p:iizabeth Houseman. Tlie lady was born in Staun- 
ton. August 2, 1849. She is a djiughler of John 
and Mary (Leonard) Houseman, both natives of 
Byron, Germany, where they were reared and edu- 
cated and after their marriage and the birth of one 
child, they came, early in the '40s, to tlie United 
States, settling at Staunton, where Mr. Houseman 
opened up a smithy, which was the first of its kind 
in the community. He also has the distinction of 
having been the- first German settler in the place. 
Mrs. Housem.an tliere died at tlie age of sixty-five. 
Her husband passed away in Madison County, five 
miles south of Staunton, in 1857. He was born in 
1810 and with his wife had been a member many 
years before his death of the German Evangelical 
Church. 

Our subject was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, 
in 1842. His natal day being September 26. He is 
of pure German blood and is the son of Christian 
and Mary Hoffmann, who were born and reared 
and ended their days in Hesse-Cassel. The father's 
death occurred before the birth of our subject anil 
the widow was left with five small children to care 
for. She was a second time married, her husband 
having tlie same name as that of her first husband. 
Charles Hoffmann and our subject's mother both 
lived and died in their native land. 

The orio-inal of this sketch diil not leave home 
until he was sixteen years of age wlien he set out 
for the United States to make his fame and for- 



tune. He took passage at Bremen on a sailing 
vessel, the "Warsotla," and after a long voyage of 
seven weeks and two days he landed in New York 
City, coming thence to Staunton and afterward re- 
moved to this county where lie has ever since re- 
sided with the exception of one year. 

Mr. Hoffmann and his wife are the parents of 
six children, they are: William H., Charles A., 
Mamie M., Theodore D., Minnie .1. and George E. 
The eldest son has learned his father's trade an<l is 
of great assistance to him in his business. Charles 
A. also assists his father in his smithy. The other 
children are s.t home and are respected as estima- 
ble members of society. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann .are amiable, warm- 
hearted people who have made many friends in the 
county. By their energy and ambition they have 
acquired a competenc.y and have made themselves 
a recognized position in the social life of their 
community. Mr. Hoffmann is a member of the 
Odd Fellows, Travelers' Rest Lodge No. 220, of 
Litchfield. He is a member also of the James Rob- 
inson Post No. 624, G. A. R., of Gillespie Town- 
ship, also a member of the Modern Woodmen. For 
the past two years he has been Township Collector 
and is Mayor of this place. For one year he has 
held a position in the Town Council. In political 
life Mr. Hoffmann has a preference for the Demo- 
cratic party. 



•^^ 

—^^a 



■viJOHN HUBER. The name above is that of 
I the father of one of the industrious, ener- 
getic and intelligent young men of the 
^1/) county who operates the farm winch the 
f.alher origin.ally ownod on section 7, Nilwood 
Township. The parental history is here chronicled 
because it lives in the heart of the son who thinks 
of his f.ather most dutifully .as the author of his 
being, and the kind friend and coimselor of his 
young life. F. B. Huber who rents the farm that 
his father originally owned, of ids mother, has the 
same admirable characteristics that distinguished 
his father as one of the most generous, open hearted 
townsmen iu the township in which he lived. 



634 



rORTKAIT AND BIOGRArHICAL RECORD. 



John Fiiiber was born in Pa.. September 9, 
1833. When but a mere lad liis parents removed 
to Clark C^oiinty, Ohio, where he remained until he 
had arrived at the years of manhood. He was 
reared on a farm and was untainted by influences 
that unhappily are so often found in the village 
life. lie received a common sciiool education that 
fitted him for tlie practical duties of life. 

January 11, 1859, Mr. Huber entered into the 
marital relations, taking to wife for better or 
worse, Miss Anna Snell of Clarke County, Ohio. 
Her natal day was December 23, 1 84 ! . After mar- 
riage the young couple settled in Clarke County, 
where they remained until the spring of 1875 
wiien they removed to Macoupin County, settling 
in Nilwood Township. There onr subject passed 
out of this life July 23. 1883. He was a man of 
exemplary habits, strong personal attractions, and 
was greatly mourned not- only in his own family 
but by the friends and acquaintances that he had 
formed in business life. 

A family of six ciiildren mourn their fatlier's 
loss. They are: respectively: Frank 11, Henry S., 
Amanda A., Anna M., Jacob and Carrie E. A t the' 
time of his death the subject of this sketch was 
the proi)rietor of two hundred and twenty acres, 
which has since been operate! by Mrs. Huber and' 
her sons. The widow has always been a most 
exemplary wife and mothe.-. While her maternal 
instincts have been in the ascendant, since her hus- 
band's death she has sliown a capacity for business 
that is unusual among her sex. S!ie is the wise 
counselor to whom her sons refer on all occasions. 
The father of our subject was Henrv Knber. 
He was a native of Pennsylvania and' died in 
Clarke County, Ohio. His motner was Elizabeth 
(Shank) Huber, also a native of Pennsylvania, and 
like her husband passed away in Clarke County, 
Ohio. Rlrs. Huber's parent's were Jacob Snell, and 
Barbara ( Marchberger) Snell. The former' was 
born in Virginia as was also the latter. They set- 
tled near the line of Clarke and Montgomerv Coun- 
ties at an early day and after a life spent" in use- 
fulness and industry they died at that place. 

Mr. F. B. Huber tlie son of our subject now 
operates tlie farm and keeps it in most excellent 
order. The buildings are in good repair. Their 



residence is attractive and well arranged. The 
farming implements are of tiic latest improvements 
and everything about the place indicates a thought- 
ful oversight that has insured success in the line 
which he has chosen. 



^>'^^VH^t5<^- 



! I I^ILLIAM BAIRD is the owner of a line and 
\m ''■''"■••"P>'ove<' farm of eighty .acres sit- 
, W^ uated on sections 21 and 22, Bunker Hill 
j Township, where he has resided since 1864. He 
has ma.le his home in the county since 1846. com- 
ing here from Crittenden County, Ky., where he 
was born on the 22d of July, 1823. His father 
Simon Baud, was a native of South Carolina and 
' his parents, Hugh and Mary (Gibson) Baird, 
were born on the Green Isle of Erin. When' 
young they crossed the Atlantic to America and 
were married in South Carolina, where for many 
years they made their iiorae. In the Revolu- 
tionary War Hugh Baird served as a faithful mem- 
ber of the Colonial Array and participated in many 
hard fouglit engagements. His death occurred in 
South Carolina, after which his widow with her 
youngest son, James Baird, emigrated to Randolph 
County, III., where she died when past the age of 
eighty years. She was a member of the Covenan- 
ters' Churcli, as was also her husband. 

Simon Baird, father of our subject, was the eld- 
est of three sons, and he and his brothers, John and 
James, are all now deceased. In the usual manner 
of farmer lads he was reared to manhood and when 
he had attained to mature years he was married in 
South Carolina, where his fiist wife died. Subse- 
quently he emigrated to Kentucky, where he was 
united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Mrs. 
Sarah (Masters) Bracy, a native of Pennsylvania, 
and a daughter of Jesse Masters. Her father was a 
Frenchman, her mother born in New Jersey; some 
years after the marriage, they, with their children, 
joined a colony of atjout sixty people wlio in a very 
early d.ay emigrated Westward and settled in New 
Madrid County, Mo. A few years later Mr. and 
Mrs. Masters died there at a ripe old age. It was in 
New Madrid County that Miss Sarah Masters grew 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



635 



to womanhood and married Solomon Bracy, with 
whom slie afterward removed to Kentucky, settl- 
ing in Ciittendeii County. Her liusliand died leav- 
ing four children and in a subsequent year she be- 
came the wife of Simon Baird, by whom she had 
three children: James, who resides in Talmadge, 
Mo., at the age of seventy years; "William, of this 
sketch; and Samuel who resides on a farm near 
Plainview. lie is married and has two children. 
The year 1846 witnessed the arrival of Sirnon Baird 
and his family in Woodburn, Macoupin County^ 
111., where the iiusband and father spent the re- 
mainder of his days. He (lied at the iiome of onr 
subject at the a^;e of seventy -seven years. Mrs- 
Baird survived licr husband some time and went to 
live with her son ,T:,nics in Madison County, where 
she died when passed the age of three score years 
and ten. Both Mr. and Mrs. Biird were members of 
the Methodist Church and were highly respected 
peoiile whose death was sincerely mourned by many 

friends. 

Not unlike the manner in which farmer lads us- 
ually pass their time, William Baird s|)ent his boy- 
hood davs. He was a young man of twenty-two 
years when he came to Macoupin County, and un 
der the parental roof he remained until his marriage, 
which was celeln-ated November 14, 1850, vvhen 
Miss Abigail Jones l)ccame his wife. She is a na- 
tive of Bunker Hill Township, and was born April 
13, 1831, on a farm which she now owns. Iler par- 
ents, Simon and Dorothy (Starkey) Jones, were 
both born in Madison County where they resided 
until after their marriage, when they removed to 
Macoupin County, here making their hom'e until 
called to the home beyond. Mr. Jones, who was 
born in 1811, and was of Welsh descent, passed a- 
way in 1850. His wife who was born in 1812, died 
at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Band, on the 13th 
of September, 1889, in the faith of the Baptist 
Church to which her husband also belongs. They 
were parents of ten children, six of whom are yet 
living and arc married and have families. 

Mrs. Baird is the eldest of the family and in this 
county has spent her entire life. Eight children 
graced the union of our subject and his worthy 
wife, but they lost four. The living are Elizabeth 
F., wife of Charles Wayne, who resides on a farm 



in Morgan County, 111.; Joseph G. who married 
Miss Cornelia A. Adams and is living in Dorsey 
Station, Madison County, where he follows farming; 
Emily A. at home; and Charles A. who wedded 
Miss Minnie L. Adams, who died eleven 
months after her marriage. Edward C. died 
at the age of three years ; Amanda J. at the age of 
three years; Ada F. at the age of thirteen ; and Jesse 
F. was killed by a bolt of lightning when a lad of 
fifteen years. 

Uv. Baird, his wife and chihlren are all members 
of the Missionary Baptist Church of Bunker Hill, 
and are worthy and respected citizens of this com- 
munity, having many warm friends throughout 
the surrounding county. He and all of his sons 
are Democrats. His life work has been farming 
which he has followed with good success. Until re- 
cently he was owner of two hundred acres of tine 
land but a short time since disposed of one hun- 
dred and twenty acres. 

He has a pleasant home, good barn, the largest 
improved machinery and all other conveniences of 
the model farm and his well tilled fields give evi- 
dence of the care and management of a thrifty and 
industrious owner. 



0— APT. J. F. CI 
inent business 
' Bunker Hill. 



APT. J. F. CUMMINGS is one of the [irom- 
less men and leading citizens of 
He is the present Notary 
Public and Justice of the Peace and has a large 
business as an insurance agent, being connected 
with a number of the old and tried lines of life 
and fire insurance. With the business interests of 
this place he has been connected since 1855, and is 
one of the most widely known residents of this 
community. 

The Captain was born in Hillsborough County, 
N. II., January 16, 1835, and is a son of Samuel 
and Hannah (Giddings) Cummings. who when our 
subject was a lad of ten years removed from the 
Granite State to Lawrence, Mass., where the father 
died at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife 
is still living and is yet a resident of Lawrence. 
She has been a life-long member of the Con grega- 



636 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tional ChDicli and is a consistent Christian woman 
wbo has won the love of all who know her. In the 
family were five children two of whom are now 
living. Our subject was educated in the city 
schools of Lawrence and on attaining his majority 
was united in marriage with Harriet Silver, a na- 
tive of tiie Green Mountain Slate, and a member 
of one of the old \'ermont families. Her parents 
spent their entire lives in Vermont and she was 
there reared and educated, going to Massachusetts 
only a few years prior to her marriage. By their 
union have been born five children, but three are 
now deceased— Frank W. and Fred W., twins, who 
died in childhood; and Mattie, who died at the age 
of two years. The living are George W., who 
married Harriet Bishop and resides in Bunker Hill, 
but is a commercial traveler for a wholesale hard- 
ware house of .St. Louis. Mo ; and Allison L., who 
is employed as a. salesman in the leading drug store 
of Bunker Hill. 

Mr. Cummings was one of the boys in blue of 
the late war. In response of the first call of Pres- 
ident Lincoln f«n- scvent\-five thousand troops to 
serve three months, lie with others who liad been 
organized as a local State militia company voted 
to enter the service and were assigned to Company 
F, Seventh Illinois Infantry. Mr. Cummings was 
Captain of tlie militia and held the same relation 
with Company F. This was really the first regi- 
ment organized in Illinois, for the first six regi- 
ments were formed of regular troops who had 
served in the Mexican War. The Seventh Illinois 
Infantry were first sent to Alton, four weeks later 
to Cairo and afterward to Mound City but en- 
gaged in no battles until after the expiration of 
the three months' term. Jlr. Cummings again en- 
listed at the second call for three years' men and 
was once more made captain of his old company. 
With his command he was sent to the Army of the 
West, serving under Gen. Prentice and later under 
Gen. Grant. He participated in many hard fought 
battles, including those of Ft. Donelson, Ft. Henry 
and Shiloh. Just after the battle of Shiloh his 
resignation was received on account of sickness. 
He was one of the most faithful of the Union sol- 
diers, beloved alike by his superior ofHcers and the 
men whom he commanded. He made for himself 



a war record ol which he may well be proud and 
is now an honored member of Dan Messick Post, 
No. 33;», G. A. R.. of Carliuville, and is a member 
and Secretary of the (nion Veteran Union. 

In addition to his business interests already men- 
tioned Capt. Cummings is also connected with va- 
rious other industries and enterprises. He is Sec- 
retary of t!ie Bunker Hill Nail Company, which 
was recently organized and is also one of the stock- 
holders. He is Secretary of the Building, Loan and 
Iloirestead Associjilion and is Secretary- and Treas- 
uz-erof the Bunker Hill Cemetery Association. He 
occui)ies the position of President of the Library 
Association, which was organized in 1867, and has 
filled a number of official positions. Bunker Kill 
had him for her first Mayor after the first city 
charter was granted and he was re-elected to the 
same ollice but declined to serve longer. He was 
for a number of years Clerk of Bunker Hill Town- 
ship, during which time he resided just outside of 
the city limits, where he made his home for thir- 
teen years. He is a stanch Republican in politics 
and has frequently served as a delegate to the 
county and State conventions. He is also num- 
bered among the members of the Masonic Lodge 
of Bunker Hill and no enterprise calculated to up- 
build the community oi promote the general wel- 
fare has failed to receive his hearty suppoit and 
cooperation. He ranks among the most promi- 
nent citizens of this community and his genial 
manner and accommodating ways have won him 
many friends who hold him in high regard. 



Vi 



-m 



?OHN A. LEK. This prosperous and enter- 
I prising farmer came to Macoupin County 
in his youth, where he has since lived. He 
_ was born .Ian nary 15, 1846. His parents 
were George and Mary ( Audns) Lee, both natives 
of Yorkshire, England. They were married in 
Morgan County, 111., February 24, 183.5. To them 
were born three daughters and four sons. Mr. 
Lee, the father, died April 20, 1882, after a resi- 
dence of twenty one years in Carlinville Township, 
to which place he removed after the death of his 



I'ORrEAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



637 



wife, which occurrer! near .Tacksonville, Janiruy 
8, 1855. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lee worsiiipod at the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Our subject received a good education, was earn- 
estly devoted to his studies and was an exemplary 
young man. Immediately uuon leaving school lie 
took up the i)ursuit of agriculture and at the i)res 
cnt time owns, in company with his sister, one 
hundred acres of valuable land in CarlinviUe 
Township. 

The birth|)lace of John A. Lee is identical with 
that of his brothers and sisters, all having been 
born in Morgan County. 111.— Saraii A., born .July 
12, 183G, died April 10, 181)1 ; Thomas, born July 
4, 1838; Elizabeth II., who is the widow of Alfred 
Killam, was born August 8, 1810; George, Novem- 
bers, 1843; Mary J., December 25, 1849; and Will 
iam H., March 19, 185L Of the last two, Mary 
died August 17, 1850, and William H., August 
27, 1854. The father of our subject after tlie 
death of his first wife was married to Mrs. Sarah 
(Leach) Killam. After her death he was married 
to Mrs. Elizabeth (IMason) Bristow, also deceased. 



yrlLLIAM CIIISHOLM is one of the sturdy 
Scotch-American citizens, who, having 
^^ made his home in tlie New World, lirouglit 
hither with him the habits of industry and frugal- 
ity and the iron constitution which is the heritage 
of the Scotch. His father was Robert Chisholm, 
and his mother, Isabella Patterson. The father was 
a shepherd by occupation, and lived to complete 
his ninety-third year. His worthy wife died in her 
eighty-fourth year. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Scotland, 
September 26, 1820. Here he was reared to man- 
hood. Through his boyhood he served as a shep- 
herd boy and herded his sheep. Later he was 
employed on the public works, and afterward cn- 
aaged in fishing on the coast of .Scotland. He re- 
mained in the Northland until 1848, when became 
to America. He landed in New Orleans upon In- 
dependence Day, and made his way to Alton, III., 



where he was employed in assisting the civil engi- 
neers on the Chicago & Alton Railroad. He fol- 
lowed this line of work for a few mouths, and then 
went to Morgan and Sangamon Counties. Here he 
felt much at home for he found beautiful flocks of 
sheep awaiting the service of a shearer. At this 
work he was an expert, and he entered the employ 
of a sheep farmer for several week.s, clipping some 
days over one hundred head of sheep. He was 
also employed upon the faroj. 

This young man now took to himself a wife in 
the person of Sarah Killam. The marriage was sol- 
emnizec^ in Macou|)in County, October 24, 1850. 
The lady was born in Yorkshire, England, Decem- 
ber 5, 1825. He-: father was Samuel and her 
mother Mary (Morris) Killam. They emigrated to 
Mac'oupin County, and there spent the remainder 
of their days. Their daughter was about three 
years old when they came from the old country. 
The subject of this sketch settled near Chesterfield, 
this county, and there he lived for about three 
years. They then made their home on section 7, 
CarlinviUe Tawnshi|>, where they have since been 
residents. The greater part of his life has been oc- 
cupied in agricultural pursuits. 

Mr. Chisholm has a beautiful farm of ninety- 
four acres, upon which he has made good improve- 
ments. He is a thorough and progressive farmer, 
and is ever awake to the interests of the farming 
community. To him and his intelUgenl and worthy 
c )nii)anion have been given four children, whom 
they have reared to maturity and launched upon 
the world. These children have all established 
homes of their own, and are living lives which are 
a credit to their parents and a benefit to the com- 
UMinity in which thoy reside. None of them are 
far removeii from their childhood home: Mary A. 
is the wife of John W. Carson; Isabella is the wife 
of Henry Foltz; Robert A. married Margaret A. 
Killam; f.nd Sarah E. is Mrs. Charles D. Solomon. 
The political views of this sturdy -Scotchman are 
expressed in the platform of the Republican party. 
He takes a quiet but intelligent interest in local 
and national .affairs, and is ever ready to cast his 
ballot for the principles which he endorses, al- 
though quiet in his defense of them. He has oc- 
cupied a position upon the School Board, and is 



638 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



earnest and aggressive in promoting the chicational 
interests of tiie community. The Methodist Kpis- 
copal Church is the ehurcii of liia choice in which 
hoth he and Mrs. Chisholm are active and efticient 
members. 

«^R^- 



^?=^EORGE OSTERKAMP, a worthy citizen of 
(l ^ Honey Point Township, wlio is prosper- 
y^Sl onsly pursuing agriculture within its pre- 
cincts, was born in Hanover, Germany, September 
16. 18,52. lie is a son of Harmon Osterkamp, who 
was a native of the same place and was born in the 
same house that was the birthplace of his father, 
John Osterkamp. The latter was a farmer by oc- 
cupation, and with the exception of serving in the 
French army in 1817, he spent his entire life in the 
land of his nativity. 

The father of our subject was reared and edu- 
cated in Germany and was there married. In ac- 
cordance with the laws of the country he joined 
the army when he was twenty-one years old and 
was honorably discharged at the expiration of his 
term of service. In 1864 he came to America, 
bringing his wife and four sons with him. sailing 
from Bremer Haven and landing at New York. 
From that city the family made their way to Al- 
ton, III., where the father found employment on a 
farm. From there he went to Bond County „where 
hisdealh took place at a ripe age, in October. 187.'j, 
four years after that of his wife. 

The parental family included Bve children- 
John, George, Harman, Fred and Rachel. George 
Osterkamp attended school quite constantly before 
coming to this country. He was then a sturdy, 
self-reliant lad of twelve ye.ars, quite capable of 
supporting himself. He worked out by the month, 
receiving |10 a month for his w.-igcs.and thus con- 
tinued until his marriage. By that time, as he had 
been industrious and had wisely saved his earnings, 
he had the wherewithal to buy a farm and became 
the proprietor of his present homestead which 
comprises eighty acres of land in Honey Point 
Township, on which he resides, and another eighty- 
acre tract across the road in Cahokia Township. 
He has erected a good set of buildings and made 



other improvements, and from his well-tilled fields 
makes a good profit. 

In the upbuilding of this comfortable home Mr. 
Osterkamp has had the assistance of a faithful wife, 
to whom he was married September 15, 1878. 
They have four children, of whom the following is 
the record: Weye was horn August 7, 1879; 
Gratie, April 20, 1882; M.ata, July ^2, 1884; and 
Herman, IMarch 18, 1887. Religiously Mr. and 
Mis. Osterkamp are connected with the Lutheran 
Church, of which they are exemplary members, 
and they are in every respect good neighbors and 
thoroughly Christian people. 

Mrs. Osterkamp's maiden name w.as Mary Weyen. 
She is a native of this State, born in Miidison 
County. December 10, 1855. She is a daughter of 
Weye and Mata (Johnson) Weyon. Her father 
was born in Germany and was a son of Heie 
Weyen. He passed his early life in the Fatherland 
and when a young man came to this country. 
He w.as reared to agricultural pursuits and contin- 
ued to follow farming while he lived. For a few 
years he resided in Madison County, 111., and then 
came to M.-icoupin County, and settled in Cahokia 
Township. lie w.as very successful in his business, 
acquired a l:\rgc amount of land and assisted his 
children to homes. His last years were spent in 
Cahokia Township. His wife survives him and is 
still living on the home farm. She is also German 
by birth and is a daughter of John Johnson. 



y^ILLIAM G. RO.SS is a son of one of the 
early pioneers of this county, which has 
,, „ been his home since his earliest recollec- 
tions, .and for many years has been actively identi- 
fied with the farming community as a practical, 
wide-awake agriculturist, owning and oocupying a 
desirable farm on section 18, South Palmyra 
Township. Mr Ross was born in Sumner County, 
Tenn., December 26, 1827. His father, whose 
given name w.as Robert, was a native of North 
Carolina. He was a son of Reuben Ross, who is 
thought to have been born in Mary Land, and was 
of Scotch antecetlents. He went from his native 



POKTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



639 



State to North Carolina, from there to Tennessee, 
wlieiiee he came to Illinois in 1829, and was one of 
the early settliTS of Morgan Connty, where he im- 
proved a farm, which was his home the rest of his 
life. 

Tlie fattier of our subject was young when his 
parents sought tiie wilds of Tennessee, where he 
grew to a strong and vigorous manhood. He mar- 
ried and resided there until 1829, when he too 
became a pioneer, coming to this Slate with his 
wife and three children, making the removal with 
teams, and camping oy the vrayside at noon and 
night. He first located in Moi'gan County, and 
raised a croi). lie then came to this connty and 
bought a squatter's claim to a tract of Government 
land in South Palmyra Tovvnship. At thai time 
there were but few white settlers within the county, 
and the land, which wss owned by the Govenn- 
ment, and has since been sol;! at prices varying 
from twelve and a half cents an acre to $1.25 an 
acre, was chiefly in its [irimitive condition, while 
deer, wild turkeys and other kind of game were 
plentiful and helped to furnish the table of the 
pioneers with many a good meal, at a time when 
their fare would otherwise have been scant, as they 
bad to live mostlj' on what they could raise on 
their farms. The women spun and wove wool and 
flax, and made all the cloth in use in their fam- 
ilies. 

Mr. Ross resided on his claim three years, and 
then .sold it, and bought the farm on sections 8 and 
9, now owned and occupied by his son in-law, E. 
W. Richie, lie improved the place and resided 
thereon until he closed his eyes in the dreamless 
sleep of death. His flrst wife, the mother of our 
subject, whose maiden name was Elizabeth How- 
erton, was born and reared in Tennessee, and died 
on the home farm in South Palmyra. His second 
wife was Mary Sanfield, prior to her marriage. 

He of whom these lines are chiefly written was 
but an infant when he was brought to Illinois by 
his parents, and he has no remembrance of other 
than his pioneer home here. He attended the 
primitive schools of those days whenever oppor- 
tunity offered. The schools were taught on the 
subscription plan in a log house, furnished with 
seats made by splitting legs, hewing one side 



smooth and using wooden pins for legs. Our sub- 
ject was early taught to make himself useful on 
the farm, and in lime became of great assistance to 
his father. He continued to make his home with 
his father the most of the time until he married. 
In 1848 he engaged with a man to drive a team to 
Texas, a distance of about nine hundred miles. He 
passed through the wilds of Missouri and Arkan- 
sas, and made the journey and reluiu trip in three 
months. 

After he had taken unto himself a wife, in 18G2, 
he settled on a farm in South Palmyra Township, 
that he had [Jieviously liought. He resided there- 
on one year, and then sold it and returned to the 
old homestead of his father. Two years later he 
bought and removed to ilie i)lace he now occupies 
on section 18, South Palmyra Townshi|>. He has 
added to his original imichase at different times, 
and now has two hundred and thirty acres of val- 
uable land, the greater part of it tillage and pas- 
ture land. Here he h-is a well-ordered farm, 
amply provided with buildings, arfd the income 
that he derives from his well- cultivated fields 
shows that he un<lerstands well how to carry on 
agriculture to a good advantage so as to garner in 
good harvests. 

Our subject is blessed with a wife who is a true 
helpmate, and does her share in maintaining the 
[uosperity of the family. She was formerly Mary 
C. Protfltt, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter 
of Daniel and Sarah Protfltt. Her marriage with 
our subject has brought them eleven children, 
naindy — S.irah F., Robert T., John A., Mary E., 
James W., Joseph E., Charles A., Abigail J., Julia 
A., Albert and Morrison R. 






\T/AMES A. McCLURE. The name which 
heads this sketch is well known among the 
citizens of this count}' as being synonymous 
with honesty, integrity and industry, that 
of a man who has done his share towards develop- 
ing the agricultural resources of this section. 
Though he is living retired from active business 
in his pleasant home on College Avenue, CarliU' 



640 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ville, he still owns the fine farm of two hundred 
acres a short distance from the city, whicii origin- 
ally belonged to his father. 

Mr. McCiure is a native of Shelbyville, Bedford 
County, Tenn., where his birth took place April 
12, 1820. His father, who bore the same name as 
himself, was born in Augusta County. Va., and 
was a son of the Rev. Allen McClure who, so far 
as is known, was also a Virginian by birth. He re- 
moved from tliere to Kentucky and was a pioneer 
of Bourbon County. He was a Presbyterian min- 
ister and preached in several places, including 
Paris. His last years were spent in that State. 

The father of our subject was very young when 
his parents took him to Kentucky. He was edu- 
f^ted for the ministry, but as he had no taste for 
til' profession did not pursue it. His marriage 
took place in Jessamine County, Ky.,and after that 
event he removed to Tennessee and engaged in the 
mercantile business at Shelbyville, with br.anch 
stoies at other places. About 1828 he returned to 
Kentucky antf resided in Jessamine County until 
1834, when ho came to Illinois with him his wife 
and twelve children. They started by boat and 
floated down the Kentucky River to Louisville and 
thence went by steamer to Columbiana, III. 

For a period of one year Mr. McClure resided at 
Carrollton, and at the expiration of that time came 
to Macou|)in County. Here lie entered one hun- 
dred and twenty acres of land from tiie Govern- 
ment in Carlinville Township and became one of 
its active pioneers. He erected a double hewn log 
house on his place, and made his home Ih'ir'o, liis 
children improving the farm until after the 'iealh 
of his wife, which occurred in 1844. He then went 
to Washington, D. C, liaving received an a[)point- 
raent from President Polk as clerk of the land 
ofHce. He was reappointed to that position by 
President Taylor, and ably discharged its duties 
until his death in 1849. He was a man of marked 
ability and early became prominent in the affairs of 
Macoupin County. He was Assessoi- for the county 
in an early day, and visited every house within its 
bounds. He also took the census in 1840. The 
maiden name of his wife was Frances Dickerson, 
and she was born in Jessamine County, Ky., a 
daughter of Martin and Rebecca Dickerson. She 



reared a family of twelve children, six boys aud 
six girls. 

Our subject was fourteen years old when he ac- 
companied his parents to Illinois, and remembers 
well the incidents of that memorable journey and 
of pioneer life here. At that time deer, wild tur- 
keys and other game were plentiful, and roamed 
at will over the prairies. There were no railways 
for years, and Alton and St. Louis were the nearest 
markets. The settlers lived off the products of tbefl 
farm and the mother of our subject used to clothe 
her children in cloth spun and woven by her own 
hands. For some time Carrollton, Hillsboro and 
Alton were the nearest milling points. 

Our subject assisted in the improvement of his 
father's farm, and after he attained manhood took 
charge of it and finally purchased it. He resided 
there the greater part of the time until 1883 jind 
so prospered was he in his agricultural operations 
he was then enabled to retire from .active business, 
and has ever since made his home at Carlinville, 
where he is still living surrounded by every com- 
fort that one could desire. 

In 185fi Mr. McClure was united in marriage 
with Hellen Collins, and these five children have 
blessed their h.^ppy union — Charles and Frank 
(twins), Milton, James K. and Kdmoni.a. Charles 
is a graduate of West Point and is now Judge Ad- 
vocate in the Western army; his wife was formerly 
Miss Mae Walker. Frank is a hardware merchant 
and resides in Kane, Greene Countj'; he mar- 
ried Miss Adella King; Milton is an attorney at 
Beardslown; he was a candidate of the Republican 
party for Congress in 1890. He married Miss Rose 
Orwig; James is a law student and Edmonia is a 
teach or. 

Mr. McClure is a man of strong mental calibre 
who has always used his influence in the right di- 
rection to promote the welfare of his community. 
He is pleasant in his intercourse with others, is 
upright and manly in his dealings, and is held in 
high esteem by all as a citizen and neighbor. He 
has always taken an active interest in educational 
matters, and when the free school system was or- 
ganized he was one of the first directors elected. 
In the education of his children he took special 
care, giving them every adv.antage, and has a fam- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



641 



ily of which he may well be proud. Coming here 
when the county was little more tiian :i wilderness 
he lias not onlj' witnessed the great changes that 
have taken place but has had a hand in its devel- 
opment into a rich and prosperous agricultural 
tenter. 

— 1- M ^— 



f/,^ ERBERT II. DE Bl'HR, a successful dealer 
in wines and liquors, claims Germany as 
the land of his birth, lie was born in the 
Kingdom of Hanover, on the 25th of July, 
1850. and is a son of Heie and Anna (.Slaughter) 
De Buhr, who spent their entire lives in Hanover. 
The father came of an old family who had lived 
there for many generations and its members mostly 
followed farming as a nieans of securing a liveli- 
hood. The parents of our subject became quite 
well off and owned a farm valued at more than 
$10,000. Mr. De Buhr, who was born May 8, 1813, 
died on the 8th of December, 1890, having sur- 
vived his wife about five years. She died at the 
age of sixty-five in the faith of tlie Lutheran 
Church, to which he also belonged. Their family 
numbered ten children, five, sons and five daugh- 
ters, all of whom grew to manhood and woman- 
hood and were married, while nine still abide. 
Seven of the number came to this country' and six 
of those are residents of Illinois. One of the sons 
served for three years in the late war and is now 
located in Christian County, 111. 

Herbert De Buhr, our subject, who is the sixth 
in order of birth, spent the days of hi.s boj'hood' 
and youth in his native province and acquired a 
good education in the public schools, being thereby 
fitted for the practical duties of life. In the sum- 
mer of 1867, he secured his passage upon a sailing 
vessel which reached New York City after a voj'age 
of five weeks from Bremen. He was then seventeen 
years of age and hence his entire business career 
has been enacted in this county. He came at once 
to Illinois, having since resided in Mt. Olive and 
vicinitj . For seven j-ears he worked as a farm 
liand and by indnstry and economy saved the 
money necessary to begin business on his own ac- 
count. He now owns one of the finest bars in the 



city and his saloon, situated on the corner of Main 
and Poplar Streets, ij a favorite with the public. 
He lias carried on Inisiness in this line since 1878, 
and thereby has acquired all the property which he 
now possesses. 

Mr. De Buhr has been twice married. In this 
county he wedded Miss Antejc Arkebauer, who was 
born and reared near Mt. Olive and died at her 
home in this villi.age in the autumn of 1882, when 
only twenty-five years of age. At her death she 
left two children, Mary and Henry. Mr. De Buhr 
wa.s again married in this locality, his second union 
being with Anna Thimes, who was born near her 
husband's childhood home in 1864, and when a 
young lady came to this country. Their union 
has been blessed with four children — Willian^ 
John, Anna Amanda and Julia. 

Mr. and Mrs. De Buhr are identified with the 
Lutheran Church and to its sup[)ort contributes 
liberally. He has also been a generous contribn- 
ter to all enterprises calculated to upbuild or bene- 
ft the community and is regarded .is one of the 
leading German citizens of Jit. Olive. In politics 
he is a Democrat hut has never sougiit or desired 
public otHce. 



^£ 




ILLFAM HOUNSLEY. The fame of the 
'/ Prairie State as a desirable home for Brit- 



ish subjects who were desiring to better 
their condition and transfer their families to the 
New World was early spre.ad abroad in England. 
This led many valuable emigrants of the better 
sort to leave their homes in the British Isles and 
to seek the prairies of Illinois. Among these in- 
telligent and frugal emigrants wo find the name of 
William Hounsley, our subject, who was born in 
Yorkshire. England. His father, William Houns- 
ley, Sr., and his mother, Ann Simpson, were worthy 
and intelligent natives of Yorkshire, where they 
lived and died. They had six children in their 
home, of whom our subject was the fourth. 

The Oiie of whom we write was born Ma}' 10, 
1827, and grew to manhood in his father's home. 
He was mainly occupied with work upon a farm, 



642 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



but during the last few 3-ears of iiis stay in Eng- 
land be w;is employed in soaie of the seaport towns 
as a corn porter. In March, 1867, he came to the 
New World with his wife and one child, and made 
his way directly to the Eastern States and to this 
garden of tlie West. He found a home in Polk 
Township, this county, and here he lived for six 
years and industriously managed and worked a 
rented farm. After that he removed to South 
Palmyra Township and took a rented farm for 
seven years. By frugality and industry he had 
carefully husbanded his lesources and was now 
able to purchase a home of his own. In March, 
1881, he bought the farm where he now lives on 
section 1, of Bird Township. 

Tliis fine farm, which is now in a splendid 
stale of cultivation and upon which Mr. Hounsley 
has erected an excellent set of farm buildings, con- 
sists of nearly one hundred acres. Here he devotes 
himself intelligently and perseveringly to the in- 
terests of his farm, carrying on general farming 
and stock-rnising. The great event of his life — 
even more important and influential for good than 
his coming to America — was his marriage in Hull. 
England, to Miss Charlotte Proctor, a daughter 
of Thomas and Ann Proctor, both of Yorkshire, 
England. This lady was born in our subject's 
native town abut the j-ear 1839. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Hounsley have been given two 
sons, who have lived to cheer and bless their par- 
ents, and who are a credit to them ami a benefit 
to the community in which they live. William 
H. was born in England, Xovend)cr 15, 1866, and 
came with his parents to this country. He is now 
a teacher. Thomas P. was born in Polk Township, 
this county, May 25, 1868. Mr. Hounsley is one 
of the Highway Commissioners of the township, 
and has taken an active part in the local affairs of 
the town in which he lives, and also an interest in 
the affairs of the county. In religious matters 
they have ever been alive and active and have 
worked in connection with the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, of which they are members, and 
where he is a Class-Leader and Trustee. The 
maternal grandmother of our subject was Amelia 
Simpson, who lived to the advanced age of nine- 
ty-seven years, and who enjoyed the use of all her 



faculties up to her latest days. She was much re- 
vered and respected and w.ns affectionatel\- known 
as Millie Simpson. 

The father of our subject was a man of great 
devotion to his religious duties. His death was 
caused by a shock he received while leading a 
horse wliich lie had been driving. The l.-orse took 
fright and he was thrown under the wheels of the 
cart, which passed over him. He was carried to 
Goole Hospital, in Yorkshire. He had been fore- 
man many years in Whitgift Hall, but had resigned 
his position previous to his accident. Tiie respect 
and esteem with which this family and especially 
Mrs. Hounsley is regarded as worthily bestowed. 

^ILLIAM M. CHILES, one of the prosper- 
\^f 0"s •I'l'I thorough going farmers of Bird 
W^ Township, makes his home on section 12. 
His father was the late John G. Chiles, a native of 
Virginia, in which State his niotiicr was also born. 
Her maiden name w.as Elizabeth F. Wills. The 
family removed from Kentucky to this county in 
183;3 and settled on the line between North and 
Soutii Palmyra. Here they resided until 1845, 
and then removed to this township. They had ten 
children of whom our subject was the eighth in 
number. The father died in 1853, the mother in 
1875. The f.ather was a soldier of the War of 1812, 
and his father, .Tames Chiles, was a Revolutionary 
soldier. 

William Chiles w.ns born in this county .June 2, 
1834. and lie has alw.ays resided near the old home- 
stead. He has been engaged largely in farming 
and stock-raising. In 1857 he began dealing ex- 
tensively in slock and is now one of the oldest 
shipper to the Chicago market, whilst at the same 
time he has carried on his general farming opera- 
lions. The buildings on his property are complete 
and commodious and are a credit to the township. 
He owns three hundred and thirty-five acres of 
land, which he has in a splendid state of cultiv.a- 
tion. 

IMr. Chiles' first niarri.age took place .Tanuary 6, 
1859. in Greene County, with Miss Mary M. Brad- 



,_^«^?^^ 

'.<^^ 






?8-* 



-^s^ 



\ 











PORTRAIT AKD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



645 



Ic}-, a native of that count}-. She became the 
motlier of six chihiren. George, who marrieii Mat- 
tie Aulabough, and died in Nilwood Township in 
August, 1884 ;Robei't E..wl:o married Miss Ida Bird : 
Lillie E., the wife of George W. Denhy; AVilliam 
M., .Jr., who married Miss Ella Wade; Thomas W., 
wlio married IMiss Eva Adams, and Charles E. Tiie 
motlier of tliese children was an earnest and con- 
scientious member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. She died September 11, 1871. 

The second marriage of our subject was solemn- 
ized in Carlinville. The bride was Miss Christina 
D. Morse, a native of the .State of Missouri. Five 
cliildren have blessed this liappy union, iiamelj": 
Flora M., Walter, Frank S., Grace D., and one who 
died in infancy. In politics Mr. Chiles has ever 
been identified with tlie Republican party, but he 
lias never been an office-seeker, although he has 
served liis township in the office of Assessor. Both 
he and his excellent wife are faithful and eHicient 
members of the Baptist Cluueii, and the family is 
one which is higlily esteemed by all who know 
them. Our subject's brotlier James w.as First 
Lieutenant of Company F, One Hundred and 
Twenty-second Regiment and was in the last en- 
gagement of the Rebellion ; his youngest brother, 
G. W. L. Chiles, died at Camp Butler; the eldest 
brother died at Palmyra, this county. 



\f} AMES M. MILLS. This gentleman is among 
the most public-spirited and enterprising 
citizens of Norlii Palmj ra Township and 
lias a splendid farm witli a fine set of build- 
ings upon section 10. His fatlier. J.nmes Mills, was 
born in New York, and his mother, Sarah Coon rod, 
a native of Virginia, came when a joung woman 
to Morgan County, III., while the State was 3'et a 
Territory. Here she met James Mills and thej' 
were united in the bonds of matrimony. They 
died in what is now known as Scott Couni;y, Mr. 
Mills passing away in 1835, and his widow surviv- 
ing him until March 18, 1883. Si.x children re- 
sulted from this marriage, of whom our subject 
was the second. 



James Mills was born in what is now Scott 
County, this State, October 18, 1827, and there he 
grew to manhood and chose a partner for life's 
joys and sorrows. He was married November 21, 
1850, to Miss Julia A. Pierce, a daughter of Stephen 
and Editli (Lowe) Pierce. He was a native of 
New York and Mrs. Pierce was a Missourian. Their 
daughter Julia was born in Morgan County, this 
State, July 25, 1832. Of her family of seventeen 
children, six died in infancy. Those who lived to 
years of maturity are: James M. Jr., Stephen R., 
George W., Fannie, Eliza, Julia M., Charles A., 
Abram, John W., Sarah E., and Lewis C. Their 
mother died in North Palmyra Township, October 
18, 1882. 

In North Palmyra Township, November 27, 1884, 
Mr. Mills was a second time married. His wife 
was Mrs. Louisa (Solomon) Yowell, a daughter of 
Lewis and Nancy (Fink) Solomon, and a widow of 
Henry II. Yowell. Mr. Yowell died June 15, 1864, 
leaving one child by this marriage, George M. 
Yowell. Mrs. Louisa Mills was born in North 
Palmyra Township, M.ay 3, 1837. Her father, 
Lewis Solomon, was born April 1, 1812, in Ken- 
tucky, and died in North Palmyra Township, April 
1, 1886, expiring upon his birthday. His wife 
Nancy Fink was born in Lexington, Ky., February 
22, 1818, and died September 18, 1863. 

Mr. Mills was reared upon a farm, and agricul- 
ture and stock-raising have constituted the chief 
business of liis life. Upon his farm he has erected 
a nice set of buildings and his land is well im- 
proved. He and his wife together are the owners 
of six hundred and forty acres of as good soil as 
can be found in Macoupin County. He is liberal 
in his religious views and in politics he adheres to 
the doctrines of the Republican party. His son, 
James M. Jr., married Sarah E. Crayne; Stephen R. 
married Minnie Rose; George W. took to wife 
Mary H. Waters; Fannie died August 31, 1880, 
when a young woman of twenty-four years; Eliza 
is the wife of Edmund Coots; Julia M. married 
Palmer Waters, and died March 28, 1884, when 
about tivent^'-five years old. Charlie A., married 
for his first wife Miss Effie Waters, who died July 
6, 1883. His present wife was before her marriage 
with him Mrs. Mary (Willis) Aroett. Abram is 



646 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 




married ami resides in Boise Cit^', Idaho. That this 
family- has resided for so long a lime in Macoupin 
County has proved an advantage in every way to 
tlicir neighbors and to the prosperity of that sec- 
tion of country. 

In connection with tliis biographical notice a 
lithographic portrait of Mr. Mills appears on an- 
other page. 

-^m 

\ENJAMIN F. SILSBY, a retired farmer re- 
siding at Carlinville, is a native of this 
State, coming of sturdy pioneer stock, 
his parents settling in Illinois in early 
times. He was born in Greene County September 
5, 1830, the fifth child in the family of six children 
of Enos and Fannie (Baker) Silsby. They were 
natives of Vermont. In 1828 they came Westward 
and located in the wilds of Greene County. When 
our subject was about eight years old thej' removed 
to Jersey Count}', where the father carried on his 
occupation as a farmer and there the remainder of 
his life was passed, his death occurring January 21, 
1842. The mother 'spent her closing years in 
Macoupin County, dying August 27, 1877. 

Tue subject of this biographical review grew to 
manhood amid the pioneer scenes of Jersey County 
and was educated in the common schools. He 
early gained a sound practical knowledge of farm- 
ing and chose that calling as his life work, making 
it his chief vocation until retirement from active 
business. In 1860 he took up his residence in this 
county, locating in the western part of Cliesterfield 
Township, near Summerville. He lived there until 
after his marriage in 1864, then he and his wife be- 
gan their wedded life on a farm in Bird Township, 
pleasantly situated four miles west of Carlinville. 
Mr. Silsby devoted his energies to the cultivation 
and improvement of his land, and in due time 
made of it a good farm. It is still in his posses- 
sion and from its rental he derives a goed income. 
It comprises two hundred and eighty acres of 
choice land, and is amply provided with all the 
necessary buildings. So successful was our subject 
in the management of his affairs he was enabled to 
retire from agricultural pursuits with a comfortable 



competence v.dien yet scarcely past tlie meridian of 
life, removing from his farm to Carlinville, in the 
spring of 1881, where he has since resided. 

To the wife who has been so important a factor 
in bringing aliout his prosperity Mr. Silsby was 
married June 8, 1804. Mrs. Silsby, whose maiden 
name was Rebecca Palmer, is of New England 
birth and antecedents. Vermont is her native State 
and she was born September 28, 1834. Her marriage 
with our subject has brought them three children, 
of whom Fannie O. is the only survivor. Edward 
E. died when three j'ears of age, and Thirza died in 
infancy. 

Our subject's character and life-record are such 
as to commend him to the respect and confidence 
of his fellow-citizens. He is a sincere Christian, 
carrying his religion into his every-day life, and 
an active member of the church, and of all things 
that will in any way tend to elevate the status of the 
comraunit}'. Both lie and his wife are members of 
the Presbyterian Church, which he has served faith- 
fully as an Elder. In politics Mr. Silsby is a sound 
Republican. He has been Highway Commissioner 
and School Director, and in both capacities he 
worked zealously for the good of the township. 




NDREW ALLEN. The English settlers 
(@/Li| in this country are apt to have a clannish 
(s tendency, and where you find one family 
you generally- have not to look far for 
several others. There are many English farmers in 
Shipman Township, some of whom have retired 
from active or agricultural pursuits and are living 
in the enjoyment of village life. Our subject, 
Andrew Allen, is one of these. 

Mr. Allen's father was William Allen who was 
born in Lancastershire, England. His mother was 
Mary Goodyear, also of England. They emi- 
grated to America in 1819 and in 1821, they set- 
tled in Wilmington, Del., at which place the parents 
passed away from this life. Our subject was one 
of five children, he being the second in order of 
birth. His advent into this life of turmoil and 
labor was made in Lancastershire. England, March 



PORTRAIT AND JJIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



647 



11, 1815. He was only six years of age when his 
parents settled in Delaware. He grew to man- 
liood in Wilmington, or in its iinmeriiate vicinity. 
While a hoy he was employeil in a cotton factory 
some three or four j'oars and after that time he was 
rears:! on a farm. 

Our subject's father jjurchased a cotton factory 
and Andrew soon learned to manage it so well that 
the entire charge of the institution was placed in his 
hand. Jt was located near Wilmington. He after 
look charge of the weaxing department in the 
Franklin Mills. These mills were also located in 
Wilmington. He held that position for about five 
years at the end of which time he resigne<i, after 
which he went to Philadelphia, Pa., where he was 
engaged in the same business for about five years. 
He then returned to Wilmington acting in the 
same capacity' for several years until he came West 
in 1858, induced by the flattering promises in 
stock-raising and agriculture. In the spring of the 
year above named he came to Illinois and was em- 
ployed for two years as a f.srm laborer. At the 
end of that time he purchased the farm in Shipman 
Township, where he settled and made his home for 
three years. 

So thoroughly had Mr. Allen adopted the ideas 
and principles of his foster land that he was ready 
to fight for anj- of the principles that it held dear 
and on August 12, 1862. on the second call for 
volunteers for the Federal Army of the Rebellion 
he enlisted in Company H, of the Eighty-eighth 
Illinois Infantry and served for three years. He 
participated in that time of trial with the brave I 
Americans that held freedom dearer than life in 
the battles of Perryville, Stone River, and that of 
Nashville. In the battle of Stone River he was 
wounded in the spine and was never after able to do 
active service. He was transferred to the Second 
Uattalion of the Veteran Reserve Corps and stood ' 
ready in time of emergency to give a blow for the 
right. 

When the war was over Mr. Allen returned to 
Shipman Township, where with the exception of 
about two j^ears when he lived in Missouri he has 
been a resident. Mr. Allen was married in Delaware 
to Mary Walker who was a native of that State. 
She bore him five children, only one of whom sur- 



vives This is a daughter, Louisa who w.as the wife 
of .loseph R. Talley. Mrs. Mary Allen died in 
Wilmington, Del., and after coming West our sub- 
ject again married. This time his union was with 
Elizabeth G. .luslison, who was born in Delaware 
March 29, 1825. 

The original of this sketch naturally takes an 
interest in the polities of the country for which he 
fought. He is a Republican, casting his vote with 
that party. Both he and his wife are active mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Socially 
he is a member of N. B. Buford Post No. 156, of 
the G. A. K. He also belongs to the Masonic 
frateinity. 

Mr. Allen secured three patents on gingham 
weaving looms that were at once universally 
adopted. He also h.as patented one of the handiest 
farm gates now in use. 

—» ■ ^3-^ V- 




ILLIAM STEWARD, a retired farmer, 
living at Shipman, is a man whose honor- 

^^' able life career is well worthy of record on 
these pages. He was born in Maniton Town- 
ship, Salem County, N. J., December 5, 1820. 
His father w.as Joseph Steward, and he was also 
a native of that State. He in turn was a son of 
Nathan Steward, who, so far .as known, was born 
in New Jersey, and was a descendant of some of 
the early Scotch settlers of that State. The first 
ancestor of the family to come to America from 
his n.ative Scotland was Joseph Steward. He first 
located in Berks County, Pa., whence he removed 
to New Jersey prior to 1794, and tlieie died. He 
married Alice Wright, a daughter of Josliua 
Wright. The next in line was their son Joseph, 
who married Bridget Middleton. Their son Joseph 
married Ann Rollins, and their son Nathan 
Steward was the grandfather of our subject. He 
spent his entire life in New Jersey, his occupation 
being that of a farmer. He married Rachel Mor- 
gan, who was a daughter of Jonathan and Bath- 
shcba Morgan. He died April 11,1811. 

The father of our sulfject was reared in his native 
St.ite. He learned the trade of a tailor and follow- 



648 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



erl it until he was twenty years old, wben he aban- 
doned it for faruiincr, buying a farm in Salem 
County. He pursued agriculture until a few years 
before his death, which occurred in tiiat county 
January 31, 1870, at a ripe age. In early manhood 
he m.irried Sarah Rogers, a native of Burlington 
County, N. J., and a daughter of Abner and Lydia 
(Tilton) Rogers, and a granddaughter of William 
Rogers. She survived her husband until October 
30, 1874, and then she too passed from the scenes 
of earth to that home not made with hands. Those 
worthy people reared twelve children to useful 
lives. 

Their son of whom we write passed his early life 
on the New Jersey farm tiiat was his birthplace, 
remaining an inmate of the parental home until he 
attained his majority. He then rented land, and 
carried on agriciiUure on his own account. In 
1855 he resolved to take advantage of the superior 
facilities offered by the rich virgin soil of Illinois 
to all who were ivilling to undergo the hardships 
and privations incident to life in a country that 
still retained much of its primitive condition. He 
traveled by rail to Pittsburg, thence by the Ohio 
and Mississippi rivers to Alton, and from that 
point by rail to Brighton. For two years he rent- 
ed land, and at the expiration of that time he 
bought land near the village of Shipman, for which 
he paid |;30 an acre. While he resided on his 
farm he placed it under excellent cultivation, 
and greatly increased its value by many substan- 
tial improvements. He made money by liis farm- 
ing operations, and in 1876 he bought a cozy home 
in the village of Shipman, and here he and his 
good wife are living retired from active labor. 

The marriage of our subject with Miss Rebecca 
Abbott was celebrated January 5, 1843, and for 
nearly half a century they had lived happily to- 
gether, furnishing their friends an example of a 
true wedded life. To them eight children have 
been born, four of whom are living — William H., 
an attorney at Carlinville; Milton R. and Ben- 
jamin F., merchants at Columbus, Kan.; and 
Fannie, their only daughter, who married Henry 
Huskinson, of Shipman. 

Mrs. Steward is, like her husband, a native of 
Salem County, N. J., born May 2, 1819. Her 



father, Joseph Abbott, was a native of the same 
county, and was a son of Joel Abbott, who was 
born in England of English parents, he being a son 
of Joseph and Mary (Graysburg) Abbott. He mar- 
ried Mary Graysburg, and died in Salem County. 
Mrs. Steward's father was a farmer, and his entire 
life was spent in his native county. He married 
Sarah Torton, who was also a life-long resident of 
that county. 

Mr. and Mrs. Steward are both devoted mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They 
are people of kindly natures, whose warm hearts 
prompt them to extend sympathy and substantial 
help to all who are in trouble or in want, and they 
are held in affection and reverence by the entire 
neighborhood. Mr. Steward is a strong temper- 
ance advocate, but he is no third party man, he 
being a true Republican in his political views. 



5-., j,.^..^^:. , 




ifclLLIAM H. H. HORINE, Ex-Mayor of 
^ Carlinville, has been carrying on business 
in this city for a number of years, and has 
a sound reputation as a good financier and public- 
spririted citizen. These qualifications for the high- 
est position in the gift of the people of the city, 
were strengthened by his agreeable manners and 
integrity of character, and his friends have had no 
reason to regret having placed him at the head of 
the municipal government. He is an old soldier, 
who fought the enemy on many a famous battle- 
field and cheerfully bore the hardships of a soldier's 
life during the memorable Civil War. 

Mr. Ilorine was born in Williamsport, Washing- 
ton County, Md., August 20, 1840, and his ances- 
tors for at least two generations were natives of 
the same State as himself. His father, Henry 
Alexander Horine, was born in Washington 
County, Md., and was left an orphan at an early 
age. He t.hen went to make his home with an un- 
cle on a farm, and remained there until after he 
had entered his 'teens, when he learned the trade 
of a carpenter. Tliis he followed until 1850, then 
bought a tract of land in his native county, and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



649 



gave liis attention to farming during the remain- 
der of liis life. His deatlj occurred in 1869. His 
wife, the mother of our subject, bore the maiden 
name of Maria Krebs; slie died in 1847, when Will- 
iam was but seven years old. 

After the decease of his mother he of whom we 
write remained with liis father, attending the pub- 
lic schools, and assisting on the farm until he was 
twenty years of age. He then went to Hagers- 
town and for a time worked at the raacliinists' 
trade. August 8, 1862, ho enlisted in Company A, 
Seventh Maryland Infantry, in wliich lie served 
until the close of the war. lie fought at the Wil- 
derness, Laurel HilUTochl's Tavern, fSpoltsylvania, 
Harris Farm, Jericho Mills, Tatopotomy Church, 
Magnolia Swamp, Bethestia Ciiurch, Cold Harbor, 
Weldon Railroad, Jerusalem Plank Road, Chapel 
House, Hatchie's Run, Dobney Mills, and in the 
battles around Pftersburg from June 13 to Jidy 
30, and those of Warren's raid. He was present 
at the capture of Petersburg and at the surrender 
of Lee. Mr. Horine rose from the ranks to the 
position of first Corporal, and in 1864 was made 
Second liieutenant, and as the Captain and First 
Lieutenant were sent on detached service, he had 
command of the company until the close of the 
war. He was honorabl}' discharged at Arlington 
Heights. May 18, 1865. 

Mr. Horine ne.Kt engaged in the photographic 
business at Cumberland, Md., but in 1866 removed 
to Chicago, where he operated in that art some three 
years. He then came to Carlintille and openeil a 
studio, which he carried on until 1872. In August 
of that year he bought a jewelry establishment, and 
since tliat time has conducted the business, and has 
come to be known as one of the reliable dealers of 
the city. He has a good home, which is made 
cozy and attractive by the housewifely skill and 
pleasing qualities of the lady who l)ecame his wife 
in 1874. Her maiden name was Anna B. Bell, and 
she is a native of Alabama. The happy union has 
been blessed by the birth of two children — a son 
and a daughter, whose names are William H. and 
Anna Mary. 

As would naturally be supposed, Major Horine 
is connected with the Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic, and he is a coqcirade in Dan Messick Post, No. 



339. He is also identified with Mt. Nebo Lodge, 
No. 76, F. ct A. M.; Macoupin Chapter, No. 187; 
and Orient Lodge, No. 95, K. P. Mr. Horine is a 
stanch member of the Republican party, and on 
that ticket was elected Mayor in April, 1889. 



^-^-^ ^ 



OHN HAGGARD, who owns and occupies 
a fine farm in North Otter Township, is 
known throughout this county as a prosper- 
ous farmer and as an enterprising auction- 
eer. His business h.as brought him an extensive 
acquaintance and he is universally respected for 
those traits of character that have made him suc- 
cessful and have won him a place among our most 
useful citizens. He is a native of this State, a son 
of one of its early pioneer families, his birthplace 
being two and one-half miles northwest of Waverly, 
Morgan County, where he first opened his eyes to 
the light of day, April 23, 1836. 

Samuel Haggard, the father of our subject, was 
a native of Tennessee and a son of Edmund Hag- 
gard, who was born in Pennsylvania. The parents 
of the latter went to Tennes3ee in the earJy days of 
its settlement and were pioneers of that State. 
They were massacred by the Indians. The grand- 
father of our subject was married in Tennessee and 
lived theie until 1829, when he came to the wilds 
of Illinois, bringing with him his family and all his 
earthly possessions with teams. He entered a tract 
of land at Long Point, Morgan County, and was 
one of the first to settle in that region, which was 
then in its primitive condition, with but few white 
inhabitants, and deer, wolves and other wild ani- 
mals were very numerous. In 1850 Grandfather 
Haggard sold his place there and took up his resi- 
dence in this county, buying wild land four miles 
northwest of Virden, which he improved into a 
good farm. He resided upon it some years and 
then removed to Virden, where he lived retired 
until death closed his mortal career. His wife, 
whose maiden name was Elizabeth Andrews, also 
died at N'irden. 

The father of our subject was a young man when 
he came to Illinois with his parents. He married 



650 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in Morgan County-, taking as liis wife Maraiulu 
Grant, and for three or four jears thereafter he was 
engaged in the mercantile business three miles west 
of Waverl\-. He subsequently turned his attention 
to agriculture, buying a farm on tiie south lino of 
the county. He lived there seven years and then 
went to Long Point, where he rented land which 
he farmed for three yenrs. He next bought a place 
in North Otter Township, which he retained m his 
possession a few years. He then took advantage 
of a good offer to sell it, and going to Virden, re- 
sided there until 1864. From that time until his 
death, in 1875, he wade his home with liis son, of 
whom we write, where he was tenderly caied for in 
his old age. His wife preceded him in death, dy- 
ing in 1860 at Virden. 

.lohn Haggard p.assod his early life on a farm, 
gaining a clear insight into practical methods of 
carrying on agriculture, and during his boyhood he 
attended tlie public schools whenever O|)portunity 
offered. He commenced fanning on his own ac- 
count in 1860 and has been interested in it ever 
since, although he has not given it his entire atten- 
tion, as he is a man of much enterprise and has 
branched out into other business. For a lime he 
had a grocery at Virden and for upwards of twelve 
years he has been the auctioneer of this section. 
He possesses in a good degree the keen judgment, 
quick discernment and promptness necessary to 
make one succeed in that calling and he gives gen- 
eral satisfaction to rll who employ him in that ca- 
pacity. His farm, which is in a desirable locality. 
is well man.aged, its fields arc under good tillage 
and its buildings arc in good order. 

Mr. and Mrs. H:tggard entered upon their mar- 
ried life January 2it, 1863, and it h.as been blessed 
to them by two children, Samuel and Mary. Sara- 
uel, who lives at Virde.i. married Ida Loving and 
they have one child, Oscar Cliud; Wary married 
David A. Richardson, of North Otter Township, 
and they have one child, Ethel Mabel. 

Prior to her marriage Mrs. Haggard's name was 
Sarah A. Clack. She is a native of North Otter 
Township, her present home, and she was born 
February 17, 1846. Her father, James 15. Chick, 
was a native of Kentucky, and his father, William 
Clack, is also tljoiight to have been, The latter 



came from that Stale to HIinois in a very early day 
of its settlemenl and w.as one of the Brtt to locate 
at North Oiler Township, where he died in 1856. 
His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Bell, 
died at the home of her son-in-law, John Hjiggard. 
Mrs. Haggard's father was young when he came 
wit his parents to their hoiiie in this SUate. He was 
m:irrici| in Auburn Township. Sangamon County, 
to Mary A. Walters, a native of Indiana and 
a daughter of James and Lydia Walters, who were 
natives respectively of Virginia and North Caro- 
lina. He entered a tract of Government land on 
sections 2 and 3. North Otter Township, and bus- 
ily engaged in its improvement, until death closed 
his career of usefulness in 1855. Mre. Haggard's 
mother spent her last years at Virden. 

Our subject and his wife hold a warm place in 
the hearts of those about them, as they are always 
kind, charitable and helpful in their intercourse 
with others. Mr. Haggard is interested in all that 
concerns the welfare of his county and it; liis poli- 
tical views he is a decided Democrat. Socially he 
is a member in good slaudir.g of "N'inien Lodge. 
No. 161. A. F. & A .AI. Mrs. Haggard is a con- 
sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
which finds in her one of its most earnest workers. 



~S}^. 



^^ AML'EL R. STEIDLEY, of Palmyra, is a 
J^^ native of Ihis county, who was one of the 

\^^ brave citizen-soldiers that it sent to the 
front during the late war, and who h.as 
also borne an honorable part in promoting its ag- 
riculture, and has been prominent in its public life. 
He was born on a farm in South Palmyra Town- 
ship Marcli 25. 1838. His father. Josepn B. Sleid- 
ley. was a native of Virginia, and resided near 
Fredricksburg many years. After marriage he re- 
moved to Ohio in 1830, and spent the ensuing six 
years amid the wilds of that State. In 1836 with 
his wife and six children he came to Illinois, mak- 
ing the entire journey b\- land, and bringing their 
household goods with them. Mr. Sleidlev bought 
a tract of land located four miles from the present 
site of the village of Palmyra, and in the log house 



PORTRAIT AND mOGRAPlllCAL RECORD. 



651 



that stood tliei-con our subject first saw the light of 
day. A few acres of laiul were cleared and fenced, 
and the father busied liiraself constantly in making 
improvements until his death in .January, IHOl. 
The maiden name of his first wife, mother of 
subject, was Elvira Rowland, and she was born in 
the Shenamloah \alley, Va., a daughter of Samuel 
Rowland. She died on the home farm in 1849. 
Eleven of the children born of her marriage were 
reared to manhood and womanhood, namely; Dan- 
iel (i., Mary Elizabeth; Solomon .1., Sarah Ellen, 
Lucy Ann, Elvira V., Samuel, Joseph S., James 
William, Luzetla Jane and Thomas J. Mr. SLeid- 
ley's second wife was Elizabeth Cherry, and she 
bore these four children,— Henry M., La Fayette, 
Harriet J., Wilmer L. 

The subject of this biography was reared to 
man's estate in his native township, which .at the 
time of his birll; was spaisely settled, and the sur- 
rounding country was in a wild condition. For 
some years Alton was the nearest market, where 
the farmers sold their produce and obtaired their 
supplies. Deei. wild turkeys and other game 
helped to eke out the scanty faro of the pioneers, 
as the people had to live on what they could raise 
on their farms, and many things now considered 
indispensable were then unknown luxuries. The 
mother of our subject used to cook befoie the fire in 
the open fireplace of old times, and her busy hand 
spun and wove the cloth with which she clad her 
children. 

Mr. Steidly obtained his education in the prim- 
itive pioneer schools of that day that were con- 
ducted on the subscription plan, the first liiat he 
attended being held in a log house. As soon as 
large enough he became useful on the farm, and 
continued to assist his father until he had attained 
his majority. His falher gave him his time when 
lie was twenty years of age, and he continued to 
help him a few months, and then worked for others 
a few months. After that he worked land on 
shares until the war broke out. 

In the month of September of the opening 
year of the rebellion, when he had settled up his 
affairs preparatory to joining the army, our sub- 
ject threw aside all personal aims and aml)ilions to 
aid his Govemment as a soldier, ciilisting in Co, A, 



Thirty-second Illinois Infantry and he served nine- 
teen months with credit, retiring from the ranks only 
because he was no longer able to do military duty 
on acount of injuries received in battle. He helped 
capture Ft. Donelson and was present at Shiloli. 
He was twice wounded in the first day's battle by 
a bullet striking the right breast and coming out 
under the right shoulder blade, and while lying 
on the field after that he was iiit in the shoulder 
by a piece of shell, and while suffering mortal 
agony he was captured by the enemy. The next 
day he was rescued by the Union soldiers and 
was taken to the hospital at Mound City, where 
he was honorably discharged from the army March 
25, 1863 on account of disability from his wounds. 
His brother, James W., was in the same company 
as himself, and was killed at the battle of Shiloh. 
As soon as he was able after his bitter experience 
of military life, our subject resumed farming, buy- 
ing a farm in Barr Township, which he retained in 
his possession until 1869, when he sold it at a good 
price and bought another in Bois D'Arc Township, 
Montgomery County. He actively engaged in 
agriculture in that locality for several years, but 
in 1887 he retired to Palmyra, where he has a 
pleasant home, replete with comfort and abound- 
ing in contentment and happiness. 

Mr. Steidley and Miss Susan E. Range were 
united in marriage April 7, 1864. Mrs. Steidley 
was born in Washington County, Tenn., and is a 
daughter of Jefferson and Elizabeth (Hall) Range. 
(Jur subject's patriotism and the value of his 
citizenship has been proven no less since the war 
1 by his conduct as a civic olHcial and in all the re- 
' hitions of life, than when he helped to defend 
: and preserve the Union. He is an influence for 
good in the public life of his community and in 
promoting its special and moral status. He was 
1 formerly a Democrat, but since the war, the Re- 
I publican party has found in him a strong advocate. 
He served three terms as Justice of the Peace in 
Bois D'Arc Township, but resigned that position 
when he removed to Palmyra. In 1890 he was 
the choice of his fellow citizens for the important 
office of Mayor and he gave the city a good ad- 
ministration. He has been a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church since he was eighteen 



652 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



3-ears old. and his name is associated with its very 
good work. He served as Class-Leader eighteen 
years, and he has also been Trustee, .Steward, and 
teacher in the Sunday-school. His wife has been 
been a life-member of the American Bible Society 
since 1875. 




dLLlA.M WHKELER. of Bird Township, 
is a son of .John Wheeler, whose biograph- 



\y 5 'v:!\\ sketch is found elsewhere in this Rec 
ORD. This son was born in Rush County. Ind.. 
April 15, 183.3. and he was an infant of six months 
only when his father removed to Greene County, 
and one year later when he came to Maciju[>in 
County, and made his home in Bird Township. 
Here he grew to manhood and here he has always 
made his home. 

His marriage took place in Western Mound Town 
ship, in February, 1856. His bride was Marv .7. 
Lee. Her parents were Obediah W. and Rebecca 
T. (Sullivan) Lee. .Mr. Lee w.ns a native of North 
Carolina, and Mrs. Lee was born in Tennessee. 
There they spent their early married life aud came 
thence to Illinois in the winter of 1830-31 and 
made their first home in Jeflferson County, this 
State. Thence they removed to Greene County, 
and afterward to Macoupin Count}-, where the 
father died in Western Mound Township. Mrs. 
Wheeler is the fourth in a family of twelve chil- 
dren. She was born in Greene County, this State, 
September 21, 1834. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler are the happy parents of 
six living children, namely: .Jasper W., who mar- 
ried Emma Loveless; Arthur C, who married Miss 
Dora F. .Jackson: .John, Mary E.. the wife of Allen 
Bar, Alvin L., and Ollie L. E. Two of their children 
have passed before them to the better world: 
Lydia M., who died when a beautiful young lady 
of nineteen years and Edgar E., who was snatched I 
from their arms at the tender age of five years. 

Mr. Wheeler's interest in educational affairs, has ' 
been shown in his efficient service as .School Di- 
rector and School Trustee. His political belief is 
embodied in the platform of the Democratic party. 




and he tikes an active part in local politics. Both 
lie and his good wife are earnest and zealous mem- 
bers of the Shiloh Baptist Church. Here he has 
6 lied the office of Trustee and also that of Deacon. 
He is a member of the Chesterfield Farmers Mu- 
tual Fire Insurance Company and is ever awake to 
the interests of the farming community as he has 
followed agricultural pursuits all his life. His 
home farm consisU of seven hundred and twenty- 
four acres of rich and productive soil, two hundreil 
and sixty-two of which lie in Bird Township. Upon 
these he h.os erected a handsome residence and excel- 
lent fai-m buildings, and the whole property shows 
by its neat appearance that it belongs to an enter- 
prising and thorough farmer. 

A. XIGHBERT. a prominent and influential 
. citizen of Barr Township, has his pleasant 
^ home on section 10. He is of Southern 
parentage: his father. George having been born in 
Bo»«tourt County, \a.. October 27, 1789. and his 
mother, Nancy Albright by name, being born in 
Virginia in May, 1795. She died in Botetourt 
County, .June 9. 1831. Mr. Nighbert emigrated 
from the Old Dominion to Easter.i Tennessee and 
after a residence of six jears there came to Illinois 
in the fall of 1840 and settled in Scottville Town- 
ship, where he died October, 186.5. They had a 
large family of children, of whom our subject is the 
youngest, being born in Botetourt County. Va.. 
September 29. 1827. 

Young Nighbert was but seven years old when 
he journeyed on foot with his father from Virginia 
to Eastern Tennessee. The family carried with 
them their household utensils, and this little fellow's 
share of the burden was the family coffee pot. It 
w!is in 1840 when he came to Macoupin County, 
and since then he has been a resident here with the 
exception of one year which he spent in California, 
in the mines at the time of the gold-mining fever. 
The marriiige of this young man. September 11, 
1851, took place in Scottville Township to Miss 
Margaret Ann Crum, daughter of the late Gordon 
Crum who was born in Clark County, Ind. Her 




""■4 







PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



655 



mother was Sedonia Rucker, a native of Woodford 
County. Ky. Tliey were married in Morgan County, 
Hi., and from lliere came to Macoupin County early 
ill the '30s and settled in Birr Township, where 
they lived the remainder of their lives. Of a fam- 
ily of nine children, Mrs. Nigbbert was the eldest, 
being born in Morgan County, 111., March 26, 1 834. 
Since their marriage our subject and his wife have 
always resided in Scottvdle and Barr Townships. 
Mr. and Mrs. Nigitbert were blessed by the birth 
of seven children, all but one of whom have lived 
to prove a comfort and juy to their parents. They 
are: George G.; James D., who married Miss LiUie 
Malone; Joseph W.,who married Miss Flora Cline; 
Louie S.; Ella L., who died in infancy; Adah B., 
and Erasmus Manford. Our subject has tilled the 
office of Highway Commissioner in Scottville 
Township for three years, and being a Republican 
in politics and a public-spirited man of decided 
opinions,takes a lively interest in political move- 
ments. He is an active and earnest member 
of the Univei'salist Church. He has a fine farm, 
well improved, comprising five hundred and forty- 
eight acres and he has devoted himself largely to 
agl-icultural pursuits, his judgment and experience 
making him more than ordinarily successful in his 
life work. 




^f/ DDISON H. ELDRED, who lives in rctire- 
#0' inent from active business after a life spent 
^ in agricultural labor, resides at his home 
,^ on Johnson Street, Carlinville, where he 

eTjoys the results of his early labors. Mr. Eldred 
is descended from worthy ancestors and his life has 
been such as to add lustre to an honored name. 
The paternal grandfather of our subject was Moses 
Eldred who came at, an early day from Connecti- 
cut to New York, and settled in Herkimer County, 
where he died. The father of our subject, Moses 
S. Eldred, was born of New England parents about 
180 I, and after a brief life spent in usefulness his 
decease took place about the year 1833. The 
roolher of our subject, Clarissa (Brace) Eldred was 



born in New York, and she still survives. Our 
subject is one of a family of four chiidren,as follows: 
Moses S., Addison H., Julius A. and James L. 

Mr. Eldred first saw the light of day in Greene 
County, 111., the date of his birth being December 1, 
1828. He remained in the county in which he was 
born until he had arrived at years of manhood. 
This period was occupied as are the lives of farmer 
lads, with incidents of school life and farm work. 
His attention has been given to agricultural pur- 
suits during the greater part of his life, and he 
lias acquired a thorough, practical knowledge of 
the best methods of farming. 

Mr. Eldred was married in Greene County, 111., 
March 3, 1851. His wife, whose maiden name was 
Laura Woolley, a native of Greene County, this 
State, her birthday being September 27, 1829. Her 
parents were David aui Laura (Hodge) Woolley, 
both natives of Washington County, N. Y. After 
their marriage the young couple resided in Greene 
Ccounty for five years then removed to Polk Town- 
ship, INIacoupin County, and settled on a farm 
which continued to be their home for a long time. 
In company with his brother, Moses S., the origi- 
nal of our sketcli, erected a fine series of buildings 
on the farm which comiirised three hundred and 
sixty acres. 

By strict economy and industry on the part of 
Mr. Eldred and his wife, they have been able to 
accumulate more than a competency, and their 
labors, directed by intelligence, have besn crowned 
vnih success in every direction. From the time 
our subject was vi young man he labored in com- 
pany witli his brother, IMoses S., who in company 
with him owned the farm mentioned above. 

Mr. Eldred and his estimable wife became the 
parents of two children: Myron H., who died when 
ihirtccn years obi; and Milton R., who passed 
away in infancy. Polilieally Mr. Eldred inclines 
to the Republican platform, of which he is an ar- 
dent adherent. He is liberal in his religious views, 
his belief being rather in the religion of humanity. 
Since removing to Carlinville he h.as erected a fine 
brick residence, and here, retired from the active 
duties of life, he with his family is spending the 
afternoon of life in enjoyment of the more agree- 
able features of life. Mrg. Eldred is a fine type of 



656 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



womanhood ami presides with grace and dignilj' 
over their hospitable home which is full of evi- 
dences of culture. 

In connection with his sketch a lithograpliic por- 
trait of Mr. Eldred is presented to our readers. 



-^>-*.^;^Cv^^-:5;^^. 




AJ. FLETCHER H. CHAPMAN, of Car- 
linville, is a fine representative of the 
native-horn citizens of this county who 
have exercised a marked influence on its 
affairs, and liave in various ways contributed to its 
social, educational and material advancement. He 
was an officer in the Union Army during the late 
war whose military record added lustre to the fame 
of the brave and efficient soldiery of his State, and 
he has since won honors at the bar that entitle him 
to a leading place as a lawyer. 

Maj. Chapman was born in .Staunton Township, 
Macoupin County, April 15, 1828, and is a son of 
one of the oldest juoneer families of this section of 
Illinois. His father, Richard Chapman, was born in 
North Carolina, and was a son of Joseph Chapman, 
who is believed to have been a native of the same 
State. The father of the latter was a Virginian by 
birth, and removed from the Old Dominion to 
North Carolina prior to the Revolution, settling in 
Tyrrell County, of which he was a pioneer, and 
where he pursued his occupation as a farmer, and 
there died in the fulness of time. 

The grandfather of our subject served in the 
Revolution, and was in Gen. Greene's command at 
the battle of Guilford Court House. He passed 
his last years quietly working at his calling as a 
farmer in Tyrell County, N. C. He married Betsy 
Caswell, who is thought to have been a native of 
Tyrell County, whither her father had removed 
from his native Virginia in Colonial times. Both 
of the great-grandfathers of our subject served in 
the war against the Indians, and received land from 
the colony of Carolina for their services. 

The father of our subject was reared in his na- 
tive Slate. He was a natural mechanic, and was 
equally skillful as a carpenter, wagon-maker, 
cooper, tanner and shoemaker, all of which trades 



he pursued at different times. In 1818 he removed 
from North Carolina to this State, accompanied by 
his wife and five children, making the journey 
overland, briaging with him his household goods. 
He had a horse and cart and a part of his posses 
sions were packed on another horse that he owned 
besides. He started in May, and In August landed 
in St. Clair County. He rented a tract of land, 
raised a crop, and in December, 1819, sought an- 
other location, coming to this county, that then 
formed a part of Madison County, and settling in 
what is now Dorchester Township. He thus be- 
came one of the earliest pioneers of this section of 
the State, which was then practically uninhabited, 
.nnd was in its primitive condition, with numerous 
deer, bears, wolves and panthers that often were 
troublesome to the few settlers that had ventured 
within their haunts. There were no railways for 
years, and St. Louis, about forty miles distant, was 
the principal market, though it was then but a 
small city of a few thousand people. At the same 
time that the Chapman family settled in the county 
the families of Telem.achus Camp, Richard Wil- 
helm, Whitmill Herrington and Richard and John 
Chapman came also. 

Mr. Chapman settled on a tract of land from the 
Government lying in section 24, built a log cabin 
for the shelter of his family, and at once actively 
entered upon the hard pioneer task of clearing and 
developing a farm from the wilderness. He re- 
sided on it five or six years, and then traded his 
claim with a Mrs. Piper for a claim to a tract of 
prairie land on section 29. Staunton Township, and 
later borrowed money at twenty-five per cent, in- 
terest to enter Government land. About 1837 he 
sold his land and entered another tract in the same 
township on sections 4, 10 and 15, and built on 
section 10. He improved a part of the land, and 
resided on it some years. After his wife died he 
lived with a daughter in Montgomery County, and 
there his death occurred in February, 1872, in his 
ninetieth year. Celia Davenport was the name of 
his wife, and she was born in Tyrell County, N. C, 
a daughter of Isa.ac Davenport, a native and life- 
long resident of that State. She died in July, 1852. 
She was the mother of seven sons and five d.augh- 
ters, all of whom grew to maturity and manied, 






PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



657 



The parents of our subject were both true Chris- 
tians and ardent Melliodists. The first meetings 
of that denomination in this county were held at 
their house, and for many years divine services 
were conducted in their home, which was always a 
welcome abiding place for the traveling preachers 
on their rounds. 

Maj. Chapman was the youngest of tiie sons in 
the family, and he has passed his life entirely in 
tills the county of his nativity with the exception 
of the years devoted to his country as a loyal and 
patriotic soldier. He gained the preliminaries of 
his education in the pioneer schools of liis early 
years. The first school in the neighborhood in 
which he was born was taught in a log house 
with no floor, said building having Ijeen erected by 
Abram Wyatt for a smoke house, and it was located 
on section 30, Staunton Township. As soon as he 
was large enough he began to assist in carrying on 
the farm. At the age of twenty he commenced 
teaching in Cahokia Township, and after teaching 
two years went to school at Hillsboro, as he was 
ambitious to extend his education. In 1853 he was 
elected County vSurveyor, and served in that otHce 
the ensuing six years. In 1858 he began the study 

of law. 

The breaking out of the Rebellion found our 
subject well-equipped for the profession that he 
was about to enter, but he cheerfully laid aside his 
plans to help fight his country's battles. In May, 
18G1 he enlisted in Company C, Fourteenth Illinois 
Infantry, but was transferred in September of the 
same year to light artillery. He had the honor of 
being commissioned Captain of his company, and 
commanded it until February, 186 '2, when it was 
consolidated with Company D, First Regiment 
Light Artillery. The company then became Com ■ 
pany B, of the Second Illinois Light Artillery, our 
subject being commissioned as Senior First Lieu- 
tenant, which position he held until March, 1863, 
when he was promoted to be Captain, his commis- 
sion dating back to December, 1862. He retained 
that rank until the end of service. In the month 
of .lune 1864 he was appointed Provost Marshal, 
and stationed at Columbus, Ky. He acted in tliat 
capacity until July 1865, and was then honorably 
discharged with his company. 



After his return to Carlinville from the South 
Maj. Chapman was admitted to the bar, and has 
practiced law here continuously since. His pro- 
fessional life has been varied by the cares of public 
office, as he has been called from time to time to 
time to fill responsible positions. He was Police 
Magistrate from 1866 to 1869, County Superinten- 
dent of Schools four years, and he has also been 
City Attorney. He was in early life a Democrat, 
but he left the army a confirmed Republican. In 
1890 he was the candidate of his party for Con- 
gress. Socially, he is a valued member of the Dan 
Messick Post, No. 339, G. A. R. A man strong in 
ciiaracter, of unblemished reputation, a wise and 
safe counselor, and liberal and progressive in his 
views, he has ever been an honor to the citizenship 
of his native county, and to such as he it owes its 
liiesent high standing among its sister counties. 

Our suljject lias been twice married. In 1854 
he was wedded to Miss Sarah McCreery, a native 
of Orange County, N. Y. Their marriage was but 
of brief duration, as the young wife departed this 
life in April, 1857, leaving two children, Ida F. 
and Emily M. In 1862 Maj. Chapman was mar- 
ried to bis present estimable wife, formerly Miss 
Cecilia Burns, a native of Dublin, Ireland. Their 
wedded life has been blessed to them by the birth 
of a daughter, Charlotte E. 



^f/_^ ENRY T. NAIL, of Honey Point Town- 
i\ ship, is conducting a fine farm of two hun- 
^ dred and forty acres on sections 13 and 24. 
^^ A native of Illinois, and a son of one of the 
pioneer families, Mr. Nail was born at Jersey ville, 
February 1, 1846. His father, whose given name 
was Daniel, was a native of North Carolina, born 
in that State January 15, 1803. He in turn was a 
son of one Henry Nail, who was a German by 
birth, and came to America when a young man, 
settling in Rowan County, N. C. About 1824 he 
removed from there to the wilds of Indiana, going 
thither with teams and locating in Shelby County, 
where his last years were spent. 

Daniel Nail was reared in his native State, and 



658 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



accompanied his parents to their pioneer home in 
Indiana, vrhere he resided until 1S30. when he too 
becaroe a pioneer, coming with his wife to Illinois, 
with a pair of horses and a wagon, and casting in 
his lot with the early settlers of Greene County. 
He located near Carrolton, after living there six 
years, crossed the Illinois River into Calhoun 
County, where he was a pioneer. He purchased a 
tract of land at Gilead. and busily engaged in the 
hard labor of developing it into a farm. At that 
time the country roundabout was but sparsely set- 
tled, and deer and other wild game still abounded 
and often furnished food for the families of the 
early settlers. Mr. Nail resided in that place for 
a period of six years antl then coming to Jersey 
County, he bought pro[jerty in the village of Jer- 
seyviUc. Later he came to Macoupin County and 
made his home with his son, where he quieilv 
passed away, .July 1.5. 1S91, jiged eighty eight 
years and six months, surrounded by every com- 
fort that one could desire. Although old and firm 
he was cheerful and good comijany, and his mental 
faculties were good. The maiden name of his wife 
was Cynthia Watts, and she was born iu Indiana, a 
daughter of Thomas and Eleanor Walts. Her death 
took place in Jerseyville in July. 1878. 

Our subject is the only survivor of the children 
born to his parents. His home was in his native 
county until 1880, aud there he was married to the 
lady who has since been his faithful and effi- 
cient helpmate in 1871. She was formerly Miss I 
Isabella Leigh, and is a daughter of Joseph ; 
E. and Elizabeth (Wharton) Leigh. The former 
was born in Lancashire, Eng., in 1816, of which 
shire his father was also a native, and his name was 
Thomas Leigh. He came to America in 1828. 
After residing for a while in Pennsylvania, he re- 
moved to Trenton. N. J., and there passed away 
full of j-ears. The father of Mrs. Nail settled in | 
Jerseyville, this State, in 1840, and for some years 
followed his trade of baker there. He took part 
in the late war, serving in Company F. Fourteenth 
Illinois Infantry, and later in the regiment known 
as the -'Graybeard, and he showed himself to be a 
brave and capable soldier. The old veteran died 
January 15, 1888, at the Soldiers' Home at Day- 
ton, Ohio. His wife departed this life before he 



did, dying at Jerseyville in 1868. The anion of 
our subject and his estimable wife has been blessed 
1 to them by the birth of four children, named Kale 
Maude. Daniel Henry. William A. and Mary J. 

In 1880 Mr. Nail took up his residence in Honey 
Point Township on the farm that he now occupies. 
This choice, highly productive prairie land, and is 
well cultivjited so as to produce the best results, as 
our subject is an iutclligent and exi^ert farmer. He 
is also accountetl a good citizen, and his neighbors 
and associates look upon him with due respect for 
the genuine worth of his char.icter. He is a stanch 
Republican in his political sentiments, and stays by 
his party whatever betides. 



WILLIAM L. MOUNT.s, a member of the 
Macoupin County Bar, and proprietor of 
, . _ the CarlinviUe Gas Works and the Electric 
I Plant of this city, in C. H. C. Andersons Bank 
i and who has charge of his wife's interests, is a 
' fine representative of the prosperous young busi- 
[ ness men of this section of the .State whose energy 
and ability have put new life inlb its varied inter- 
ests, and who are in various ways contributing to 
the material prosperity of city and county. ^ He 
IS a native of CarlinviUe. born August 31, 1862. 
He is descended from an old French family that 
came to America in early Colonial times, and num- 
bers among his ancestors pioneers of the historical 
Northwestern Territory and neighboring States. 

The father of our subject, Leander W. Mounts, 
was bom in Warren County, Ohio, in November. 
1829. He in turn was a son of Watson Mounts, 
who was a native of the same county, born about 
1799. The father of the latter. William Mounts, 
great-grandfather of our subject, w.is born in 
Richmond. Va., and was a son of Providence 
MounU. who was a native of the city 01 Nancy, 
France. He was there reared, and came from there 
to this country on account of religious persecution 
in early Colonial times. He was accompanied by 
his brother Joseph and sister Sini. The latter mar- 
rietl James Freeman, of Richmond, Va. Provi- 
dence Mounts resided at Richmond for a time, and 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAFHICAL RECORD. 



659 



then removed to that part of Virginia now included 
in Ohio County, W. Va., of which he was a pio- 
neer. He witli others laid out the village of West 
Liberty, and he was prominent in the councils of 
his fellow-pioneers. He finally went from that lo- 
cality to Pennsylvania, and was one of the first to 
settle near Uniontown, that State, he being the 
first to cross the mountains after Braddock's de- 
feat. He died in the liome that he founded there. 
William Mounts, the great-grandfather of our 
subject, went from Pennsylvania to Kentucky, and 
after a short residence in the wilds of that Slate, 
he crossed the Oliio into the Northwestern Terri- 
tory and located in the primeval forests in that 
part of Oiiio now included in Warren County, 
whither but few had ventured before him. He 
hewed a farm from the wilderness, on whicli he re- 
sided until liis life was rounded out in death. The 
grandfather of our subject was reared and spent 
his entire life in his native county, dying in May, 
187o. He was a farmer by occupation. He mar- 
ried Nancy Lindsey, a native of Bourbon County, 
Ky., who was born in 1799 and died in August, 

1878. 

Tlie father of our subject lived in his native 
county during his boylsood, and at tlie age of six- 
teen, learned the trade of a carpenter. After serv- 
ing his apprenticeship he went to Mississippi and 
engaged in carpentering there for a time. He then 
returned northward and pursued his calling at Cin- 
cinnati and other places, and in 1854 located at 
Louisville, where he worked at his trade until 
1856, when he came to Greene County, III., and 
was similarly engaged at Fayette one year. In 
1857 he came to Carlinville, and was a carpenter 
here until 1871, when he entered the lumber busi- 
ness, which he conducted two years. Since that 
time he has lived retired. He was married at 
Louisville, Ky., to Elizabeth Phillips Davis, a na- 
tive of Grayson County, Ky., and a daughter of 
Thomas and Elizabeth Davis. Their marriage has 
brought to them three children: Flora G., wife of 
Alexander Bell, who is represented elsewhere in 
this volume; our subject; and Walter S. 

He of whom we write obtained his early educa- 
tion in the city schools of Carlinville. and subse- 
quently entered Blackburn University, from which 



he was graduated in the Class of '81 . After that 
he taught school a part of each year, and devoted 
the rest of the time to the study of law in the 
office of Anderson S: Bell. In 1885 he was well 
prepared to enter upon the practical work of his 
profession and was admitted to the bar. The same 
year he opened an office in his native city, and has 
been in active practice since, obtaining his full 
share of clientage. 

Not only has our subject shown much ability as 
an attorney, but he has also displayed marked talent 
as a business man, as through his superior man- 
agement the gasworks, of which he is now proprie- 
tor, have become a paying institution, and tlie 
electric light plant, of which he is the owner, is in 
a flourishing condition. June 1, 1889, he took 
charge of the gas works, which then belonged to 
his father-in-law, and had been managcil by a su- 
perintendent, and owing to neglect had depreciated 
in value and usefulness. In the same fall our sub- 
ject came into possession of the works, which had 
already begun to show new signs of life under his 
vigorous regime. He had set to work in earnest 
to resuscitate the works and to build up the busi- 
ness with the result that in a few months he had 
practically driven the electric light company out 
of the field. He fln.ally bought the electric plant, 
and now operates both with good profit, and the 
inhabitants of Carlinville rejoice in a well lighted 

city. 

Mr. Mounts was wedded to Miss Eflie M. Ander- 
son, June 18, 1885. Mrs. Mounts is also a native 
of Carlinville, born June 18, 1865, to Crittenden 
H. C. and Mary J. (Stratton) Anderson. Mr. and 
Mrs. Mounts have a charming home that is the 
center of a genial hospitality, courteous host and 
gracious hostess vying with each other in extending 
a i)leasant welcome to their friends, of whom they 
have many, whenever they cross their threshold. 
Two children complete their household, Bruce H, 
and Marion E. 

Our subject is well known in .social circles as a 
member of Mt. Nebo Lodge, A. F. & A. M.; and 
of Orient Lodge, No. 95, K. of P. He cast his 
first Presidential vote for G rover Cleveland in 
1884, and has remained true to the Democratic 
party ever since. In the fall of 188G Mr. Mounts 



660 



PORTRAIT A2sD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



was appointed fo the imix)rUnt office of Citj- 
Treasurer, served until tlie end of tlie term, and 
was then elected to the position of City Attornc}- 
for one year and in the spring of 1891 was elected 
Mayor. He carried the same earnestness and busi- 
ness-like methods into his m.inagement of the 
municipal finances that had characterized his care 
of his own private aflfairs. and left the office with 
a fine record as a civic official. 



- ; i; 




RS. ELIZA SMITH. The respected and 
revered mother of the two prosperous 
young farmers located on section 9, West- 
ern Mound Township, is a lady whose 
German parentage and variefl experiences in the 
different localities in which she has lived, fits her 
for the high position among those who are regarded 
with esteem and consideration. She is the widow 
of Solomon T. Smith, wlio was born in the early 
part of this century in Virginia and there received 
the advantages of boys common to his district. 

Mrs. Smith's parents were Garret and Elizabeth 
Brown, botli natives of Germany, who emigrated 
to this country in 1837, locating first on the 
James River in Virginia. There they lived and 
died, finding the genial cliraace and warm Southern 
manners very pleasing to their social German 
natures. They were the parents of eight children, 
of whom our subject was the eldest. She was born 
in Germany, November 1, 1826, and was married 
after her arrival in this country, in Bedford 
County, Va., December .3, 1840. Her husband, 
Solomon T. Smith, was born in Accomack County, 
Va., August 10, 1840. 

Immediately after their marriage the young 
couple settled in Bedford County, Va. They soon 
removed, however, to Rockbridge County, and 
there resided until the fall of I8.J7, when they emi- 
grated to Illinois and settled in Western Mound 
Township, where Mr. Smith died October 9, 1872. 
Our subject's husband was a public spirited man 
and took delight in maintaining his part in every 
measure that affected the public good. At the 
time of his death he was a member of the Christian 



Church in which he was in good standing. Mrs. 
•Smith is the mother of five children — lames H., 
Thom.is E., George W.. Ezekiel Y. and .Tohn W. 
The eldest son is a merch.int in Greenfield, 111., 
where lie carries on a successful and lucrative bus- 
iness; George W. died in Texas: Ezekiel Y. was 
taken away from earth when about twelve years of 
age. 

After the death of their father, Thomas and .John 
Smith assumed the care of the farm. It aggregates 
two hundred and eighty acres and under the ener- 
getic care of the two young men affords a good 
income to both proprietors and their respected 
parent. They have erected a comfortable home on 
the place and put thereon many valuable improve- 
ments. Mrs. Smith, who has reached a good old 
age. lives happy in the consciousness of the affec- 
tion and dutiful care th.it her sons are happy in 
giving her. She is a member of the Christian 
Church. Thomas and .John Smith are adherents 
of the Democratic part3'. 

J -'ESSE B. HETTICK. Prominent among 
[ the farmer residents of Scottville Town- 
[ ship, we find the gentleman who is repre- 
_^ senled in this biographical sketch. His 
enterprise and industry have given to him pros- 
perity and his sterling character and integrity have 
bestowed upon him the well-merited confidence of 
his neighbors and the business men of his part of 
the country. He has grown up in this community 
from infancy to manhood and his career through- 
out has been consistent and worthy of admiration. 
He was born on the Hettick homestead in Scott- 
ville Township, iMaich 27, 1853. His mother 
Delilah and his father Stephen are spoken of more 
at length in the biography of .J. W. Hettick. 

He of whom we write received his fundamental 
education in the public schools and during vaca- 
tions assisted his father upon the farm, thus learn- 
ing the practical arts of agriculture and receiving 
a drill which has been of incalculable value to him 
through life. He resided with his parents until he 
reached the age of twenty-one, and at that time 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



661 



began farming for himself on the old homestead, 
remaining there until 1883, when he transferred 
his home to the farm whicii he now occupies. 

While still managing the old homestead and in 
the year 1877 Jesse Hettick was united in the 
happy bonds of wedlock, his bride being Martha 
J. Turner, daugiiter of James and Mary Turner 
natives of Illinois, now deceased. This lady was 
born in Greene County. III., and she became the 
happy mother of seven children: Albert W., 
AViUiam E., Jesse B.. George R., Mary S., James 
Allen and Hattie R. 

The political belief of him of whom we write 
this life history has led him to ally himself with the 
Democratic party, in the prosperity and progress 
of which he feels a lively interest. Both he and 
his excellent wife are earnest and active members 
of the United Brethren Church. This gentleman 
belongs to three of the prominent social orders, 
being a member of the Oak HUl Lodge No. 82, 
of the Farmers' Alliance, and of the Scottville 
Lodge No. 2-26, 1. O. O. F. 



■ <x'J>o 



<| IfelLLIAM T. MITCHELL, a lesident-farm- 
\J// er of Honey Point Township, is well- 
^^ known as a representative of one of the 
early pioneer families of this county, of which he 
is a native, his birth taking place in what is now 
Brushy Mound Township August 25, 1838. His 
father, Elijah Mitchell, was born in North Carolina 
in January, 1800, and was a son of Archibald 
Mitchell, who is supposed to have been a native of 
the same State. From the best information at 
hand we learn that the greatgrandfather of our 
subject was born either in Scotland or in Irelan.l 
of Scotch antcedents, and came to Ameiica in Col- 
onial times, settling in North Carolina, where he 
made his home the rest of his life. 

Archibald Mitchell was reared and married in 
North Carolina. In 1805 he penetrated the wilds 
of Kentucky and cast in his lot with the pioneers 
of Warren County, that State, where he crrried on 
farming until his career was brought to a close. 



The father of the subject of this notice was five 
years old when his parents took him to their pio- 
neer home in the Kentucky wilderness, .and there he 
grew to a stalwart manhood. In due time he mar- 
ried, and in 1829 came to Illinois with his family, 
bringing his household goods with him, and mak- 
ing the removal with ox-teams, cooking and camp- 
ing by the way. After a residence of one year in 
Marion County, he went to Morgan County, where 
he rented a house and lived until the spring of 
1831, when he came to this county, and was one 
of the early settlers of what is now Brushy Mound 
Township. At that time this section was but thinly 
inhabited, .and Carlinville was but a hamlet of a 
few log houses and one store. The home of Mr. 
Mituliell's ne.arest neighbor was five miles distant. 
He entered eighty acres of Government laud on 
section 24. A cabin stood thereon which some 
squatter had abandoned and after he had taken his 
goods from the wagon the father of our subject pro- 
ceeded to tear the cabin down, and then replaced 
it bv a better one. Later he buUt another log house, 
which was covered with shakes that were rived by 
hand and held in place by poles, the floor was of 
puncheon, and the chimney of earth and sticks. 
He subsequently erected a log house, and later a 
frame and here he resided until death called him 
from the scenes of his many years of labor and he 
entered upon eternal rest August 17, 1877. During 
his long residence here of nearly half a century he 
h.ad accumulated a goodly amount of property, and 
at one time had over a thousand acres of land in this 
county and fourteen hundred acres in Kansas. His 
name will ever occupy an honorable place among 
those of the pioneers who were the most active and 
enterprising in the upbuilding of this part of the 
State and were potent in advancing its agricultural 

interests. 

Elijah Mitchell was twice married, and was the 
father of twenty-one children, eighteen of whom 
were reared. His first wife, mother of our subject, 
was Jane Moore. She w.as born in Kentucky, and 
died inl843 on the home farm. She bore her husband 
twelve children, eleven of whom attained to matu- 
rity, namely, Millie, Levi, Martha A., Elizabeth, 
Travis, Lucy and Sally (twins), Jane, William T., 
PlKcbe and Elijah. Mr. Mitchell's second wife, 



6G-2 



PORTRAIT AND BIOORAPHICAL RECORD. 



whom he mairierl in 1849, was Hannah Hollings- 
woith. A review of her life appears elsewhere in 
this work. 

William T. Mitchell was reared in his native 
township, and received his early education in the 
pioneer schools, which were taught in a rude log 
house that was heated by a fireplace, and a log was 
cut out of the wall nearly the entire length of the 
building to admit light. There was no floor, and 
poles were split to make benches, which were sup- 
ported by wooden pegs. These primitive seats 
were entirely destitute of backs. At that early 
day game was plentiful, deei- being numerous for 
some years after the Mitchell family settled here. 
There was no railway, and the markets and depots 
for su|)plies wen; Alton and St. Louis. 

Our subject resided with his parents until he bo- 
came of age, and then started for himself, working 
by the month for two months, and during the 
winter season chopping wood, for which he received 
seventy-five cents a cord, his board costing him 
*2 per week. He was very industrious, and 
prudently saved his earnings, and finally rented 
land for two years. His father then gave him a 
tract of seventy acres of wild prairie, on which he 
settled in the spring of 1863, and where he has 
since resided. He now has one hundred and nine- 
ty acres of very productive land, which is in a fine 
condition as to cultivation and improvements, and 
he has thirty-five acres of valuable timber land. 
He has erected an excellent set of frame buildings, 
and his place has an air of neatness and thrift that 
betokens good care and fine management on the 
part of the owner. i 

Mr. Mitchell and Miss Mary N. A. Williams were 
married February 28,1861,and their wedded life has 
been mutually beneficial, and has given them four 
children, whom they have named Jesse C, Paul, 
Travis, and Nannie. Jesse married Rosa Perrine! 
and they have one child, Nona. Travis married 
Alice Barnstable and they had one child, deceased. 
Mrs. Mitchell is a native of Knox County, Tenn., 
and is a daughter of Jesse and Sarah Williams' 
Both she and her husband are members of the 
Baptist Church, and in all things in which it is con- 
cerned for the moral and social advancement of the 
community we find them active co-operators with 



their pastor and fellow-members. They are highly 
regarded by all who have the pleasure of knowing 
them for their many sterling characteristics. Poli- 
tically, Mr. Mitchell is a warm supporter of the 
Democratic party. 




|)OBERT R. COOPER. Prominent among 
the farmers of Barr Township, is the citizen 
of whom we now write. His excellent 
buildings and thoroughly cultivated farm 
are an ornament to this section and are both 
attractive and profitable. His tract of four hun- 
dred snd forty-five acres is one of the most pro- 
ductive in the township and in every way shows 
the hands of a thorough-going farmer, who has de- 
I voted his life to agricultural pursuits and who 
carries on his work according to business-like 
methods. 

Edmund L. Cooper, the father of our subject 
was born in Virginia, as was also the mother, who 
bore the maiden name of Mary M. Perry. When 
young people they came to Kentucky from iheir 
native State, and there became acquainted and 
were joined in marriage. Their second emigration 
was from Christian County, Ky., to Greene County, 
HI., which |)lace they reached in the spring of 
1836. Here they lived until the death of" the 
mother in March, 1886, having reached the very 
advanced age of ninety-three and one-half years. 
Her aged husband who survives her was ninety-two 
years old in September, 1890. 

The subject of this sketch was the fourth in a 
family of eight children, being born in Christian 
County, Ky., January 22, 1828, and came when a 
little lad of eight years to Greene County, this 
State in the spring of 1836. He was reared by his 
parents and given a good district school education 
and a thorough training on the farm. He remained 
with his parents until he was married and then 
settled in Barr Township. 

Mr. Cooper was married in Greene County, this 
State, to Nancy A. Parks, who was born in Tennes- 
see, October 1, 1S29. Their wedding day was 
December 9, 1850. Three of her seven children 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



665 



(lied in infancy and those who grew to ninturily 
are: Henry E., who is a farmer in Gi'eene County, 
tliis Stale; Adrian E., wlio farms in Barr Town- 
ship; Mary E , who died wiien nineteen years old; 
Lucy Belle, wlio became the wife of Joiin W. 
011)ert and died when about twenty years old. 
The mother of these children passed from earth in 
Barr Township, June 22, 1868. 

The second wife of Mr. Cooper was Elizalirtii 
Ridings, a native of North Carolina; she became 
the mother of two children, Frank and Edna, the 
hitler dying in infancy. Mrs. Elizabclh Cooper 
died in Barr Townsiiip, February 3, 1871. 

The present Mrs. Coo[ier bore the maiden 
name of Mary J. Bacon and she was a Tennesseean 
by birth. .Six children have been granted to her, 
namely: Ella D., Fred, Edgar, Charlie. Hattie M., 
Jennie 1'. Mr. Cooper has not been an oMice- 
secker but at tlic request of his fellow-citizens has 
acted as School Director. He takes an active part 
in local politics and is a Repu!)lican in his views 
and vote. He is also interested in religious move- 
ments and with his exi'ellent wife is an active 
member of the Baptist Church, where for a number 
of years he has served as Deacon. He is also a 
member of the Patrons of Industry and is wide- 
awake in regard to all movements which look to 
the improvement, socially, financially and indus- 
trially, of the farming conMuimity. 



-:^EORGE S. BROWN. One totally unac- 
s^ quainted with the details of farm life, the 
■i^JAj value of different soils or the modifying 
influence of forests, hills and prairies, can still judge 
of the worth of an estate :uid the ca[)abilit3' of its 
manager at a glance. Fields wherein weeds till 
every fence corner and lift their heads between the 
rows of grain, inadequate shell(;r for stock and 
crops, tumbled down fences and a general air of 
ilisorder give conclusive i)roof that tlie land is 
l)Oorly managed. On the other hand the appear 
ance of neatness and order prevailing Ihrougiiout 
ever}' part of the estate is an equally conclusive 
evidence of good management, industry, and fer- 



tility of the soil. The farm of the gentleman above 
named belongs to the latter class, the buildings 
being most excellent and every improvement kept 
ui) in good shape. It is located on section 15, 
North Palmyra Township. We are pleased to pre- 
sent a brief review of the life of the owner to our 
readers, and invite their attention to his [jortrait 
on the oi)posite i»age. 

The immediate progenitors of our subject were 
Bedford and Caroline (Springer) Brown, both na- 
tives of Kentucky. They came to Morgan County 
in the fall of 1828 and there spent the remainder 
of their dajs, Mr. Brown dying about 1873 and his 
wife passing away about 1879. Of thoireighl chil- 
dren our subject is the eldest and was born in 
P'ranklin County, Ky., December 11, 1823. He 
nccomi)anied his parents to Morgan County in 1828 
and grew to manhood upon a farm there, assisting 
his father until his marriage. When the war with 
Mexico broke out he enlisted ns a soldier in de- 
fense of our country. He was a member of Com- 
pany I), First Illinois Regiment, and w.as present at 
the battle of Buena Vista. With three other men 
he was taken piisoncr. They were shot down while 
Mr. Brown made an almost miraculous escape. 

The marriage of our subject in Morgan County 
October 23, 1848 united him with Mary S. Wood, 
a daughter of Thomas and Lucretia (Fry) Wood, 
both natives of the Blue Grass State. They re- 
moved to Morgan County in 1821) and lived there 
aiid in other |)arts of tl'c Slate, dying (inally in that 
county, he about 1815 and his wife about 1883. Of 
of a family of seven chihlren, Mrs, Brown was the 
eldest, she being born in Bourbon County, Ky., 
July 7, 1829. 

After Iheir marriage this young couple settled 
dovvn to make their new humc in Morgan County 
and engaged in farming there until about the 3ear 
1881, when they removed to Sangamon County 
and made i* their home for four years. After that 
the}' came to ]Macoui)in County and made their 
home on section 15, North Palmyra Township. At 
one time Mr. Brown owned fully one thousand 
acres of land. Six children came to cheer their 
hearts and three the}' have seen grow to years of 
maturity two of them having established homes of 
their own. William T. nianied Miss Anna Tliomp- 



666 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



son and makes his home in Jacksonville: Cordelia 
C. is the wife of Henn J. Myers: Leonard G. is a 
graduate of the Business College at Jacksonville. 
The children whom the^v lost were Uiken from them 
in infancy. The surviving members of the family 
belong to the Presbyterian Church. 

In political movements our subject ever takes an 
active interest and is a worker for the Republican 
party in whose principles and success he has great 
faith. He has held school offices but prefers the 
quiet life of a farmer. Both he and his excellent 
wife are earnest membei-s of the Presbyterian 
Church, and he has contributed liberally to the 
support of religious objects, and also for the build- 
ing of churches, not con6ning his donations to his 
own denominations. In 1889, with two brothers, 
he donated $7,500 to the Illinois College at Jack- 
sonville and this is known as the Brown Endow, 
ment Fund. 

As a man of wealth Mr. Brown has gladly used 
his possessions both for the good of others and the 
comfort of his family. His beautiful residence 
embodies manj- valuable and modern im[)rove- 
ments and is furnished with exquisite taste. His 
brothers. Reuben and Charles Brown, are residents 
of Pawnee Township, Sangamon County, and arc 
men of influence in that section of the Slate. Mr. 
Brown W.1S one of the organizers of the bank of 
Modesto, Brown, Nevins i Co., constituting the 
firm. Together with the other members of the 
family, Mr. Brown is highly' esteemed in the com- 
munity and his influence is always given toward a 
true manner of life and the u|ilifting of humanity. 



LBERT H. McALISTKR. Prominent in 
^Wixi ''^^ farming community of Macoupin 
County is this gentleman, who is known as 
the owner and operator of a fine farm of 
three hundred acres on section IS. Shaw's Point. 
Township. Although not one of the oldest settlers 
of this county he has for many years been identified 
with its progress and has contributed his quoUi to 
its development. He enjoys an enviable reputa- 
tion not only .as a capable, energetic farmer but has 



made a good record as one who works well for the 
public. In various offices he has demonstrated his 
ability and judgment and in business and t)olitical 
ciscles is spoken of as a man of honor and tact. He 
is now serving his second term as Sujiervisor of the 
township, and has been School Director. Trustee 
and Townsliip Clerk, besides holding several minor 
offices. Believing the interests of the people are 
best sub.<erved through the principles of the Dem- 
orcratic party, he gives his influence and casts his 
ballot for those candid.ates who are pledged to its 
support. An active worker in the ranks of his 
chosen parly, he is well informed and tsikes an iii- 
terest in the progress of affairs, not only near at 
hand but in the remoter regions of tbe earth. 

The parents of Mr. .Mc.\lister were natives of 
Ontario. Canad.s. The father. Wellington by na.ne, 
still resides in Brant County, thai province, but the 
mother, whose maiden name was Samantha Brown, 
has been dead for many years. The family w.as small 
comprising onlj- two children and of these our sud- 
ject is the younger. He was born in Brant County, 
Ontario. March 4, 1840, and passed the first eigh- 
teen yeai-s of his life on his father's farm, wliere he 
aided in preparing the Ian 1 for cultivation and ac- 
quired a thorough knowledge of agricultural aflfairs. 
He had few of the educational advantages enjoyed 
by the youth of to-day, but being an intelligent ob- 
server and thoughtful reader, lie is well informed 
on all important topics and current events. 

At the age of eighteen years Mr. McAlister ac- 
compauied his uncle, Capt. Owen McAlister. to Ill- 
inois and located in Macoupin County. Here for 
a time he worked at diflferent occupations, farming, 
carpentry and also taught school for three terms. 
Since he first came here he has been a continuous 
resident of this county, with the exception of six 
years p.asse<i in Montgomery and Christian Counties. 
He h.as devoted his attention principally to gen- 
eral farming and stock-raising, from which he de- 
rives a satisfactory income. He was married in 
Bunker Hill Township, this county, to Miss Char- 
lotte Brown, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Brown, 
This lady died in Carlinvillc, 111.. October 12, 187!>. 
She w.as a consistent member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church. 

Mr. McAlister was again married April 26, 1880, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



6G7 



choosinj< as his wife Miss Sarali Chapin, who was 
born in Brant County, Ontario, Decenihpr 16, 1842. 
Mrs. McAlister is tiie daughter of r.yman and Ma- 
tilda (Fairchild) Ciiapin, botli of wlioni died in 
Brant County, Ontario. Slic is a devoted member 
of the Baptist Churcii. and an m^ive member 
in th.at organization. Her fine cliaracter, intelli- 
gence and hospitality win for iicr many warm friends 
and with her husband she is held in the highest es- 
teem wiierever known. 

.^ATHAN R. SMITH, a thrifty farmer and 
stock-raiser residing on section 2G, Dor- 
jl^Mj Chester Township, where he owns and oper- 
ates a good farm of one hundred ar,d fifty-three 
acres, is numbered among the honored pioneers of 
the county of 1841, and has therefore been a wit- 
ness of almost its entire growth and development. 
A native of Illinois, he was born in Creene County, 
December 5, 1838, and is the eldest son of Thomas 
and Mary (Chatani) Smith. His paternal grand- 
father, Nathan Smith, was born and reared in 
North Carolina in the usual manner of farmer lads 
and for many years resided near Raleigh. He 
served his country as a private during the Revo- 
lutionary War and died at the age of sixty-three 
years. He had been twice married, both times in 
North Carolina to ladies of that State. His second 
wife survived him and died at a very advanced 
age. Thomas Smith, father of our subject, was 
born on the old homestead near Raleigh, N. C, in 
1813, and was the eldest of quite a large family, 
seven of whom came to Illinois, while one is yet 
living, being a resident of Irving, III. At about 
the time when Thomas attained his majority his 
mother died and soon afterward with other mem- 
bers of the family he emigrated to the West and 
made a settlement in Staunton Township. Macou- 
pin County, 111. A short time afterwar.l he re- 
moved to Alton where he wedded Miss Mary 
Chatam, a native of Virginia. Her father died 
when she was nine years old and subsequently she 
accompanied her mother to Tennessee, where the 
latter died some years afterward. Miss Chatam 



came on to Illinois and located in Alton, where 
she met and married Mr. Smith. They settled on 
a farm in Greene County, and after the birth of 
their first child removed to Madison County, 
whence, after some years, they came to Macoupin 
County. In Staunton Township Mr. Smith made 
his first purchase of land, the tract being now situat- 
ed within the corporation limits of the city, which, 
however, was then a mere hamlet. Upon tiiat 
farm the father resided until his death, which oc- 
curred May 29, 1852. In politics he was a Whig 
and was a worthy citizen. His widow afterw.ard 
became the wife of a Mr. West, and unto them 
was born a son, with whom she is now living. 
For her third husband she married a Mr. Knight, 
who died some years ago. The lady has now 
reached the advanced age of seventy-one years. 

Our subject is the eldest of six children, all of 
whom are now married and reside within the bor- 
ders of this State. The greater part of his life has 
been passed in Macoupin County and he was early 
inured to hard work. As his father died when he 
was young much of the labor of the household de, 
volved upon Nathan Smith and he had to assist in 
providing a maintenance for the family. Thus he 
was deprived of many advantages which most 
youths share, but he has become a man of good 
judgment and by reading and observation has ac- 
quired an excellent knowledge of matters of gen- 
eral interest, lie was married in Staunton to Miss 
Serrelda Walker, wiio was born and reared on a 
farm near the city in which their union was cele- 
brated. She died in their home in Dorchester 
Township, May 13, 1874, leaving four children, 
one of whom, Carrie E., has died since the mother 
passed away. The living are: Charle.s W., who 
married Elizabeth Hutchinson and resides on a 
farm in Dorchester Township; Thomas H., who 
wedded Mattle Jones and is also a farmer of the 
same township; and James A., who is engaged in 
agricultural pursuits in Dorchester Township and 
married May Alexander. Mr. Smith has again 
been married, his second union being with Miss 
Elizabeth Cornelius, and the ceremony was per- 
formed by the Rev. Asa Snell in Stttunton. The 
lady was born in Bond County. 111., February 14, 
1843, and is a daughter of L. M. and Matilda 



668 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



(Askew) Cornelius, natives of Maniand and Illi- 
nois respectively. They were married in Jersey 
County, this State, where Mrs. Cornelius was born, 
and upon a farm in Bond County began their do- 
mestic life, removing thence to Dorchester Town- 
ship, Macoupin County, where they spent the 
ren.ainder of their days. Mr. Cornelius died in 
1865 at the .age of forty-five years and his wife, who 
had passed away seven years previous, was thirty- 
five years of age at the time of her death. By the 
union of Mr. and Mrs. Smith liave been born three 
children: Nathan C, DollieV. and Cornelius H. 

For the past fifteen years Mr. Smith has resided 
on his present farm, which he has placed under a 
high state of cultivation and to which he has added 
many improvements. Both he and his wife are 
held in high esteem throughout the communitv. 
Their home is tiie abode of hospitality and they 
are pleasant, sociable people wiio easily win friends 
and as easily retain them. In politics Mr. Smith is 
a Democrat and is a member of the National LoiJge, 
No. 4105, V. M. B. A. He lias held several of the 
offices in the gift of the [jeople of the Township, 
was for fourteen years Commissioner of Highways, 
is the present Supervisor of Dorchester Township 
and served as Township Clerk one year. Every 
trust reposed in him is faithfully discharged and 
he has proved an efficient officer. 



^^HILIP FLOOD, a lumber merciiant and 
dealer in hardware, agricultural implements, 
etc., is a well-known and respected resident 
of Girard. He w.as born in Dublin, Irel.nnd. 
December 29, 1832. His father, who bore the 
same name as himself, was also a native of that 
city. He, in turn, was a son of another Philip 
Flood, who was born in England, where he was 
reared, and in his youth learned the trade of a 
silversmith. He went to Dublin when a young 
man, followed his trade and spent the remainder 
of his life there. He married in Ireland a Miss 
Kate Doyle, who w.as a native of Donnybrook, 
that country. Her father, James Doyle, was also 
born there. He was a contr.actor and builder .and 



passed his entire life in the place of his birth. 
The mother of our subject came to America in 
1848, and her last years were p.issed in Cincin- 
nati. A daughter, Kate, married William Worth- 
ington, .ind always lived in Ireland. James w.as 
also a life-long resident of his native country, his 
family still living there. Edward came to this 
country in 1848, and later settled at St. Louis, 
where he spent his remaining d.ays. He left a 
family of turee daughters. George came to Amer- 
ica in 1855, and landed at Philadelphia. From 
that time all trace of him is lost. 

The father of our subject learned the trade of 
an upholsterer and decorator, which he alwavs 
followed during his active life, continuing to live 
in his native city until death. He w.as in limited 
circumstances and his son Philip, of whom we 
write, had to begin to assist in the support of the 
family at the age of twelve years. October 2, 
1848, ambitious to l)etter his condition, Philip de- 
termined to emigrate to America. Accordingly, 
lie set sail from Liverpool in the ship "Sir Charles 
Lapeer," and after a voyage of thirteen weeks 
landed at New Orleans. He went directly to Cin- 
cinnati, and there began an apprenticeship to the 
firm of Mitchell & Rammelsberg. furniture manu- 
facturers, binding himself for three years, at *3 a 
week for wages. At the end of that time he 
began journey work with the same firm, and in 
1855 his employers, establishing a br.anch factory 
at St. Louis, he was sent thither. He was finally 
promoted to the position of foreman, and later to 
be Superintendent of the entire business. The 
fad that he continued in the employ of th.at same 
firm thirty-one years speaks well for his ability and 
fidelity, .and shows that his employers held him in 
the highest esteem and confidence. During that 
long period of years he rose from ,an apprentice- 
ship at *3 a week to be Superintendent, with a 
salary of $3,500 a year, and a $10,000 interest in 
the firm and one of its directors. 

In 1875 Mr. Flood became interested in the 
lumber business at Girard, and in 1880 removed 
here to take charge of the business, of which he 
is sole proprietor. Besides carrying an extensive 
stock of lumber and builders' materials, he deals 
in hardware and .agricultural implements. He does 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



669 



a large and flourisliino; business, and is deservedly 
prosiieioiis, as lie is always strictly honorable and 
upright in ail his business transactions. 

January 1, 1853, Mr. Flood and Mrs. Christina 
Robbins (nee Case) were united in marriage and 
have since lived luippily together, establishing a 
pleasant iionie that is the center of true hospi- 
tality. Mrs. Flood is a native of Butler County, 
Ohio. 

Our subject was reared in the KpiscopaJ Church, 
but lie and his wife are now valued memliers of 
the Christian Cluirch. and are liberal in their con- 
tributions to its support, as well as toward all 
worth}' objects that will in any way enhance the 
welfare of the cominunit^'. Mr. Flood is promi- 
nent in social circles as a member of various or- 
ganizations. In 1853 he joined the Cincinnati 
Lodge, No. 3, I. O. O. F. At the present time he 
is a member of Wildey Lodge, No. 2. I. O. O. F., 
at St. Louis. In 1873 he became a member of tlie 
Pride of the West Lodge, No. 163, A. F. & A. M. 
He is also identilied with Girard Lodge, No. 171, 
A. V. it A. M.; is a member of (lirard Chapter, 
No. 132, R. A. M.; belongs to St. Onier Com- 
mr.ndery, No. 30, K. T.; and is a mcmbei- of the 
Council at Springfield. R. ife S. M. 



AMES D. PADEN. Jlie agricultural com- 
munity is tiie foundation for true prosiieiitj' 
in the State, and in the homes of the farm- 
ers we maj' read the future of the country. 
The family which is represented hy the gentleman 
whose name appears at the head of this sketch, 
constitutes one of those industrious and enter- 
prising households whose intelligence and integrity, 
common sense and true neighborliness influence all 
about them, and conduce to the prosperity of the 
section in which they live. Their excellent farm, 
upon which are situated a pleasant home and good 
farm buildings, is located upon section 20,Nilwood 
Township. 

Leroy M. Paden, the father of our subject, had 
his native home in South Carolina, and was born 
August 28, 1808. He took to wife Maria J. 



Fletcher, who was born in Todd County. Ivy., July 
23, 1818. In their early married life the>' settled 
near Hillsboro in Montgomery County, which re- 
mained their home until February, 1852, when 
they removed to Macoupin County, and settled in 
Nilwood Townshii), making tlieir home there for 
the remainder of their lives, with the exception of 
about a year and a half, when tliey lived in Virden. 
The father was called from earth October 26, 
1883, and his wife survived him until March 17, 
181)0. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Leroy M. Paden were active 
workers in the Presbyterian Church, to whicli they 
were attached and where the}' took a prominent 
part in religious affairs. Their work and influence 
were liiglii}' prized in the communit}', as they were 
ever ready to lend a hand 'oward every movement 
for the moral, intellectual and material progress of 
the people among whom they lived. Agriculture 
was the life work of Mr. Paden, and he was active 
in it until about six years prior to his demise, when 
he retired from the business of carrying on the 
farm, and lived a quiet life. He had erected good 
buildings on his farm, and at the time of his 4leath 
owned some three hundred acres of rich and well- 
cultivated soil. 

Four children had blessed the home of this ex- 
cellent couple, namely: Rebecca J., who is the 
wife of Harvey Madison; John P., who is carry- 
ing on a farm in Nilwood Township; James D., 
who is the suliject of this biographical sketch; and 
William II., wiiodied when about two and one-half 
years old. James was born in Nilwood Township, 
February 16, 1854. In this [ilcasant and prosper- 
ous portion of Macoupin County, tiie boy took his 
training in the active duties of farm life and at- 
tended the district schools, which gave him an ex- 
cellent' foundation for an intelligent and progressive 
life. Here he grew to manhood and has made his 
home continuously. 

The happy marriage of our subject with Miss 
Lunetta A. Gates was solemnized January 1 1, 1882, 
at the home of the bride in Nilwood Township. 
Her father, the late Albert K. Gates, was a Ken- 
tuckian by birth, and her mother, Mary E. (Stam- 
per) Gates, was born in Tennessee. Their early 
marritd home was in Sangamon County, III., and 



670 



PORTRAIT AMD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



from there they removed to Macoupin County, 
wliere tlioy resided in Sluiw's Point and Nilwood 
Townsliips. Mr. Gates passed away from life 
March 2, 1882. In a family of thirteen children 
Mrs. Paden was the second, and she early under- 
took the rei)onsibilities of an elder sister, and was 
of great value to her parents in the home duties 
which thus devolved upon her. Her natal day was 
April 1, 1862, and her birth took place in Sanga- 
mon County, III. 

Mr. and Jlrs. Paden are the happy parents of 
one child — Freddie L., who was born in Nilwood 
Township, November 13, 1883. 'I'his child thej' 
are rearing with faithful attention to his needs and 
to his physical, inoral and intellectual existence, 
and he will no doubt become sucli a citizen as will 
do them honor. The old Paden homestead is the 
residence of this family, and with it there is a fine 
farm of some eighty acres, well improved and 
supplied with convenient and commodious build- 
ings. 



I AMES G. RUMBOLZ.SuiJervisor of Bunker 
Hill Township, and Chairman of the County 
Board of Supervisors, is one of the promi- 
^^// nent citizens of Woodburn. He at present 
represeLts a business of insurance, real estate ana 
loans. He was born in lUinkcr Hill Township, 
January 23, 1845, and was reared and educated 
here, attending the public schools of the county 
until he was nearly seventeen years old, when he 
enlisted, July 21, 1861, in the First Missouri Cav- 
alry. He belonged to Company B, Capt. Clinton 
commanding, and his Colonel was C. A. Ellis. His 
legiment was placed in the Seventh Corps and was 
assigned to the Western Armj'. It left St. Louis 
in September, and went directly into the field of 
war. Our young hero fought at the battles of 
Black River, Mo., Sugar Creek, Ark., and Pea 
Ridge, Ky., where his regiment was placed in the 
forefront and sustained heavy losses. Later he 
was in the conflict of Prairie Grove and in the cap- 
ture of Little Rock, and assisted all through the 
campaigns west of the Mississippi River, up to the 



close of the war. He served in all four years and 
three months, and his discharge dates from Little 
Rock, Ark., September 20, 1865. Strange to say, 
he escaped without a wound, and was never cap- 
tured by the enemy. He was most of the time on 
special detail dut}-, and for a large [jortion of the 
time served as Clerk of the Trans-Mississippi De- 
partment. 

On being discharged at Little Rock, the young 
soldier returned to Woodburn, this county, and has 
since resided here. He has engaged in various 
kinds of business, but during the last six 3'ears has 
been doing a loan and real estate business, com- 
bined with insurance. He is the son of Gottlob 
Rumbolz, a native of Stuttgart, Germany, and of 
pure German bloo<l. The father was yet a j'oung 
man when he came to the United States with an 
older brother. They settled in the mining regions 
of Virginia, and engaged in raining in the Lewis 
gold mines until 1838. Gottlieb, a brother of our 
subject's father, crossed the jjlains to California, 
and as far as known carried on mining operations ■ 
until his death. It was not long before the family f 
learned that he had died there in comfortable cir- 
cumstances. The father of our subject came to 
this county in 1838 and entered land, and alter it 
was proved up he engaged in blacksmlthing. 

The mother of our subject was known in her 
maidenhood days as Susan Tompkins, a native of 
Virginia. She came of Southern and Scottish 
blood, and was a young woman wh en she emigrated 
to Illinois. She married the father of our subject in 
Virginia, and shortly after came to this county. 
After his death she became the wife of Thomas Hay- 
ton, whom she has survived. She is still livino- at the 
advanced age of eighty, five years, and makes her 
home with our subject. She is bright and active 
in her church membership and belongs to the Con- 
gregational Church, which was also the religious 
home of her last husband. 

Mr. Rumbolz is one of the three surviving chil- 
dren of his parents. His brother William resides 
with him, and his sister Elizabeth, wife of Frank 
Andrews, resides in Lincoln, Neb. Both of the 
brothers fought through the war on the Union side, 
and are both Democrats in their political views. 
William joined the army in April, 1861, in the 



rORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



671 



same regiment with James, and was not discharafed 
till Fehriiar}', 1866. He saw many engagements, 
and mucli hard fighting and narrow escapes. Our 
subject is considered as a young man of ability and 
character. He has intellectual keenness and bal- 
ance. He is looked upon by the men of his party 
as one of the most sagacious leaders among the 
younger men, and he will no doubt be pushed to 
the front in coming campaigns. On the 17th of 
June, 1891, Mr. Rumbolz wedded one of Ken- 
tucky's fair daughters, known as Fannie W. Tomp- 
kins, a daugliter of Robert R. Tompkins, one of 
the prominent families of Kentucky. 

■ -.i^^m^^ 

\f?ACOB P. KLEIN. Tiiis well-known resi- 
dent of Carlinville, who is one of the ex. 
tensive landowners of the county, is a native 
of Bavaria, where his birth took place No- 
vember 7, 1 830. His father was George Michael 
Klein, and he was born in the same country, as 
were also his parents, who spent their entire lives 
there. 

The father of our subject was reared on a farm, 
and resided in his Bavarian home until 1839, when, 
accompanied by his wife and their nine children, 
he came to America. They set sail from Havre, 
and after a V03'age of about six weeks landed at 
New Orleans, from there going directly to St. 
Louis, where they resided a few months, and then 
settled in Monroe County, where they were pio- 
neers. Mr. Klein bought Government land three 
miles from Waterloo, and also purchased an eighty- 
acre tract. On the latter there was a log cabin, the 
roof of which was covered by boards rived by 
hand, and held in place by weight poles. The 
floor and door were also of boards split by hand, 
and the latter was supplied with wooden hinges. 
Not a nail was used in the building. At that time 
there were no railway's, and but few wagon roads. 
The country was very thinly inhabited, and the 
people took the nearest route when they traveled, 
regardless of roads. St. Louis, twenty-five miles 
distant, was the nearest market for grain, stock and 
general produce, and for some time the father of 



our subject did all his farm work and marketing 
with oxen. He improved his land, and resided on 
his homestead for many years. A short time be- 
fore his death he came to Carlinville to live with 
his son Jacob, and died in his home in 1870, full 
of years. His wife had died on the home farm 
many years before, her death occurring in 1854. 
They were the parents of ten children, namely: 
Peter, Wilhelmina, Louis, Sibilla, Christina, Mar- 
garette, Barbara, Jacob P., George J. and Christina 
Barbara. One died in infancy. Peter served in 
the Mexican War, and also in the Civil War, as 
did George. 

The subject of this sketch was in his ninth year 
when his parents brought him to America. The 
rest of his boyhood was passed in Monroe County, 
this State, and when quite young he had to assist 
in the duties of the farm. In the meantime he im- 
proved every o|)portunity to obtain an education, 
the first school that he attended being the district 
school t4iat was taught in his father's house. He 
resided with his parents until he attained his ma- 
jority, and then married and established a home of 
his own, settling on a tract of timber land which 
his father iiad previously given him. He built a 
log house, riving the boards for the roof by hand, 
and in that rude structure he and his wife com- 
menced housekeeping. They lived there three 
years, and then Mr. Klein sold that place and 
bought one hundred and twenty acres of land close 
to Waterloo. That w.as his home until 1865, when 
he again sold, and coming to Carlinville, purchased 
a house on West Main Street, and kept a hotel for 
twc»years. During that time he bought the place 
where he now resides, and also three hundred acres 
in Brushy Mound Township, which he still owns. 
He has besides eighty five acres of timber land in 
Gillespie and Brushy Mound Townships, and four 
hundred acres consisting mostly of bottoiu land in 
those townships. 

Mr. Klein married in Monroe Count}', Jul}' 20, 
1851, Miss EJizabeth Rick. Mrs. Klein was born 
in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and came to Amer- 
ica with her parents. Of this union three children 
have been born, of whom two survive: Mary, the 
wife of W. O. Steinmeyer, of Carlinville; and 
Henry, who married Wary Steinmeyer, and lives 



C72 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



nt Ft. Madisin, Iowa. Catherine the first child, 
died at tiic age of two years. 

Both Mr. Klein and his estimable wife are con- 
nected with tiie Evangelical Church. Polilicallv 
he was for many years i("(cntilied with the Reinibli- 
can party, but since 1872 has affiliated with the 
Democrats in national elections, while in local poli- 
tics he is independent, aiming to sui)part the best 
man, irrespective of parly. 



':>^^:5^^^5t><-*^-^ 



\y| AMES K. FUIJREK. As manager of the C. 
II. C. Anderson Bank, of Carlinville, with 
which institution he has been connected for 
'fj a [jcriod of more tlian twenty years, Mr. 
Furber has displ;iyed marked ability as a financier, 
and lie has been a potent agent in establishing this 
county on a firm momentary basis. lie is of New 
England birth and ancestry, l)orn in the town of 
Roclicster, N. H., January 31, 1831. The Furbers 
originated in England, and the first members of the 
family to come to America were tliree brothers,who 
landed on these shores in Colonial times, and set- 
tled in Newington, N. H. 

William Furber, grandfather of our subject, was 
born at Newington, April 20, 1778. The maiden 
name of his wife was Alice Furber. She was a 
native of Newington, N. H. 

The father of our subject was reared on a farm, 
but as he had a taste for mechanics he learned the 
trade of a carpenter in his youth. He removed 
from Rochester to Portsmouth, N. H., in 1836, and 
resided there until 184G, when iie wont to Pem- 
broke.in which place he dwelt until November.1848, 
and he then left his native State for Illinois, as he 
rightly thought that in a young and growing State 
men of his calling would be in demand. His wife 
and children accompanied him to the new home, 
and they came by the most expeditious route at 
that time, which was by rail from Portsmouth to 
Buffalo, thence by Lake Eric to Cleveland, from 
there by rail to Cincinnati, from that city by the 
Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to Alton, and thence 
by team to Bunker Hill, in this county, having been 
fourteen days on the way from Worcester, Mass. 



At that time Bunker Hill was a small but flourish- 
ing village, with one church and two or three stores. 
The prairies of Macoupin County were but sparsely 
settled, and deer and other kinds of game still 
abounded. 

Mr. Furlier bought a trad of wild land one mile 
northeast of the village at *10 an acre, and he 
creeled suitable buildings and located on the pl.ace. 
He carried on his trade as a carpenter the greater 
part of the time, while his sons improved the land. 
He resided on his homestead until 1880, when he 
sold it. and coming to Carlinville, made his home 
with his son of whom we write, until death closed 
his life at a ripe ,age in October, 1884. His wife, 
whose maiden name was Tryphena Downing, pro- 
ceeded him in death, dying in 1868. Thcy°reared 
seven chihlren, namely: Charles W., James K., John 
L.. George D„ Simeon S , Mury S. and Tryphena. 
The mother of our subject was a native of Roches- 
ter, N. H., and a daughter of Benjamin and Try- 
phena (Knowles) Downing. 

James K. Furber laid the foundations of liberal 
education in the public schools of Portsmouth, N. 
H., and he subsequently became a student at Pem- 
broke Academy, which he attended two years. He 
was fourteen years old when the family came to 
Illinois, and he remained an inmate of the parental 
home until 1860, assisting his father in the manage- 
ment of the farm. In that year he entered the 
mercantile business at Gillespie, remaining there 
two years. In 1862 he came to Carlinville as Dep- 
uty Sheriff, which position he held two years. He 
then became Clerk in the office of the County Clerk, 
and acted in that capacity until December, 1869, 
when he entered the bank of C. H. C. Anderson,' 
with which institution he has been prominentlv 
ide.itified ever since. He rapidly rose in the con- 
fidence of his employer, who early recognized his 
talents, and came to place great reliance in his un- 
erring judgment in regard to money matters, and 
to refer to him in important monetary transactions. 
I'nder his watchful care in the responsible position 
of Manager of the Bank it has increased in useful- 
ness and jiopularity, and its business has been ex- 
tended. 

Our subject and his amiable wife have becii 
li^ppy ill their married life, upon which they en- 




A.ADAMS. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



675 



tei'cd in June, 1864. Mrs. Furber was formerly 
Mnry E. Alhird, a daughter of Samuel AUard, and 
.she is a n;dive of Woodbiirn, this county. Of llie 
nine cliildren l)orn to lier and our subject, these 
four are livinii: — .laines D., AVilliiini A.. Ella and 
Carrie B. 

A gentleman of honor, always courteous and co!i- 
siderate in iiis intercourse with others, Mr. Furber 
enjoys in a rare degree the regard and trust of nn 
extensive acquaintance among whom he has man\- 
warm, personal friends. Since his residence in this 
city he has lent his influence to all things tending 
to its elevation, whether in a material, moral, edu- 
cational or political sense. He has been a conspic- 
uous 6gnre in its public life in the highest civic 
otlices within the gift of his fellow-citizens, being 
at one time Mayor of Carlinville, and for four 
3'oai"s he was President of the School Bo.Trd. His 
socinl relations are with Jit. Nebo Lodge, No. 76, 
A. F. it A. M. In Iiis political sentiments, he is 
a sound Democrat. In his religious views he is a 
believer in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church.of which both he and his wife are members. 



; USTIN ADAMS. This gentleman who was 
' ^/u| i an important factor in the development and 

Jlj 111 improvement of Bird Township, an<l 
1^1 whose portrait is shown on the opposite 

page passe<l from the busy scenes of earth -June 4, 
1891. At one time he was numbered among the 
largest landowners in the couniy but before Iiis 
demise he disposed of the greater part of his large 
estate to his children. In this he has shown the 
wisdom of the keen men of to-da}' who arc learn- 
ing to be their own executors and no longer trust 
to the uncertain processes of the Probate Courts. 

The father of our subject, Horatio Adams, was 
born in Kentucky- in 1799, and his wife. Siotha 
Meuar was also a native of Kentucky, born there 
in 1802. The father of Horatio was Andrew Ad- 
ams, who was born in Germany, and emigrated to 
America when a small child. He engaged exten- 
sively in farming and died in Henry Count}', Ky.. 



at the extreme age of one hundred and two years. 
Horatio Adams was reared to manhood in Henr\' 
County, Ky. He was an active and enterprising 
man of broad views and keen intelligence, and 
was active up to the lime of his deattj which was 
caused by a paralyiic stroke when he was seventj'- 
four j'ears old. The father of his wife, Siotha 
Meuar, was Jereminh Jlcuar, who was born in Vir- 
ginia, of Scotch parentage. His father was a far- 
mer in the land of Burns and emigrated to Amer- 
ica at a verj' early day. He made his first home 
in Virginia and afterward removed to Kentuck}' 
where he died at the venerable age of almost one 
hundred years. He was highly honored by all 
who knew him for his character and patriotism, 
and was a soldier in the Rcvolutionarj' War. 

Horatio Adams emigrated from Kentuck}- to 
Illinois in September, 1828, and made his home in 
Clay County and afterward in Green County of 
'.his State. After a residence in the latter place 
of some five or six years, he came to Macoupin 
County and made his final home in Bird Town- 
ship, where he continued to reside till his death 
in August. 1874. He bad been bereaved of his 
wife about six months previous to his own death. 
Both are buried in Bird Township. Their memory 
is blessed and cherished not only by their children 
and grandchildren but bj- the members of the 
Methodist P^piscopal Church with whom the}- were 
in the bonds of fellowship, and by all who enjoyed 
the pleasure of their acquaintance. 

An interesting family of five sons and five daugh- 
ters gathered about this worth}' and venerable 
couple. The oldest daughter, Pliojbe, w.as the 
wife of Brookings Chatman, and died in Bird 
Township, August 14, 1849. Next came the sons, 
Jefferson and Austin. The second daughter, Eliza, 
was the wife of John Kessinger antl died Novem- 
ber 20, 1878. The next two children were sons, 
Andrew and William. The daughter Martha, be- 
'jame the wife of William Rice, and died in 1851. 
Nancy, who was the wife of Rev. Adam Wag- 
goner, died in Carlinville, 111., in 1860. Agnes, 
Mrs. George Bates, died in 1868. The youngest 
child was John ^l. 

Austin Adams was the third child in his father's 
family and w.as born March 7. 1826, in Henry 



€76 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



County, Ky. He was a child of only three years 
when he came with his parents to this State, and 
was educated in the district schools and trained in 
tiie practical details of farm life. He remained 
with his parents until he was about twenty-two 
jcars of age, when he look to himself a wife at 
Anderson's Point in Cariinville Township, Decem- 
ber 29,1847. 

The Iad3- who thus became Mrs. Adams was 
M iss Maria C. Anderson, a sister of the late C. H. 
C. Anderson whose biography will be found 
elsewhere in tliis volume, and a daugliter of the 
late James C. and Ann R. ( Harris) Anderson. She 
was born in Christian County, K3'., June 4, 1821, 
and died January fi, 1890, in Bird Township. She 
was the happy mother of seven children. The 
eldest, a son, died in early infancy. The second 
is James H; Leonora and Lodusea both died in 
infancy; Rejena M. is the wife of E. F. Wood- 
man; Leonora S. is the wife of W. V. McCann; 
Austin E. took to wife Miss Eva A. Robinson. 

The subject of this notice followed the occupa- 
tions of faiming and stociv-raising. Wlieu he was 
Brst married iie rented land for one year in Cariin- 
ville and after that purchased a farm of three hun- 
dred and twenty acres in Bird Township, where 
he passed the remsiinder of his life. He increased 
his possessions until he was the prosperous owner 
of about one tiiousand acres. He erected excellent 
buildings upon his land and made extensive and 
))ernianent improvements. As before stated he gave 
to his children most of the land which he had ac- 
cumulated, thus acting the wise part of executing 
tlie provisions of his will while alive. 

In his earl3' days Mr. Adams was of the Whig 
persuasion politically, but after the organization of 
the Republican party he espoused its principles and 
casts his vote for its candidates. For forty years 
his first wife was an earnest member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and for some fort3--fivc years 
Mr. Adams was a devoted member of that church 
and contributed liberally of his means toward the 
erection of churches and the support of the Gospel. 

On March 16, 1891, Mr. Adams was married a 
second time, choosing as his wife Miss Mattie L. 
Black, the daughter of Peter and Rebecca (Chiles) 
Black, natives respectively of Kentucky and Illi- 



nois. The wedded life of our subject and his es- 
timable wife was of brief duration and was termin- 
ated b3' tlie death of Mr. Adams a few months 
later. His loss is sadly fell by his sorrowing wife, 
his bercaveil children and his many friends. A 
public-spirited citizen, he richly deserved the 
honor and esteem freely granted him b^- his neigh- 
bors, and his memory will be held in loving re- 
membrance for many years yet to come. 

"We mourn for him whose life has flown 
Out from its fragile shell of cl.13' 
Into the nighlless perfect day. 

To reap the fruit that here was sown." 



-f^^' 

JOHN WESLEY THACKER. We are pleased 
to present here a brief biographical sketch 
of one of the well-known and highly re- 
siJected agriculturists of Girard Township, 
whose social standing is such as to give him promi- 
nence in the communitj'. He was born on his 
father's home farm in Nilwood Township, this 
county, July 24, 1854. His father, Zachariah and 
his mother, Nancy (Walker) Tliacker, were the par- 
ents of seven children, and he was the third son. 
A n extended sketch of Zachariah Thacker appears 
elsewhere in this volume, and we are gratified to 
to have a double opportunity of calling attention 
to this interesting family. 

The subject of this sketch was reared upon the 
home farm and soon as he was old enough attended 
school he began going to the district school, while 
at the same time making himself useful upon the 
farm. He gi-ew up into a sturdy and healthy far- 
mer's boy and became of great assistance to his 
father. He remained with his parents until his 
marriage which occurred just before he reached his 
majority. 

The domestic life of Mr. Th.ackcr has been a hap- 
py and |)rosperous one. He was married March 24, 
1875 to Miss Christiana Garst, who has proved 
indeed a helpmate and a genial companion. To 
this excellent couple have been born five children, 
Delia Ann; Cora May ; Vernie Ellen ; Mary John; 
and Albert Harvey. These are all being trained 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



677 



in domestic duties as well as being given a good 
sciiool education. 'I'liey are also biougiit up in 
the C'iiristian faitii, and Mr. and Mis. Tliacker are 
conscientious and devoted members of the Baptist 
CluucL. Tiiey are leaders in tliought in tiie farm- 
ing community, being active members of the Un- 
ion tirange. The Republican party embodies the 
political principles with which Mr. Thacker finds 
himself in harmony and while not in any sense an 
office seeker he is rejoiced to see the prosi)erity of 
his party. 



^ 



E^^^ 




DAM FKLTER, a prominent citizen of 
Girard, is of German birth. He was born 

(/ (li in Hesse-Darmstadt, .lune 4, 1813, and is a 
,5g^ son of Peter and Mary (Schneider) Felter, 

who were also natives of the same place as tlieir 
son. There the^' passed their married life and 
ended their days in jieace at the old homestead. 
The son secured an opjjortunity to learn the trade 
of a nail- maker, and having done so at the age of 
eighteen years he left the parental roof. 

Tills joung man now set sail for America, leav- 
ing Bremen in May and landing in New York after 
a voyage of sixty- four days. He went at once to 
Mercer, Ohio, where his brother William lived. He 
landed in the new home with only lifty cents i.i 
his pocket. His first work was on the National 
road and after thirteen days' labor there he took 
the ax in hand and began clearing land for his 
brother. He spent a few months in Mercer, and 
then went to St. Louis County, Mo., and engaged 
in farming. He resided for a time in Adams 
County, and then came to Macoupin County and 
rented land for a time. 

At the time when our subject first came to this 
county, there was not a house standing where now 
the prosperous villages of Girardand Virden are 
located and most of the land was in possession of 
the Government. Deer and wolves abounded, and 
all was like a wilderness. He rook up one hundred 
and twenty acres of land ami after a few years had 
it in a fine state of cultivation. Later he bought 
Other land until he had twice tlie amount with 



which he began, and all well-improved. He erec- 
ted good frame buildings upon his farm and resided 
tliere for seven years. 

Mr. Felter decided to sell his farm and go a little 
farther West, and did so, making his new home for 
more than two years in Lafayette Count}-, Mo. 
But after all Illinois was more homelike to him and 
he disposed of this property and returned to Virden 
and bought a farm of one hundred and sixt^'-seven 
acres. After residing there some years, he rented 
out this farm and went to live on a new proi)ertv 
which he purchased in Girard Township. He re- 
sided on this tract of one hundred and twenty- 
seven acres until 1886, and then purchased property 
where he now resides. He still owns the two farms 
above spoken of and another tract of eighty acres 
in North Otter Tovvnship. 

The marriage of Mr. Felter in 1844 united 1dm 
with Cornelia McDaniel, whose father. John 
McDaniel, was one of the pioneers of Morgan 
County. He made his home there when Jackson- 
ville was but a hamlet. His daughter was born 
upon this pioneer faim in 1820, and was very young 
when her parents died. She was kindly cared for 
and was taken into the household of Alexander 
Bell. 

Seven ciiildren have been given to this worthy 
coup'e, all of whom have been spared to the pres- 
ent time and e.ncli one has established a home and a 
household. They are named, Sarah, George, 
Hnntiaii, Fllen, Albert, John and David. All who 
know Mr. Felter unite in saying that he brought 
with him from the old country those sterling qual- 
ities which make the best class of German citizens, 
and his industry, frugality and steadfastness, have 
combined to give to him a degree of prosperity 
which he could never have known across the seas. 






■l^ AVID H. JOHNSTON is proprietor of one 
of the largest and oldest established busi- 
ness houses of Bunker Hill. At the age 
of fifteen he entered the store as a clerk, 
continuing to serve in that capacity for some time 
and during that interval by industry and economy 




678 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAFHICAL RPX'ORD. 



acquired sufficient capital to eslablisli iiimself in 
business. In consequence the firm of Davis, John- 
ston (fe Co. was organized and became owner of the 
store wherein our subject had received his business 
training. After that several changes occurred in 
the firm. On the death of Mr. Davis, Edward Bar- 
ton became a partner of Mr. Jolinston, and their 
connection continued for seven years or until the 
death of the former in September, 1883, when 
David H. admitted Charles J. .Johnston as a part- 
ner under the style of .Tohnsion Bros. They did 
business together for a few years, and tiien the con- 
nection was discontinued, since whicii time David 
H. has been alone in business. The establishment 
of which he is now proprietor, is one of the finest 
and largest in Bunker Hill. It is located on Wash- 
ington Street, and his stock of goods, comprising 
dry goods, clothing, carpets, boots and shoes, occu- 
pies rooms covering two thousand feet on the 
ground floor and two thousand square feet in the 
second story. Hardly an enterprise of any import- 
ance has been established in Bunker Hill that Mr. 
Johnston is not numliered among the prime leaders 
in the movement or among the stockholders. 

Of Scotch birth, Mr. Johnston possesses many 
of the best characteristics of that race. He was 
born on the 5th of April, 1846, in Ayershire, Scot- 
land, and is a son of Robert and J.-vne (Hamilton) 
Johnston, both of whom were also natives of the 
Lowlands, born in Ayershire. After the birth of 
three children, they came to America. Bidding 
good by to their old home they sailed from Glas- 
gow in 1854, lauding at New Orleans, and made 
their way up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, 
whence they came to Macoupin County, 111. Rob- 
ert Johnson lived near Bunker Hill, where he re- 
siiled until his death, which occurred in 1870. He 
reached the allotted age of three score j-ears. He 
was a prominent man in the township and county, 
and in his death the community lost one of its best 
citizens. His wife long survived him, passing away 
in 1889, at the ripe old age of seventy years. 

Our subject was a lad of only six summers, when 
upon the broad Atlantic he sailed for America. 
His educational advantages were such as the com- 
mon schools afforded, and as before stated, he en- 
tered upon his business career at the age of fifteen 



as a merchant's c'erk. Mr. Johnston was married 
in Bunker Hill to Miss Julia Hopper, one of Illi- 
nois' daughters. Her father is the Rev. J. V. Hop- 
per, a retired minister of the Baptist Church. Mrs. 
Johnston is an intelligent and cultured lady, who 
occupies a prominent position in the social circles 
of Bunker Hill. Her marriage has been blessed 
with three children: Arthur and Frank, the eldest 
and 3'oungcst arc living, while Laura, the second 
child, dieii in infancy. Mr. .lolinston holds mem- 
bership with Bunker Hill Lodge, No. 151, A. F. & 
A. M. At the ballot box he supports the Repub- 
lican party. One of the i)rogressive and pulilic- 
spiritei! citizens of the community he identifies 
himself with all that pertains to the ui)building of 
the county's interests and welfare, and gives liber- 
ally to all worthy enter|iiises and charities. Such 
a man is worth j' of the esteem and confidence of 
all with whom he comes in contact, and the people 
have learned to trust him whom they so highly re- 
gard. 



-J- 



^^ 



-^ 



/p^KORGE BAKER, a retired blacksmith of 
|[ ^— , Bunker Hill where for many years he 
^^jj worked at his trade, is a native of Dorset- 
shire, England, and was reareii as a shepherd boy, 
serving in that capacity until about fifteen years 
of age, when he began learning the trade which he 
made his life work. He served as an apprentice 
until he had attained his majority, working under 
the direction of a Mr. Wright and John Abbots of 
Wiltshire, England. He then for a time worked as 
a journeyman until March 2, 1854, when he sev- 
ered all business connection with his native land 
and sailed for America on the vessel, "Euroclydoii," 
which left Liverpool and after five weeks dropped 
anchor in the harbor of New York. He spent about 
a week in that Eastern metropolis and then came 
on to Bunker Ildl, where he has since made his 
home. His parents never crossed the Atlantic. 
John Baker, the father, was a native of Dorsetshire, 
and there they lived and died. He worked as a 
coachman for an P^nglisli gentleman and married 
Miss Ann Gluler, who died in Dorsetshire at the 
age of sixty-seven years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Baker 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RFXORD. 



679 



were members of the Cburcb of England. The 
members of tbe family living in Macouijin County 
are Geoige, Cliailes ami a sister, Mrs. Martha Dike, 
all of wliora reside in Bunker Hill Townshi)). 

Shortly after bis arrival in Bunker Hill, our sub- 
ject, George Baker, began working as a journey- 
man but a few years later, he built a smithy and 
carried on a successful business until 1886. He is 
an efficient workman and received tbe patronage of 
those who resided for miles around. His efforts 
were crowned with prosperity and from a bumble 
l)Osition he worked his wa^^ upward until he is now 
numbered among the substantial citizens of the 
community, having a handsome competence which 
will enable him to spend his declining j-ears in re- 
tirement from all labor. 

Mr. B.aker has been twice married. In Bunker 
Hill, be was joined in wedlock with Elizabeth J. 
Kitcbell, who was born near Blauford, England, 
December 11, 1839. Her death occurred June 9, 
1882, and was mourned not only by tier immediate 
family but b3' her man}' friends. With her parents 
she started for Amei'ica in 185i, but on the way 
tbe vessel was wrecked at Nassau and from the 
effects of the exposure the mother died. The father 
and daughter continued their journey to Illinois 
and settled in Woodburn, this county, where Mr. 
Kitcbell passed away some years later. He died at 
the home of his daughter, Mrs. Baker, in Bunker 
Hill, June 8, 1871, when about seventy-six 3-ears 
of age. Mrs. Baker was for a number of years a 
consistent member of tbe Methodist Clhurcb and 
was a noble Christian woman, held in universal 
esteem. By her marriage she became the mother 
of six children, three of whom are now deceased — 
Jane and George W., who died in 3'outb; and 
Emily, the deceased wife of August Buch, a drug- 
gist. Edward is now engaged in blacksmithing in 
Bunker Hill; JMary A. is the wife of J. W. Pierce, 
a druggist of Ballenger, Tex.; and Thomas A., 
who is employed in the hardware and implement 
store of Mr. McPherson. 

For his second wife, Mr. Baker married Eliza 
Meyers, nee Miles, who was born in Norfolkshire, 
England, in 1848. In her native land she became 
tbe wife of James Meyers and together thej' crossed 
the Atlantic, settling in Macoupin Count}', III., 



where the death of the husband occurred. Mr. and 
Mrs. Baker attend the Methodist Church and in 
the social world they hold an enviable |)Osition, 
having many warm friends throughout tbe com- 
munity. He is at present a member of the City 
Council, to which be was elected on the Republican 
ticket and has held several offices of honor and 
trust, the duties of which he ever faithfully and 
promptly discharged. His genial nature makes 
him a favorite with all who know him and bis ac- 
quaintance throughout the county is extensive. 



'^/OHN WILLIAMSON, deceased, was born 
in Monmouth County, N. J., February 22, 
1810, and was descended from one of the 
old New English families, which in early 
Colonial days was founded in America by emigrants 
from Holland. Vov several generations they 
bad resided in New Jersey. The grandfather 
of our subject, Hendrick Williamson, was born and 
reared in that State, and when the Revolutionary 
War broke out enlisted in the Colonial Army. He 
served throughout tbe entire struggle and partici- 
pated in many important battles. In the possession 
of his descendants are an old musket and a flask, 
the latter now the propertj' of Mrs. Williamson of 
this notice, which are valued heirlooms. Hendrick 
Williamson married Miss Ellen Conover, a New 
Jersey lady, and they lived and labored together 
for many years. His death occurred in Monmouth 
County at an advanced age, after which bis widow 
went to Butler County, Ohio, where she died at the 
home of one of her children in 1812. They "were 
both members of the Presbyterian Church and 
were respected people. 

David William.'jon, father of our subject, spent 
the days of bis boyhood and youth in Monmouth 
County, and chose as a helpmate on life's journey 
Miss Margaret Lefferson, who was born and reared 
in Monmouth Count}', where three children came 
to bless their union. Afterward they emigrated 
to Ohio, settling in Butler County which was then 
a wilderness and in true pioneer style began life in 
the West. It was there that David Williamson and 



680 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Ill's wife died, both at the age of seventy-five years. 
They were hard working people, yet lionorable and 
upright and tlicy won tlie respect of all who knew 
them. In religious belief they were Presbylei'ians. 
Tlie liusband bad lieen drafted as a soldier in the 
War of 1812, but owing to sickness in his family 
iiis place had been supplied by his brotlier-in-law. 

Tiie subject of tliis sketch, .lohn Williamson, 
was the third in order of birth in the family of 
eight children, of whom only two are 3'et living 
and the}' arc residents of Ohio. lie grew to man- 
hood in J5uller County of the Buckeye State, 
where he had been taken by his parents when only 
two 3'ears of age. He wedded Miss Sinai Murph}', 
who was born in Butler County, Ohio, February 8, 
1823, and is a daughter of Robert and Miirgaret 
(Douglas) Murph}-, who were natives of Kentucky 
and Pennsylvania respectively. During childliood 
they emigrated with their respective families to 
lUUler County, Ohio, where they are numbered 
among its pioneers. In Madison Township tluy 
began their domestic life and developed and im- 
|)roved a farm, which continued to be tiieir home 
during their remaining days. Mr. Murphy lived 
the allotted three-score years and ten. His father, 
John Murphy, was a Revolutionar}' hero, and he 
wedded Miss Mary Woollum, who came of Dutch 
ancestry. Both died in Butler County, Ohio, wiien 
quite advanced in years. 'I'he maternal grand- 
l)arent.s of Mrs. Williamson were George and 
Sinai (Asliton) Douglas, who also made their home 
in Butler County, there living to a ripe old age. 

For a few months after their marriage, our sub 
ject and his bride resided in that county but the 
same 3ear, 1850, they started for Illinois, traveling- 
overland with teams and settled in Jersey Countj', 
where they silent a year. Then coming to Macou- 
pin County, Mr. Williamson purchased a farm of 
one liundred and sixty acres on section 19, Dor- 
chester Township and began life in eainest. Ris- 
ing in the early morning he would work until the 
sun went down, and in this way onb,- a short time 
had elajised before lie liad developed a good farm. 
He made many improvements thcieon, and as the 
value of this land increased, became one of the 
substantial citizens of the community. Througli- 
out his life he was known to be an upright and 



honorable man and worthy citizen. In politics he 
was a supporter of the Democratic party and filled 
a number of local offices with credit to himself 
and to the satisfaction of his constituents. His 
death occurred on the 8tli of May, 1881, and w.as 
mourned liy many warm friends. 

Mrs. Williamson still survives her husband and 
makes her home on the old farm which she manages 
successfully and well. Of the seven children born 
of her marriage all are living except one, Arthur, 
who accidentalj- shot himself at the age of twenty- 
four years. David R. married Elizabeth McLean 
of Penns3'Ivania, and they reside in Plankington, 
Aurora Count3% S. Dak.; Anna W. is the wife of 
Albert, Weeks, a stockdealer of this county; Gar- 
ret H., aids in the operation of the home farm ; 
George A. is a farmer of Kansas; James, who 
wedded Ida Turk, is a coal dealer of Golden, Colo., 
and Herbert C. is at home. The sons are all 
Democrats in (jolitics and the family is one of 
whom the mother m.ay well feel proud. 



"\f/ AMES J. KELSEY. who is engaged in gen- 
eral farming and stock-raising on sections 8 
and 9, Brighton Township, resides upon the 
farm where he w.as born on the 12th of 
December, 1852. The family is of English origin. 
His paternal grandfather. John Kelscy, w.as born 
and reared in Yorkshire, England, and married 
I^sther Voss, also a native of the same county. Her 
death occurred in midille life, she leaving two chil- 
dren, Robert, father of our subject; and Ann, who 
became the wife of John Cleveland, but is now de- 
ceased. John Kelsey, the grandfather, w.as again 
married in Yorkshire. England, his second union 
being with Mar3' Adkinson, by whom he had four 
children, all now deceased. About 1832, in com- 
pan3- witii his famil3', he crossed the Atlantic, sail- 
ing from Hull, and after some weeks safel}' arrived 
in New York. From thence he traveled by way 
of canal and river to Alton, 111., and m.ade a settle- 
ment upon a new farm in Wood River Township, 
Madison Count3', where for about eight years he 
engaged in agricultural pursuits. The year 1840, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



681 



witnessed his removal to Macoupin County, wiiere 
he procured an unbroken tract of land on sections 
8 and 9, Brigiiton Township, tiie same now owned 
by our subject. There John Kelsey resided with 
liis children until his death, which occurred in 
November, 1874, at the age of eight3'-one years. 
He possessed a good constitution, was a man of 
great vitality and was hardly sick a day in his life. 
He became a successful farmer of this county and 
died quite well off. He was a member of the 
Church of England as was also his wife wlio had 
died a number of years previous. 

Robert Kelsey, father of our subject, was born 
in Yorkshire, March 18, 181 8, and was about four- 
teen years of age when his parents crossed the 
broad ocean. He attained liis majority .about the 
time the famih' came to Macoupin County, and 
not long afterward he returned to iiis native land 
for "tlie girl he left behind iiim". In Yorkshire, 
he married Miss Henrietta .lennings, who was born 
in 1817, and is a daughter of William and Eliz.i- 
beth (Quarton) .lennings, both of whom were 
natives of that county where tliey were married. 
The fatlier wns a farmer by occupation and follow- 
ed that business during the greater part of his life. 
His death occurred at the advanced age of ninety 
years and his wife had long since passed middle 
life when she was called home. They lived the 
lives of Christian people after the faith of the Epis- 
copal Church. They had quite a large family, of 
whom one daughter is yet living in England. A 
brother of ]\Irs. Kelsey, ,1olia, came to tlie United 
States, made a trip across the plains to California, 
and afterward returned to Macoupin County, 111., 
where he died about eight years ago. 

The bridal tour of Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey consist- 
ed of a trip to America and they began their 
domestic life upon the homestead farm in Brighton 
Township. He was an industrious and enterprising 
man and by good management, supplemented by 
business ability, he secured a tine property. Fair- 
ness and honesty characterized his entire life and 
he won many friends who held him in high esteem 
for his sterling worth. He held to no creed but 
was eliaritable and benevolent and believed in 
doing right for its sake. In politics, he was a 
Democrat. His death occurred August 31, 1884. 



Mrs. Kelsej' still survives her husband and is 
wonderfully well preserved for one of her age, be- 
ing now in her seventy-fifth year. I'nto them 
have been born seven children, all of whom are yet 
living with the exception of Amanda, wlio died at 
the age of twenty-eight ; Rhoda is the wife of .lohn 
Carter, a farmer of Chesterfield Township; Emma 
is at home with her mother; Henrietta is the wife 
of .Tohn Cooper, a resident farmer of Rladison 
County; James J. is the next younger; May is the 
wife of George A. Kc.as, general merchant and 
Postmaster of Brighton; and Laura is the wife of 
William Talley, a resident farmer of .Shipman 
Township. 

James J. Kelsejs whose name heads this sketch, 
is numbered among the thrift}- and enterprising 
farmers of the community. He has spent his entire 
life upon the farm whicii lie now owns and oper- 
ates. His boyhood d.ays were passed in assisting 
his father and in attending the public schools 
where his education was acquired. .Since he has 
arrived at man's estate he has engaged in general 
farming, raising those cereals whicli are adapted to 
tills climate and has also engaged to a consider.\ble 
extent in stock-raising, making a specialty of the 
breeding of Cottswold sheep and fine draft and 
road horses. His land, comprising three hundred 
acres is divided into two good farms which are 
well supplied with all necessar}' buildings. The 
old home is one of the substantia! residences of the 
township and every thing about the place presents 
a neat api)earance, indicative of the thrift and in- 
dustry of the owner. Mr. Kelsey is a prominent 
Democrat, h.as served as Highwa}^ Commissioner 
anvl manifests a commendable interest in every 
thing pertaining to the welfare of the count}'. 




HARLES S. I'ATCHEN. One of the highly 
respected men in Macoupin County is 
Charles S. Patchen. His father, the late 
Daniel T. Patchen, emigrated from Ohio, where he 
had resided some ten or twelve years, and in the 
fall of 1849 settled in Macoupin County, C'arlin 



682 



PORTKAIT AxND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



villo Towusliip. He was a farmer, but not allow- 
ing the cares of the farm to wholly occupy his 
inind, took an active part in all local affairs of im- 
portance and was surrounded by a large circle of 
friends and acquaintances, who bore him that re- 
spect and esteem which his talents commanded 
Ills wife was Miss Sarah Stodard, who was born 
in Connecticut. Her marri.ige with Daniel T 
Patchen took place in Geauga County, Ohio, the 
birthplace of our subject. J5oth Mr. and Mrs 
Patchen were consistent members of the Presby- 
terian Church, Mr. Patchen having held the offices 
of Deacon and Elder, the latter of which he re- 
signed upon the occasion of his removal to Oreoon 
in the autumn of 1877. This ste,, was deemed 
necessary for the benefit of his failing health but 
on June 19, 1888, .leath relieved him of his suffer- 
ings. His widow survives him. Tl,oir children, of 
whom there were six, were Mary «.. the wife of 
Prof. Edward Snyder, of the" State Universitv 
Louisa, now Mrs. William Sporn; Charles S. who' 
came with his parents to Macoupin County 'wjien 
but SIX years of age; Robert, a reshlcnt of Wash- 
ington; AVillis, a clergyman in South' Dakota; and 
Harriet, the wife of Charles Campbell. To these 
children was given such education as is to be ob- 
tained in our common schools. The subject of this 
sketch also had the advantage of a course of in- 
struction at Blackburn University in Carlinville. . 
At the .age of nineteen years, whicii time was 
passed in his father's home, he broke the monotony 
of farm life and enlisted August !l, 18G2, in Com- 
pany A, One Hundred and Twenty-secon.l Illinois 
Infantry and served three years, taking part in en- 
gagements at Parker's Cross Roads, Kashville 
Tenn., Ft. Blakeley, Ala., besides many battles of 
minor importance. While on the march from 
Montgomery to Mobile he was piostrated for sev- 
eral days by sunstroke and was thus disabled fo- a 
time. When the war ended he returned to his 
home and took up the thread of his studies, pursu- 
ing them diligently for several months and then 
accepted a position as clerk in a dry-goods siore in 
Carlinville, where he was a valued employe for about 
four years. This period of activity p:;ssed in the 
trade aided largely in fitting him for mercantile 
pursuits and he formed a partnership with Willi-un 



Schutze and James Clarke, the style of the firm be- 
ing Schutze, Patchen & Clarke. The new com- 
pany gained rapidly in popularity, but three years 
later became financially embarrassed and ' Mr 
Patchen took sole charge of affairs in the interest 
of the creditors, continuing the business for two 
years. He then engaged in an enterprise with 
George Warburton and W. D. Mayfield, under the 
firm name of AVarburton, Patchen & Co., which 
continued for two years. 

In 1875, May 20, he was married to Miss Belle 
Wilson, a lady of superior attainments. Mr and 
Mrs. Patchen are the parents of four children- 
Nelhe; Charles, who died when five yeais of a-re- 
Edward and Anna M. Mr. Patchen has been chos^en' 
to the office of Supervisor of Carlinville Township 
tiiree times. Politically his energies are put forth 
in the interest of the Republican party. Both he 
an.l i,is wife are zealous workers in the cause of 
Ch.ist as rei.rosented by the Presbyterian faith 
and in their church society Mr. Patchen has been 
prominent as Deacon, Trustee and Elder. 

— ^ -^^ -^^ 



WHOMAS G. MOORE. The subject of our 
(M) ''"'''^'' "■'''■'* '^"'•" in Carlinville Township, 
N-s*^ Macoupin County, July 20, 183S. His pa- 
rents, Robert and Elizabeth W. (Williams) Moore 
were natives of Kentucky, and were held in the 
i.ghest esteoin in the community in which they 
lived, for the nobleness of character which distin- 
guished their whole lives. They emigrated from 
Kentucky to Illinois in the fall of 1831, where he 
became a prosperous farmer and made a perma 
nent residence. Of seven children born to them 
1 hom.as G. w.as the sixth. His education was such 
as the neighborhood schools afforded and so rap- ' 
Hlly dul he advance in his studies that he com- 
manded the respect of school mates older than 
himself. Having a natural aptitude for a^ricult- 
nial pursuits, his life has been passed on thl farm. 
He purchased and now owns eighty acres of good 
farming land located on section 24. 

June 6, 1867, he married Miss Sarah Ann Vill- 
man, daughter of Christian and Mary (Fisher) 




S. B. SAWYER. 



PORTRAIT ANU lJI(«ii;A I'lllCAL RKCURU. 



U85 



\'illiiiiiii. .Mr. Villfiiiiri WHS ;i imlivc of (Ici iiiaiiy 
ami lii.s will' (if liiillcr Coiiiily, ()liiii. Tlii'y ciiii- 
^r.'ih'il I'liiuj IIjc I.'iIIci iiIik'C III M IhMiilll'i, .'iii'l llnii 
U) llii.s iroiiDly, iliiiii.l IH-1 1. .'iinl hi'Mlcit in llil\aiil 
TowiiMliiii. .Ml'. S'llltiiiin, Uii' i'aUu'i' of Mim, 
Mooii', ilii'il ai, I'iki'H I'eak, his wifu liaviiif^ puHHcd 
away in Macoupin C(Hinly,wln'i'ti llicy,l)V tlii!ii many 
Uimi ami conHidciaU' a(;lH, won iHiinrrotm fiic-nilH. 
MiH. M(;or(' vn\H iioin in IjiiIIii (oiinly, Ohio, No- 
VI iiilii I- 11, IHIO. .Slu! {.'ivw lo womanliooil ilcVL'l- 
<j|iin^ Uiohtf cliaiiK-tci ixlicH wliicli inlliicnoc I'or 
fiuod only. Six cliililicn liuvif Ijccm horn to Mr. 
ami Mrw. Mooru: Kohcrl. ('., who in a si'liool 
It'tu'jici' in IIiIh < onnly and takcH u forward inlortHt 
in all ciiMciitional maU<"r«; Mary l'^., Ni'llii' .J., and 
'icoi'gc W. 'I'wo cliildrcn dird in infancy. 

In llic Mprin^fof IH7H Mr. iMook? wah clcclcd as- 
.siitlunl Supcrvixiir of Carl in villi- 'J'riwnHhiii, lii» four 
years of service hnvinjj; liw-n marked hvuhiiity and 
hiiHJness tnet. IIi« poiiid.'irify Iimh <;iveri him the 
olIieeH of .School Direcloi- .'iiid 'I'mslee. He ha« 
laki'ii ijiiilc ;in acl.ive inteii-sl, in local affitirs and is 
!Ui eaiiii'ML advocali! of the |)rinci|il<'S of the Demo- 
( rutic jiarly. Mr. Moore h;iM Hpenl, hi^ life in l,his ' 
county !vnd has never lieen out of Lhe Sl.-ilc of Illi- 
nois. 



,4p*^ KLICK i;. SAWVKK, a j,'iiiend farm'r. 

^^^^ resides within the corporation liniith of 
Staunton, where he owns !i line farm of 
two hundred and forty aiMi s. In presenting 
Ills poilrait and liiographical sketch to the reader's 
of the Ui I onri. we perpetuate the f.-atiries and 
record the life of one of the earliest settler's of the 
county, his residence hei'e coveriiij^ a period of 
almost sixty yours. Since liis arrival, in IK,'}2, 
he has never left tire eoirnty for any len},'lh of 
time, hut has (fontiirually witnesHcd ils growth 
and has borne no iricorisiderahle part in its up- 
huildinv;. Of his |iione(!r fcxperienees, howcfver, 
we will speak more her'i'aftcir. 

Mr. Sawyer was horn in Carroll Courrty, near 
Colirmhirs, N. C iJei'emhei' 21, IH2l,arid is dc 



seeuded f lorn f{ood Uevolutionaiy stock. Ilis({r'and- 
fnthei', .liiah .Sawyer', spent his i rilire life in North 
Crir'oliriii, .'irid «erved llirouj^hiiiii, tlif Ki- vulutlomir'y 
VVirr'. enlerinjj the Ciilnnial Army when less than 
llfteeii years of aj;e. Me was of Irish descent and 
wrrs a stoul, niantid rnirn, well littid for- llie life 
which he followe<l. lie married a Miss Alleoek, 
who was also a native of North Cru'olina, trnd they 
r'esided in that Stale until their di:ath. Tiny were 
niernhers of the I'limilivi- Itaplist ( 'IhikIi .-md in 
politics Mr. Sawyer was a Oernoeral, 

The father of oirr siriiject. Virlentine .Sawyer, was 
ir native of I'lymoutli, N. C, and in the ii.'iunl nniii' 
rier' of furrrKM' lads was ri^ared to niardiood, inrt 
when he tviis {{I'owii up h<! shippeil hirfore the rnast 
irnd was errj^ajjcd in Ihe coastin{{ ser'vlcu for bonm 
years. Later' he returned to Iris native town arrd 
married Miss I'olly SpiMice. Severr children wer(! 
horn unto them, one (,f wlioirr died in North Car- 
olina, "I'heir' lorii^ journey to Illinois was madi; 
with a single horse and wa^^on and at rii<flit they 
would I'amp out alori(.( i.he loMd. At Louisville 
tlury croi-sed the Ohio River and at I )ariville forded 
the VVjihash River'. Three monlhs had elapsed 
lulore they arrived in .Mmoiipin Coiirity. III. 
'I'Irey made a loeatiorr in the southern part of tin; 
comity at what is now West I'rairie, and foirnd 
llicrnselves irr a sparsely settled country where, 
however', game' was ahundarit and wild anirnaiN 
were fri'iprerrtly seerr. 

Mr. .Sawyer' made- a home on what is known as 
Williams (/'reek, which skirled thi! prairie, and 
there iinder'went the irsiitd hardships and trials of 
I lie pioneer' settler' who locates on a wesU-rii fion- 
ti(;r'. The nearest mill and market was at Altoir, 
money was seanre ami for a time it was a striif^f^le 
to provide for' the wants of the fainily. Ihit pros- 
p(!rity at length blessed theii' efforls and they he- 
carne potsessed of a cornfor table pro|»erty. The 
rnolliei' ilied about IX.Ol, iiftei' hIiicIi \'aleiitirie 
Sawyer, with hrs twi/ eldest sons, went ti; Ti'xas, 
iirakin^ a setth-ment in liell County, where he died 
atari advarrcerl uf^e. lie and hi^, wife ure member's 
of the Itajitist Chur'ch, and he always voted the 
Oemocratic ticket. Our subject was the third in 
order of bir'tli of their' fiimily of ten children, of 
whom hiven, foirr' sons and three dairf^hter's, arc 



686 



I'ORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



j'et living. Of these all are married and have 
families, and ihree are living in Illinois. 

Selick Sawyer has lived in this county since he 
was a lad of eleven sunnmeis. At an early age he 
began work upon the farm, assisting in the labori- 
ous task of clearing, developing and improving 
the wild prairie. His father entered land and after 
he had attained to mature years he entered land 
for himself, claiming a tract in Staunton Town- 
ship, whicli, after he had improved it, he sold and 
invested tlie proceeds in the farm whicli has now 
been bis home since 1858. A part of this lies 
wilhin tbe corporation limits of Staunton and it 
is a valuable piece of property, comprising two 
hundred and forty acres, the greater portion of 
which is under cultivation. It is underlaid with 
rich coal beds, a part of which have been worked 
and have brought to llglit a vein six and a half 
feet thick. 

Mr. Sawyer was married in Staunton. August 
26, 1847, the lady of his clioice being Miss Nancy 
Bruce, who was born in the Eme'ald Isle in 1828. 
Her parents, Samuel and Matilda (Patterson) 
Bruce, were also natives of Ireland, ami after the 
birth of five children they emigrateil with their 
family to America in 1835, landing in Pliiladcj- 
phia after a six weeks voyage. They then came 
to Illinois and located near Staunton, where they 
resided until their death. They were widely and 
favorably known among the pioneers heic and had 
all their lives been raendjers of the Presbyterian 
Church. Mrs. Sawyer, a brother and two sisters 
of the family are yet living. Ten children have 
been born unto our subjt^ct and his wife, but one 
died in infancy, and Tliom.as died, leaving a widow 
and one child. William J., who wedded Kliza 
Cloud, is a farmer of Olive Township. Madison 
Count}'; Samuel B. aids in the operation of the 
old homestead; Joseph, who is engaged in the liv- 
ery business in Staunton, married Rose Wilder; 
George is now at home; .Jennie S. is the wife of 
George Maze, of Staunton; Anna is the wife of 
William Menke, of .Staunton; and Valentine also 
assists his faiher in farming the old homestead. 

Mr. Sawyer and his sons are Democrats in polit- 
cal sentiment and his wife is a member of the 
Presbvteriau Church. Few have a more extended 



acquaintance in the count}' than this worthy couple 
and none are held in higher esteem. They have 
lived quiet and unassuming, yet busy and useful 
lives, and have won for themselves a place among 
the best people of the county. 



^-^^i^^'^^^^^y^'^^-^ 



j^j^ AMUEL S. GARST. Of German origin, 
^'^^ the family of our subject settled in an 
Iv^m) ^^'''.^' '^^y '" ''1'^ Southern States and the 
gentleman himself was born in Washington 
County, E. Tenn., October 15, 1839. He now 
resides on section 9, Xilwood Township. His 
father, Jacob Garst, was born in Roanoke County, 
Va. His mother was Catherine (Wrightsman) 
Giirst and was also born in Virginia, whcie they 
met and married and from there emigrated to Ten- 
nessee wliere the mother died in Washington 
County. The father removed to Macoupin Coinity 
in the fall of 1808 and settled in Nilwood Tuwn- 
shi|) wliere he lived until about 1866 when he went 
to Jloiitgomer}' County, to live with a daughter, 
Mrs. Mary Krovvn. One son was the fruit of the 
m:uriage of .lacob and Catherine Garst That son 
is the subject of this sketch. 

Tlic original of this sketch arrived at manhood 
while in Washington Count}-, Tenn., and when 
about twenty years of age he came to Greene 
I County. III., and in the fall of 1859 and the fol- 
lowing spring he came to Girard, and soon after 
engaged himself in farming in Nilwood Township. 
Agriculture has been his chief business in life. 
•Since his removal from Tennessee he has spent the 
major portion of his time in Nilwood with the ex- 
ception of about four years when lie was in the 
iirniy. When the first call for volunteers was made 
Mr. Garst enlisted in the fall of 1861, in the Sec- 
ond Regiment of Illinois Light Artillery of Com- 
pany G. He served during ttie war until it closed 
and his memory is stored with incidents that are 
striking and interesting as historical events. 

Mr. Garst took part in many of the engagements 
that had the most important effect. He was pres- 
ent at the battle of Marion Cit}', Tenn.. also Jack- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



687 



son, Tenn., Oxford, Miss., at the siege of Viclisburg, 
Tupelo, Miss., and Nashville, Tenn. Ht was, how- 
ever, sent out with a foraging expedition at Cold- 
water Miss., where he was taken prisoner and was 
held for eight months. During this [leriod he was 
confined in the relie' prison at.Selma. Ala., Cahauba, 
A!a., Macon, Ga., and at Andersonville. Only 
the last of these places is known to the general 
public in all the terror which it presented to the 
prisoner who was confined within its awful inclo- 
sure. Only a veteran of the war who has under- 
gone a similar experience of confinement can 
appreciate the situation of one who has thus suffered. 
The other prisons of minor note were b.".d enough, 
but Antlersonville seemed to have among its guards 
men vtho were natural instruments of torture. 
While en route from Macon to Andersonville. !\[r. 
Garst effected his escape, but he was recai)ture<l in 
about one month by the efforts of the bloodhounds 
which were put upon his track. To the imagina- 
tion the baying demons of the chase would seem 
bad enough, but think of the victim of their pursuit 
cowaring before their angry, foanitlccked, yawning 
mouths. It was either to ^ield to his captors or to 
Vie torn in pieces by the hounds arid iiie sweet 
hope of life forbade him to yield himself to those 
dread pursuers Iti death. 

While in Andersonville our subject was detailed 
on a wood party and finding a good oi)portunity 
he hid in a ditch until night when he made his 
escape. About seven weeks later he was again 
caught by the bloodhounds .and was taken in chains 
to Macon, Ga. Here he was paroled for nearly 
two weeks and was then sent back to Andersonville. 
He had been there, however, but a short time when 
the prisoners were taken out to be exchanged, and 
while thus free for a time he again made his escape 
and in about one week he succeeded in re.aehing 
Wilson's Cavalry and was safe. 

When the war was over and he had received his 
discharge our subject returned to Nilwood and re- 
sumed his occupation of farming. He has here 
resided ever since with the exception of three 
years when he lived in iMontgomery County, III. 
He was married in Is ilwood Township, March 1, 
18GG to Miss Nancy Thacker, a daughter of Z. 
Thacker. a sketch of whom ma}' be found on an- 



other page of this volume. The lady was born 
near Palmyra, Macou[)in County, February 10, 
1847. 

Mr. and Mrs. Garst are the parents of eight 
children, their names being respectively: Mary A., 
who is the wife of M. P. CLar.ady; Ida V., Samuel 
L., Nancy A., Charles M., EHiel M., and .Jesse T. 
One child died in infancy. Mr. Garst has held the 
offices of Highway Commissioner and School Di- 
rector for some time. He is a member of Luke 
Mayfirld Post, No. 516. G. A. R. He is a member 
of Chapter No. 132 of Girard Lodge. No. 171 F. 
& A. M. He has been Counsel of the G. A. R. for 
three terms. Politically the original of this sketch 
is an adherent of the Republican party having cast 
his vote with them for many j'ears. He has also 
been a member of the County Central Committee 
for several years. 

He of whom we write has erected a ver}' jileasant 
home upon his place which comprises three hundred 
and eighty aces of good land, well improved and 
in an excellent state of cultivation. His home is 
comfortable and convenient and the presiding gen- 
ius thereof, his estimable wife, gives it a tone that 
onl}' a woman of delicate refinement and extreme 
adaptability is capable of doing. Mr. and Mrs. 
(iarst are members of the Baptist Church, doing 
all in their power to uphold the religious teachings 
of that body in their community. 



/O.SEPH LEE, one of tlie honored early 
settlersof the county, now living a retired 
life in Brighton, after engaging for many 
\^!/J years in active business as a farmer, was 
born in Somersetshire, England, on January 15, 
1826. His father and grandfather were both named 
Charles Lee. The latter was a small English farmer 
and died in .Somersetshire. The father of our sub- 
ject was born and reared in that county, and a 
few years after his marriage rented a small farm 
upon which he spent the remainder of his life. 
It is yet in the family, being now occupied by 
Thomas Lee, a brother of our subject. Charles 
Lee, Jr.. was united in marriage with Mrs. Sarah 



68'8 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Combs, nep Hayes, who by her first raarriage Ijad 
one chilli, deceased, wiiile by the second union nine 
cliildren were born, six sons and three daugliters. 
Only two over came to this country and remained 
to make their homes ?n America, namely: Joseph 
and Charles, the latter, now a resident farmer of 
Montgomery County. One of the sons is now 
deceased. The father of this family died at the age 
of sixty years and his wife passed away in 1875, at 
the age of seventy-three years. 

Joseph Lee, whose name heads this sketch, spent 
his childhood days in his native land and under the 
parental roof attained to years of maturity. His 
education was acquired in the common schools and 
being supplemented by reading and observation lie 
has become a well-informed .nan. He was married 
in England to lUiss Caroline Combs, who was also 
born and reared in .Somersetshire. Their union was 
blessed with one child before they lefttlieir native 
land — Edmund, who is now deceased. Hoping to 
better their financial condition and more mpidly 
acquire a competence in the New World, they 
sailed for America on April 3, 1851, as passeng.TS 
on board the "Cosmo," and on May 3, set fuot on 
American soil. From New York City they came 
at once to the West, traveling to Wisconsin, and 
thence to Godfrey, Madison Coimty, HI., u|ik-li 
was their first location. Mr. Lee then had but, fifty 
cents in his pocket. He has also resided in .Jersey 
and Madison Counties, and for some years resided 
upon a farm in Brighton Township, Mac'>upin 
County, where he ttill owns one hundred and 
twenty-two and a fraction .acres uf liighly improved 
land, and another tract of one hundred and twenty- 
one acres; also a seventy-nine-acre tract, making in 
all three hundred and twenty-two and a fraction 
acres, constituting one of tlin best farms in that 
locality. 

In 1890, Mr. Lee was called upon to mourn the 
loss of his wife, who died in Brighton in the mouth 
of June, in the faith of the Metliodist Church of 
which she was a member. She left five children, 
all of whom were born in this cinnitry — Georsje 
H. who operates his failier's farm; Mary J., wife of 
John Durston, a farmer in Montgomery County, 
died August 9, 1891; Anna M., wife of .Lames 
Tucker, a resident farmer of Brighton Township; 



Sarah wiio keeps house for her father; and Edwin 
who married Anna Lyons and is living on a farm 
in Brighton Township. 

Mr. Lee is a self-made man, having worked his 
way upward to a [jnsition of affluence. By energy 
ur.d perseverance he overcame the obstacles and 
difficulties in his [jath and is now one of the well- 
to-do citizens of the community, owning in addition 
to his valuable farm a fine resident property in 
Brighton. Honesty and fairness have character- 
ized all his dealings and his public and private 
life are alike above reproach. In political senti- 
ment he is a Republican and h.as served as a mem- 
ber of the Vill.age Board. 

— -^ ^#>^ ^— 



bEVVIS C. DECK. ex-Mayor of Girani, is 
) prominently identified with the business 
interests of this county as a member of the 

well-known firm of Clark A Deck, dealers in drugs, 
groceries, books, stationery, etc. He is a fine rcp- 
resciitalive of the native-born citizens of this 
coniily, "lio, well educated, enterprising and pub- 
lic-spirited, are potent factors in advancing itsma- 
terinl prosperity'. 

Mr. Deck is a descendant of an old pioneer fam- 
ily of Illinois, and he was born in Palmyra Town- 
ship, August 6, 1848. His father, Jacob Deck, 
was oorn in Madison County, this State, in 1825, 
and was a son of one of its early settlers, Isaac 
Deck, a Virginian, who went from his native State 
to Tennessee, and coming thence to Illinois, settled 
on a tract of land that he purchased from the Gov- 
ernment, situated northeast from Upper Alton. He 
built a dwelling there, am) lived there a number of 
years. He finally came to Macoupin County and 
cast in his lot with its pioneers, buying a tract of 
\nm\ near Bunker Hill, a part of which was im- 
proved. He made that his home until his death in 
1872, at a venerable age. His wife died on the 
home farm in Madison County several years prior 
to his decease. 

The father of our subject grew to man's estate in 
his native county, and dwelt there until after the 
death of his first wife, when he came to this county 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



689 



and located in Palmyra Township. For a few 
j-ears after his selllcinent tliere he fiinued on 
reiilert land, and then bought a tract of eighty acres 
of wild lanci, and afterward added to it until he 
imd one hundred and sixty acres in North Otter 
Township. In the home that he built up there his 
remaining years were passed, his death occurring 
March 3, 18IS2, at a ripe age. The maiden name of 
his second wife, mother of our subject, was Nancy 
Steele. She is a iiative of .South Carolina, and a 
daughter of iMoses and Nancy (Watts) Steele. She 
still resides in Girard, respected and esteemed by 
all who know her. She is the mother of six chd- 
dreii. named as follows: William H., INIary E., 
Melissa A., John A., Lewis C. and George M. 

The subject of tiiis brief biographical record was 
reared in North Otter Township, and laid a solid 
foundation for his. education in the local schotds 
and in a school at Girard. After leaving the pub- 
lic schools he taught one term, and then entered 
the Normal School at Normal, 111., where he pur- 
sued a fine course of study that well fitted him for 
his professional work as a teacher, which he re- 
sumed after leaving the Normal. Ambitious to 
advance his education still further, in 1871 he went 
to Lexington, Ky., to attend the Kentucky Univer- 
sity. He was a student tliere tvvo terms, making 
the best of his opportunities and winning a high 
rank for scholarship. After leaving the university 
he began teaching again in Macoupin County, and 
had the charge of a school in this part of the State 
until the latter |)art of 1883, making a name and a 
place for himself among our m)st intelligent and 
progressive educators. In 1884 he abandoned his 
profession to engage in business with B. F. Clark, 
with whom he is still in |)artnership. They have a 
commodious and liaiulsomoly arranged store, carry 
an extensive line of drugs, groceries, etc., and by 
conducting their trade systematically and honora- 
bly they have secured a large patronage not only 
in this cit}- but in the country tributary to it 

The marriage of our subject with Miss Slary 
Josephine Long was celebrated December 27, 1883, 
and has been hallowed to them by the birth of one 
child, Ilarr}' L. Mrs. Deck is a native of Mercer 
County, Ky., and a daughter of Jose|)h and Mary 
.). Long. iMr. Deck's life career has been directed 



by energy, perseverance and good business habits, 
combined with honorable and conscientious deal- 
ings, that have raised him to a high position in 
financial circles, and have made lum an invaluable 
civic officiu' in the various responsible offices that 
have been trusted to his care by his fellow-citizens, 
who place n high estimate upon his character and 
public services. He was elected Clerk of the city, 
in 1889 was elected Mayor and served two years. 
He is a Director of the Girard Loan and Building 
Association, and gives hearty encouragement to all 
enterprises that will in any way contribute to the 
material advancement of the cit3', while at the 
same time he is influential in promoting its higher 
welfare, socially, niorall^', and religiously. In his 
politics he is a Democrat. His religious sentiments 
find expression in the faith of the Christian Church, 
and his estimable wife is a inend)er of the Baptist 
Church. 



|f=^RANKW. BURTON, State's Attorney for 
iKrHfe Macoupin County, with his office and resi- 
(15) dence at Carlinville, has attained distinc- 

tion at the bar by the exercise of marked legal 
talent and an ambitious, progressive spirit, that has 
made him one of the leaders of his |)rofession in 
this section of the Commonwealth of Illinois, 
though he is still a young man. Mr. Burton is 
also widely known as a breeder of thoroughbred 
horses, wdio has done much to raise the standard 
of the horses bred in this region, and has one of 
the finest studs of blooded animals to be found in 
this or adjoining counties. 

Our subject is a native born citizen of this 
county. October 8, 1857, the date of his birth at 
Bunker Hill. His father, Henry W. Burton, was 
born at Pomfret, Windham County, Conn., August 
II, 1819, a son of OIney Burton, who was a native 
of Crarston, R. I. The latter was a son of Rufiis 
r.urton, who is suijposed to have been a native of 
that little New England State, where he engaged 
at his occupation as a farmer until his removal in 
1800 to Poraf ret. Conn. He bought a tract of 
land in that town, carried on farming and con- 
tinued a resident of that place until his death. 



690 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAFHICAL RhXORI). 



The grandfather of our subject grew to manhood 
in his native SUite. and was there married. He 
went to Pomfret in 1800 and he and his father oc- 
pied the same farm. He always devoted himself 
to agrieultural piirsuits. and passed his last years 
on the old homestead in Potafret. The maiden 
name of his w-fe. grandmother of our subject, was 
Abigail Burlingame. She was born at C'raDston. 
R. I., and died on the old farm at Pomfret, Conn. 
She was the mother of these eight children — 
Rufus. Hannah, -Sewell D.. Lewis. Olnev. James. 
Charle.s and Henrj- W. 

Henry W. Burton passed his early life in his na- 
tive county, and re eived his education in the local 
district schools. At the age of fifteen he begr.n to 
learn the trade of a carpenter, and from that time 
cared for himself with characteristic self-reliance 
and independence of character. He was a resident 
of Pomfret until the spring of 1841, when he came 
to Illinois, shrewdly foreseeing thai his chances for 
securing a competence were bettor in this compar- 
atively newly settled country where energetic, en- 
terprisino, industrious men were wanted to help in 
its upbuilding. He came by the most expeditious 
route at that lime, which was by steamer to New 
York City, by rail from that city to Philadelphia, 
from there to Pittsburg by canal and railway, 
thence on a steamer down the Ohio and up the 
Mississippi Rivers to Alton, this State, where he 
joined his brother James, and in his company 
came to Macoupin County to cast in his lot with 
the pioneers of this region. The brothers had but 
one horse between them and they took turns in 
riding him until they had arrived at their journey's 
end. They located at Woodburn and the father of 
our subject worked at his tracie as a carpenter and 
at millwrighting there for some years. 

When the great excitement of the discovciy of 
gold in Califov'iia set the world agog, Mr. Burton 
joined the great march across the continent in 
search of tiie jirecious metal, starting in April, 
1841), with four others, and making the journey 
with ox-teams over the plains and mountains to the 
Pacific Coast, ariiving at Bear River the 12th of 
following September. For one month the little 
party was engaged in mining at that point, and 
then, after laying in supplies at Sacramento, they 



they went to Mud Spring, near Placerville, where 
they piospected and dug for gold until spring. 
The [)orty then broke up but the father of our 
subject and one of his companions continued minin<; 
there until November. 1^50. when they returned 
to their old home in Illinois by the way of the Isth- 
mus. Mr. Burton soon entered the mercantile busL 
ness at Woodburn iu pirtneiship with aLother man. 
Four years later he sold out his interest in that es- 
tablisumeut. and went into the same business at 
Bunker Hill, which lie conducted until 1858. In 
1860 he turned liis attention to shipping <'rain. hay. 
etc., and was thuseng.aged until 1868. Iu that year 
he was elected Circuit Clerk and removed to Carlin- 
ville to assume the duties of his office, which he 
held until 1876, serving two full terms. Afier that 
ho was appointed Deputy County Clerk, and acted 
in that caiiacily two terms. 

Mr. Burton was married in 1844 to Miss Corne- 
lia R. Rider, a native of Illinois and a daughter of 
Justus Rider. She died in 1872. leaving two chil- 
dren, our subject and Henrietta W.. who is the 
wife of Robert B. Shirley. Mr. Burton's second 
marriage was with Miss Sue Engliss, a native of 
Macoupin County and a daughter of Hiram Eng- 
liss. One child lias been born of this second union. 
Frank W. Burton, the subject of this biographi- 
cal review, was in his twelfth year when his parents 
came to Carlinville to reside. His early education 
was gained in the public schools of Bunker Hill. 
He subsequently entered Blackburn Inivcrsity and 
w.as graduated from that institution of learninu- in 
. the Class of '76. His taste led him to adopt the 
legal profession and in January, 1877, he began his 
preparation for it in the office of Hon. C. A. Wal- 
ker, with whom he read law. gaining u thorough 
knowledgeof its fundamental principles, and in the 
spring of 1879 he was admitted to the bar. In the 
following June he opened an office at Ca.linville 
and has been in successful practice here since that 
time. He w.as early called to imporUint legal posi- 
tions, for which he has shown himself amply fitted. 
In 1881 he was elected City Attorney at Carlin- 
ville. and served acceptably iu that position one 
year. In 1884 he was elected States Attorney for 
this county, was re elected in 1888, and is still 
an incumbent of that office, his constituents being 



PORTUAl'l" AND BIOGRAJfHlCAL RECORD. 



691 



satisfied llmt ;i lawyer of his calibre, legal atuiin- 
nieiils, resolute am) doeiiieil charaeter is the right 
man for so responsible a place, rulitically. he is 
iilenlifted with the Democrats. 

Nolwiihslamling the mimerous cares of an ex- 
tensive law practice ami the deinnnds made upon 
him bv his ollicial duties Mr. l>urton,Vlio is a true 
lover of tine horses, finds lime to superintend his 
establishment for raising trotters, and he has a stud 
containinu some of the finest strains in 'he land, of 
which he may weli be proud. He is the fortunate 
owner of "Truce." 7,859. who was bred by K. V. 
Pepper.of Frankfort.Ky.. sired by "Onward." ■2:2o^, 
son of '-George Wilkes." "Racket." by "Kgbert," 
is a beautiful mare, riam being liy "Abdallah 15." 
and second dam, "'.Voodbine." "-Riot." by "Ken- 
lucky Wilkes," 2:21]:. son of "George Wilkes," 
dam. "Racket." is another valuable mare owned by 
our subject. Roth -Riot" and "Racket" are bred 
to "Electoi," 2:-21i. son of "Electioneer." Mr. 
Burton also possesses "Ditto." by "Durango." 
(record 2:23^). dam. "Lena Rivers." (record 
2:"53).said to be by "Blue Bull." Mr. Burton has 
several other valuable mares by imported "Specula- 
tor." from -Gold Dusf'dams. "Niblo." 10,01 4,sired 
bv "Walsinghara," 2.16G, sou of "George Wilkes," 
dam. ".Miss Fanny." dam of "Fugleman," 2:28|, 
by -IFamlcl," 160, son of "Volunteer." 

Mr. Burton w.as married in November, 1880, to 
Miss Anna Robertson, a n.itive of Carlinville. and 
a dauohter of Dr. William A. and Nancy Robert- 
son, of whom a biography appears elsewhere. Mr. 
and Mrs. Burton have a ch.arming home, wherein- 
their many friends are sure to meet with -i hospita- 
table welcome from the gracious hostess and genial 
host. Three children complete their household — 
Cornelia R.. Robert and Nanette. 

,i^^m^o : ■> 

l^__^ AURY H. GROVE, a prominent and high- 
}f^. Iv respected resident of Bird Township, has 
' his pleasant home on section 36. His fath- 
er. Jesse U. Grove, and his mother, Susan 
Nuss. were both born in Montgomery County, Pa., 
and came from there to Macoupin County early in 



the '60s and made their home in Carlinville. They 
have been residents of the county since that time. 
They had seven children, five sons and two daugh- 
ters. Their names are: Benjamin F., Samuel A., 
Emin:i C. .lesse 1., Henry H.. Albert, and Mary. 
,]esse has married Miss Ella Rusher; Emma, died 
when a little one <if four years; Benjamin F. is en- 
gaged in farmiug in r.ird Township and .Samuel A. 
is a resident of Troy. N. Y.; Henry is engaged in 
buying and soiling slock: Albert is a printer in 
Kansas; he married a Miss W."Jker, who is now de- 
ceased. Mary is a tcicherand Jesse is now serving 
as constable of Carlinville. 

The gentleman of whom we write is the prosper- 
ous ow'ner of one hundred and sixty acres, a splen- 
did farm upon which is located a good farm house. 
All the improvements which are necessary to mark 
a first-class farm are here to be found, and the 
buildinss are above the average. He now has his 
farm in the hands of a tenant. 

Mr. Grove was born in Philadelphia. Pa., Aug- 
ust i). 1858, and was some seven years old when 
the family emigrated to Miis county, which he has 
ever since made bis home. His education was first 
taken in the common schools and for awhile he at- 
tended BKackburn LTiiiversity. In his early man- 
hood he labored in various cap.acities and did con- 
siderable dealing in stock in a small w.iy prior to 
1885. when by the exercise of industry, temperance 
and economy he had accumulated about $1,000. 
At this time he intended to take a collegiate edu- 
cation for the purpose of entering upon a profess- 
ional career, but finding himself financially strand- 
ed by the closing of the First National Bank and 
through the trickery of the cashier losing ?500, he 
w!is compelled to give up his cherished plans. 
Thoui;li the loss was a severe one he did not be- 
come discouraged or <lisheartened at the loss, but 
with renewed energy he started out again with a 
determination to succeed. 

In Februaiy. 1886. 31r. Grove entered the gro- 
cerv business without a dollar of cash capital. He 
purchased of V. C. Rodemeyer his stock of grocer- 
ies, fiving for the same his individual notes which 
he paid long before due. In September, 1 887 he 
a^ain met with a severe loss amounting of ^1.500 
b\ the failure of Wilson A- Crowley of Chicago, to 



C92 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECOIJIX 



whom he was furnishing supplies and mprchandise. 
Owing to ill health he sokl out his business in 
February, 1888, with p. view of locating in the 
West. I'pon retiring from business he received 
flattering letters from some of the most substantial 
wholesale houses, such as Franklin Mac Ve.agh & 
Co.. Dean Bros. & Lincoln, of Chic.igo; J. W. 
Bunn cfe Co., SpringfieM, 111., and Jacob Furth <fe 
Co., St. Louis, Mo., lestifving to his straightfor- 
ward and lionorable business dealings and regret- 
ting to lose his patronage. 

During the summer of I8.S8 Mr. Grove took an 
extended trip through the West with a view to 
locating, but not finding the country suitable, he 
returned home and in October, 1888, bought a 
quarter section which comprised one of the finest 
and best improved farms in the county. As above 
stated this is located on section 36. Bird Township, 
and here he has since been engaged as a farmer and 
dealer in stock. His political views are expressed 
in the platform of the Republican party and al- 
tliough he is not an office seeker he has the confid- 
ence of the men of his party and his counsel on 
political matters is highly esteemed. He is a liber- 
al contributor to churcli and benevolent [lurposes. 

KV. F. A. OSTROP, pastor of St. Joseph 
-^., Catholic Church, Carlinville, is one of the 
ii\V ablest men in the priesthood in this section 
"^of the State. He w.as born in Westphalia, 
Germany, and in the splendid scliools of his native 
hind he w.as given every advantage to obtain a 
liberal education. He early showed unmistakable 
signs of superior scholarship, and made rapid pro- 
gress in his studies. By teaching he earned money 
witli which to advance his education, and attended 
some of ihe best schools in Germany. He was 
finally graduated in Westphalia, where he had been 
well grounded not only in theology but in medi- 
cine as well. 

Father Ostrop continued studying and teaching 
in the Fatherland until 1858. when he came to this 
country. He located at Alton, where he joined 
the priesthood, and was ordained in LS59. He then 





became pastor of .St. Mary's Church in that city. 
He presided over that church until 1872, when he 
went to Quincy to take charge of St. Boniface 
Church. He remained there until 1877, and in 
that year came to Carlinville, and has held the 
pastor.ate of , St. Joseph Cliurch ever since. Tlie 
affairs of the church are now in a very flourishino- 
condition. The building is a commodious brick 
structure, of a modern style of architecture, and is 
most artistically finished and furnisht-d. A neat 
parson.nge and school building are in connection 
with the church, a view of which accompanies this 
sketch. 

• 

EERT SCHMIDT, who is engage.! in 
WM/ general farming and stock-raising on sec- 
tion 22, Gillespie Township, is one of the 
thrifty German farmers of the county. He was 
liorn in Friesland, in the province of Hanover, on 
the 10th of March, 1834. and is one ofa large fam- 
ily of children. The parents spent their entire lives 
in Hnnover. where the father <lied at the age of 
fifty years, the mother's deatl' occurring at the age 
of forty years. Both were members of the Lutheran 
Church. 

In the usual manner of farmer lads, the subject 
of this sketch sjient the days of his boyhood and 
youth, and his education was acquired in the pub- 
lic schools. When he h.ad attained to years of ma- 
turity he was united in marriage with Tretke Milf, 
who was born on the 10th of April, 1838. Her 
parents, natives of Hanover, came to America in 
early life, and spent their l.ast days in Macoupin 
County, dying when well .advanced in years. They 
too wore members of the Luther.an Cliurch. Mr. 
and Mrs. Sciimidt began their domestic life in tne 
Fatherland, and .after the birth of their eldest child, 
n daughter, they sailed for America, taking passage 
on a steamer, which left the port of Bremen April 
7, 1851. At length they safely arrived in New 
York, and from there came at once to Illinois, set- 
tling in Macoupin County, where they worked in 
the families of rich farmers until they had acquired 
enough to jiurchase a small tract of land. Little 
by little they added to their savings until thev h.ad 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



695 



onough to buy a few acres in Gillespie Township. 
Tugellier lliey worked on, and as the result of their 
industry, entcri)rise and perseverance, acquired a 
comfortable property. Mr. Schmidt now owns 
two iuuidred acres of valuable land, which is di- 
vided into rich and fertile fields. The farm is well 
supplied with necessary buildings, including a good 
residence and barns and is well stocked. 

Unto Vv. and IMrs. Schmidt have been born 
eleven children, of whom two are now deceased — 
Mela .nnd Milf. Those wlso still survive arc: 
Weiitka, wife of l-'rank Weyen, a resident farmer 
of Gillespie Township; John, who weddeii Fretka 
Weyen and is engaged in agriculliiral jjursuits in 
the same township; Anna, wife of John Sattagass, 
a resident fanner of Honey Point Township: Ettie, 
wife of John Schmidt, who is living on a farm in 
(Hllespic Township: Ella, wife of Tace Weyen, and 
agriculturist of Cahokia Township; Charles, Milf, 
Merta and Jessie, all .at home. The moUier of this 
family was called to her flnal rest on the 25th of 
October, 1885, and her death was mourned by m.auy 
friends. Slie was a member of the Lutheran 
Church, and was held in high regard by all who 
know her. Mr. Schmidt is also of the same re- 
ligious faith, and he exercises his right of franchise 
in°support of the Democratic party, with which his 
sons also affilinle. He may truly be called a self- 
made man. for his fortune was carved out by him- 
self, and his success is the result of his own 
efforts. 



\f OHN BRU BAKER. No class of people has 
been more helpful in bringing about the high 
standing that this county enjoys than the 
men who have developed its rich agricultu- 
ral resources, and among these is the subject of this 
sketch, who has a finely improved farm on section 
20, Girard Township. Mr. Brubaker was born in 
Roanoke County. Va., September 4, 1832. and is the 
eighth child and second son of Joel and Elizabeth 
(Fisher) Brubaker. For parental history sec 
sketch of Moses Brubfikcr. 

Mr. Brubaker was reared in Ids native county, 
and resided there until 1859, when, with bis wife 



and three children, he went to Clarke County, 
Ohio. He located ten miles from the city of 
Springfield, near the village of Northampton, where 
he and his brother Noah bought a quarter section 
of land in company. There was a good brick 
house on the place, also a log stable, and one hun- 
dred and twenty acres cleared. They farmed to- 
gether until 1864, when our subject sold his inter- 
est in the farm in order to try agricultural pursuits 
on the rich soil in this county. After coming here 
he rented a farm in Girard Township one season, 
and during that lime he bought the farm that he 
now occupies. He has erected a neat and substantial 
set of frame buildings, and otherwise improved his 
homestead so that it is a valuable piece of prop- 
erly, and gives evidence of his skill and practicality 
as a farmer. 

March 9, 1854, Mr. Brubaker and Miss Mary 
Neff were wedded. Mrs. Brubaker was born in 
Franklin County, Va., November 20,1833. Her 
father, Isaac Neff, was a native of the same county, 
and it is thought that his father, who bore the 
same name as himself, was also a Virginian by 
birth. The father of ihe latter, Jacob Nafe (the 
family name being originally spelled that way),wasa 
native of Germany. When he was young his father 
1 started with him and two other sons, named Henry 
1 and Baslian, for America. The father died on the 
V0.1 age. and the three sons were bound out on 
I their°arrival in this country to pay their passage. 
! Later one of them settled in Virginia, one in 
I Maryland and one in Ohio. Jacob Nafe married 
Katie Flory, and resided in Franklin County, Va., 
wliither he removed from Maryland. The maiden 
name of the great-grandmother of Mrs. Brubaker 
wasSpangler. Mrs. Brubaker's grandfather was a 
farmer, and spent his last years in Franklin County, 
Va. His homestead was located a half mile from 
Tcelsville, on the stage road from Salem to Rocky 
Mount, and there for some years he kept a public 
house. The maiden name of his wife was Barbara 
Myers. Both were members of the German Bap- 
tist Brethren Church. 

Mrs. Brubaker's father was reared to agricultu- 
ral pursuits, and followed farming in Virginia un- 
til 1868, when he came to Illinois, and now resides 
at Auburn. Sangamon County, in his eighty second 



696 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



year. Tlie maiden name of Mrs. Brubaker's motber 

was Elizabetli Pfteis. Sbe was born in Franklin 

County, Va., and died in ber native State in 1838. 

Our subject and his good wife are consist- 

ent and conscientious Cbristians, as is sbown by 

tbeir conduct in everyday affaiis of life, and in 

them the German Baptist Brethren Church has two 

of its best members. There have been born to 

tbem a large family of (ihildren, whose names are 

as follows: Riley F., Caleb C, Josiah I)., Lizzie 

M.. Kate B., Barbara, who died in infancy : Isaac 

Neff, Nichol.as J., Martha R., Charles H. and Al- 

pheus O. Kate married Frank Snell and Martha is 

the wife of Isaac Harshburger. The children are 

all active members of the same church to which 

their parents belong. 






=^s=^ 



^^^ 



^|(OHN P. MATTHEWS, M. D., President of 
the Illinois Slate Medical Society, is one of 
those progressive, wide-awake men wiio at- 
^ lain to a high standing in professional circles 
and are looked up to as models of intelligence and 
manly character. He has a tine education and his 
l)rofessional studies included hospital pr.aclice so 
that when he was ready to open an ollice he had a 
sound foundation upon which to build his hopes of 
future success. Not content with this, he has con- 
tinued his habits of study and thought in and with 
professional societies and in his own private de- 
partment. In the diagnosis of diseases lie is careful 
and accurate, while in bis treatment he shows a 
knowledge of the nature of drugs and their effect 
upon the human system that has given liim the 
gratitude and high regard of many to whom he has 
brought returning ueali:h or whose friends he has 
relieved. 

Dr. Matthews is an Englishman, having been born 
at Court Farm, Hampton Bishop, Herfordshire. 
His father, .Tohn Matthews, was a native of the same 
shire and was reared to .agricultural pursuits. Early 
in the spring of 1844 that gentleman, with his wife 
and six children, set sail from Liverpool on the 
'•Ashburlon". and landed at New York thirty-nine 
days later. He located in that part of Lawrence 



County now included in Mercer County, Pa., and 

bought a farm near Sharon, on which he followed 
his vocation the rest of his life. He died after lie 
had lived in America a score of years. His wife, 
formerly Caroline Myra Cooper, was also a native 
of Herfordshire. She preceded him to the silent 
land about a twelve-month, breathing her last in 
1863. They reared eight children named resiiect- 
ively: .lane, Wdliam S., John P., Henry, Arthur, 
Frederick L., Myra A. and Elizabeth H. 

The subject of this life history attended the 
British and Foreign School at Ross, Herfordshire, 
in his boyhood, and after the removal to Pennsyl- 
vania he spent some time in the public schools. He 
then went to Sharon Academy and later entered the 
/-uathematical department of Duff's Commercial 
College at Pittsburg. He still further advanced his 
education by an attendance of two years in Alle- 
gheny College in Meadville. In 1857 he came to 
Ibis St.ate and for three years was eng.aged !■! teach- 
; ing, tbe time being divided between Kune, Greene 
j County, and Greenville Academy. During the last 
I year and a half he devoted all his leisure time to 
I reading medicine with Dr. Peter Fenity. and when 
j he resigned his position in the academy he went to 
Keokuk, Iowa, and took a course of lecturec in the 
Keokuk Medical College. 

Dr. Matthews then began practicing in Scottville, 
this county, and .levoted hims.-lf zealously to his 
work until 1862. He then entered the United States 
service .as Assistant Surgeon of the One Hundred 
and Twenty-second Illinois Infantry, i)ut after he 
had been with the regiment a year was obliired to 
resign on account of ill health. He next opened 
an oflice in Carlinville ami practiced here until 
1865, when he went to New Voik in order to secure 
t;,e advantages of hospital work. He was zealous 
and observing and walked the hospital to good 
advantage, and before the year had expired was 
graduated from the Long Island College Hospital. 
He returned and resumed his w<nk in Carlinville 
and has since been .actively engaged here. 

In 1865 Dr. Matthews was uiiiled in marriage with 
Miss Elizabeth A. Palmer, daughter of Gen. John 
M. and Melinda A. Palmer. She is a lady of rare 
intelligence and culture, a graduate of the classical 
course at Almira College and commands the respect 



POIITRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



697 



of her assoiM'ales. Slie was born in Carlinville and 
the highest interests of lier life have centered liere. 
Dr. and Mrs. Matthews iiave tliree living cliildren: 
John Palmer, A. M.; Lucy Myra, and Frederick 
AVelister. Tiie lirst named was graduated from 
Biaclibuni University with the degree of Bachelor 
of Arls.in the Class of '87. and in 1890 had the 
degree of Master of Arts conferred upon him. He 
is now a student in the medical department of the 
Northwestern University at Chicago and will grad 
uale in the Class of '91. The daughter is now a 
student at Blackburn University and tiie younger 
son is in the public school. 

Dr. Mattliews is a member of the International 
Medical Congress and attended the session at Wash- 
ington in 1 887, and that at Berlin, Germany, in 
1890. He belongs to the British Medical Associa- 
tion, American Medical Association, Medical Soci- 
ety of Central Illinois, Society of Macou[)in County 
for Medical Impiovement, and Fellow of the Amer- 
ican Khinological Society. He is a Mason, belong- 
ing to Mt. Nebo Lodge, No. 7(5, F. d- A. ;\I. 



Vf/OSEPH DODSON represents the grain 
trade at Shipinan and also deals in Hour and 
fee(L He is a native of Boonville, Cooper 
County-, Mo., and w.is horn October 17, 
1840. His parents, Eli Dod.son and Mary M. 
Williams, were natives of Ohio and Illinois, and 
were married in this State, but later lived on a farm 
in Missouri. They removed from Cooper to Cass 
County and there the fatiier turned liis attention to 
mercantile pursuits. In 1856 they came back to 
this State, settled at Woodburn, this county, and 
there Mr. Dodson carried on a general store some 
fifteen years. During that time he built a flouring 
mill and operated the same. When he retired from 
business he removed to Shipman, where his wife 
died in 1875, at tiie age of sixty-six years. He 
subsequently resided with a son at Medora, and 
died there in 1876, having passed the seventy-lirst 
milestone on life's journey. 

The parental family included ten sons and 
daughters, but four crossed the river of death 



before they bad become adults. William died in 
Chicago in 1874; Emily married James R. Ameut- 
and died in Litchticid; Isaac is living at Lebanon, 
Mo.; Joseph will be mentioned at greater length 
in the accompanying paragraphs; James E. is a 
resident of Warrensburg; Francis M. lives in 
Carlinville. 

During the boyhood of our subject the common 
schools in Missouri were not conspicuous for an 
extended course of study, nor were the buildings 
in which they were held attractive or even com- 
fortable. The sessions were chiefl3' dui-ing tiie 
wincer. The school houses were built of logs and 
the opening left by removing one answered for a 
window. The benches were of slabs without any 
support for the backs of the pupils, but tiie brain 
was expected to work just as well as if the body 
were not tired. Mr. Dodson gained such know- 
ledge as he could under the circumstances, and 
being of a practical nature he learned tlie use of 
that which he studied. His boyhood was [lasscd 
on the farm and during his youth he vv.as a clerk in 
stores. 

Having come to this State with his parents ;\Ir. 
Dodson has been connected with the business 
interests of Central Illinois since he grew to man- 
hood. When he became of age he associated with 
bis brother William in the milling business in 
Woodburn ami Shipman, aiul the partnership con- 
tinued until 1877. The next year he established 
his present business and in the years tiiat have 
passed he lias built up a good trade and prospered 
in basket and store. He has one of the largest and 
best residences in the town and is considered one 
of the men of subsfcuice and business honor. 

December 18, 1.S67. Mr. Dodson was married to 
Miss Mary M., daughter of Ricliard P. and 
Catharine (Roberts) Harris. This estimable lady 
was born in Morgan County in September, 1842. 
Her hap|)y union has been blest by the birth of 
six children named respectively E<lwiii A., Fivuny 
C, Abigail E., Eva A., Rosa M. and Bertha \". 
Mrs. Dodson is the eldest child of her pannits and 
her brothers and sisters who grew to maturity are 
Melinda E., Emily P., Sarah J., Maria C, Abigail 
C, Sophia, Newton D. and Minnie L. Her father 
was born April 8, 1821, and her mother December 



698 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



10 of the same year, and both came with their 
parents from Tennessee to this Slate in their ehild- 
iioo(]. Their homes were in Morgan County, and 
their marriage was solemnized at Jacksonville 
Octoljer .5, 1841. Mr. Harris died Decemher 10, 
1865, and his widow passed away May 26, 1866. 
In religion they were Methodists and in politics 
Mr. Harris was a Democrat. His occupation was 
farming. 

Mr. Dodson is identified with the Masonic order 
and the Knights of Honor. He was fomerly a 
Democrat but is now connected with the Prohibi- 
tion party. For Hfteen years he served as School 
Director and is now a member of the Town Council. 
His leligious home is in the Christian Church, in 
which he has good standing and a reputation that 
extends beyond the borders of that religious body. 



■4M--!k-^-T—i 



^ENRY HOELLMER. In the past twenty 
years the Prairie State has perhaps under- 
gone as important changes as have any of 
the sisUihood of Central States. There 
were not originally so many difficulties to over- 
come as in Stales whore the contour of the land 
was so rugged. Boulders had not to be broken up 
nor forests felled before the agriculturist could 
plow and sow and reap. Farmers here have the 
advantage, for in the fertile lands the sod has sim- 
ply to be broken and the plow put in the land to 
bring forth a rich harvest of cereals that are a for- 
tune in themselves. The wealth of the State de- 
l)ends as much upon its farming element as upon 
the manufactures for which it is so noted, and the 
people from every nation have assisted in making 
lliis one of the noted agricultural districts of the 
world. 

Our subject, who is of Gorman origin, has lent 
his aid to developing the country, having for the 
past twenty years devoted his efforts to the im- 
provement and cultivation of his farm located on 
section 1, Mt. Olive Township. The tract of land 
which he has under cultivation is not noticeable 




n 



for its extent, comprising only eighty acres, but 
every acre is made to [iroduco as much as nature 
will allow. 

He of whom we write came to the county in 
1865 and has always lived on the farm wliere he 
now resides. He came hither f.om Morgan County 
where he lived four years after coming to the 
United States. He was born in what is now the 
Piovince of Hanover, Germany, June 21, 1^38. 
Hiis parents were Herman and Catherine (Slraven) 
Hoellmer, wiio were natives of the same Province 
in which our subject was born. They lived in their 
native province until their family of children were 
all born. The children were five in number and 
of these three are yet living. In 1857 the parents 
and family left Germany and emigrated to the 
United States, taking a ship at Bremen on a sailor 
and landing after a voyage of several weeks at 
New Orleans. They came thence to St. Louis, 
afterward to Morgan County, and thence to Mt.' 
Olive Township, in this county, and have lived here 
since that time. The mother dierl in 1870 at the 
age of sixty-eight years. She left a lasting regret 
in the hearts of her husband and children, for^'she 
was a kind and affectionate wife and mother, un- 
selfish and unswerving in her sense of duty to her 
family. She was a member of the Lutheran Church. 
The father is now ninety years of age, and is the 
loved charge of our subject, who has taken care of 
him since reaching iwenty one years of age. He 
is yet active in mind, although feeble in body. All 
his life has been spent in the hardest work until he 
grew so old as to be incapacitated for such heavy 
labor. He, like his wife, is a Lutheran, in his 
church relations. 

Our subject was eighteen years of age when his 
|)arents came to the United States and ever since, 
that time he has devoted himself to making aposi-* 
lion in the world. His marriage took plac^eat Mt. 
Olive, his wife's maiden name being Anna Saalhoff. 
She was born in Hanover, (iermany, April 12, 
1847, and is a daughter of Charles and Wepke 
(Gilliam) Saalhoff, both natives of Hanover. Her 
father, who was a farm laborer, died in his native 
kingdom while yet in middle life. His wife and 
children who survive him came to this country in 
1805 and settled in New Vork, there the mother 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



q99 



diod two years later at the age of fifty- five years. 
Slie and her husband were members of the Lutheran 
Church. Mrs. Iloellmer, the wife of our subject, 
after landing in New York City with her family 
lived there for seven montlis, and then came on to 
Mt. Olive, m.aking that place her home thereafter 
until her marriage. 

Our subject and his amiable wife are the parents 
of 'cn children, only one of whom, Anna, is de- 
ceJised. She passed to the better land while a mere 
child, being only four years of age. The living 
children are Herman H., Lena, Wilhelmina, Deit- 
rich C, Meta M., Henry, William, Maria, and Ed- 
ward H. The eldest son is still at home and is his 
father's strongest helper on the farm; Lena became 
tlie wife of Fred W. Daberkow, a minister in the 
Lutheran Church .at Monroe, Minn. The other 
children are all still at homo and fill the house with 
their merry jests and gay badinage while they are 
the hell) .and comfort of their parents. Both our 
subject and his wife are members of the German 
Lutheran Church .as are also their children. Mr. 
Hoellmeris in his political preference a Republican. 



f|_ UGH MILES ENOS. A prosperous farmer 
^^ and a public-spirited citizen is to be found 
in the gentleman whose name is given .at 
_ the lieail of this paragrapli. His fine firm 
isliTan excellent state of cultivation and comprises 
three luindrfd and sixty-two .acres of as good land 
.as is to be seen in Macoupin County. Upon it he 
carries on general farming and stock raising, and 
the excellent set of buildings which he h.as erected 
on his land, as well as the nep.t appearance of his 
well-ki'pl farm, bespeak him as a man of more than 
ordinary aljility and enterprise. 

The father of our subject. Thomas Enos, was 
l)(jrn in iho Southern part of Alabama, and the 
mother, Uubara .I.acobs, was a native of South 
Carolinii. Their wedded home w.as in the moun- 
tainous regi(ms of Eastern T'ennessee, and there 
Thomas Enus died in July, 1856. His bereaved 
widow afterwaril removed to Macoupin County 
and iiassed her last days at the home of her son 



Hugh, where she died January 3, 1888. They had 
a family of eight children, six sons and two daugh- 
ters, of whom our subject was the third in the 
order of birth. 

April 9, 1819, was the date upon wliicli our sub- 
ject was born in Blount County, Tenn., and there 
he spent the early years of his life, up to the age 
of twenty. When he became a young man he de- 
cided to remove from the old homo, and take his 
chances with others, in the Siato of Hlmois, which 
had come into existence as a State the year bi-fore 
his Dirth. His first stopping- place was at Jersey - 
ville and near it he found employment upon a farm 
for some three months. Later he came into this 
county and worked for three years in Bird Town- 
ship. The young man was now smitten with the 
gold fever and determined to seek his fortunes in 
the great West. He went to California in 1852 and 
there engaged in mining and remained there until 
the spring of 185(!. He had now h.ad enough of 
the Pacific Slope and settled down to the peaceful 
pursuits of faiming in Bird Township, this county, 
and has since made it his home. Mr. Enos was 
married in Bird Townshi)) to Miss Mary White, 
who was born in iMigland, in Lancashire, her par- 
ents being Thomas and Anna (Abbey) White, who 
emigrated from England and spent the remainder 
of their d.ays in Bird Township. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Enos Have been granted seven 
children to share their parental care and affection. 
They are namely: John J., Thomas, who married 
Miss Bessie Waters; Sarah, who is the wife of 
Lewis Waters; James, Hugh M. Jr., who married 
Lora McGinnis; Elvira and Amy. The political 
views of our subject are in accord with the plat- 
form of the Republican party and he has ever sus- 
tained by his vote and voice, the organization 
which placed Abraham Lincoln in the Presidential 
chair. His earnest interest in educational matters 
has led his neighbors to choose him for a number 
of years as a member of the School Board. Mr. 
and Mrs. "Enos are earnest and conscientious mem- 
bers of the Shiloh Baptist Church, in which they 
find a broad field for Christian labor and whore 
their influence is felt and highly prized. He is a 
man of independent thought and in all m.atters of 
iini)ortance, gives due consi<leration to every side 






700 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of tlie question before making up bis mind. His 
intelli£;ence ani excellent judgment lit him to be a 
leader, and his experience and standing give him 
an influence which is exercised by him for the 
goo(i of the community. 




^, APT. BENJAMIN H. PENN,a well-known 
resident of section 29. Shaw's Point Town- 
ship, is a son of Joseph and Candace (Bar- 
ton) Penn, both natives of Nortii Carolina. In 
their early married life they made tlieir home in 
Lebanon, St. Clair County, III., and in 1837 came 
to Macoupin County and settled in Shaw's Point 
Township, where Mr. I'enn died in 1840. His 
bereaved widow survived him for seventeen years 
and at the time of her departure from this life was 
living in Montgomery County. 

The subject of this biographical sketch is tlie 
youngest in a large family of nine children, and 
on Februar\' 5, 1838, he first saw the light in 
Shaw's Point Township. Here he received a good 
education in the district schools and was reared to 
manhood, learning upon bis father's farm the 
practical arts of agriculture. The greater part of 
his life has been spent here with the exception of 
three years which he gave to his country and two 
and a half years when he was in Kinsas, and a 
year spent in Madison County. With the excep 
tion of this, he has been a resident of Macoupin 
County all his life. He learned the carpenter's 
trade, which he followed industriously for many 
years, and since 1880 he has been engaged exclu- 
sively in farming. Upon this fine and rich tract 
of seventy-seven and a half acres he has raised fine 
crops and good stock. 

We belief all the words of historians will never 
more than do justice to the brave boys who so 
cheerfully and bravely left their homes and went 
out without training and without military skill to 
fight the enemies of their countrj' in its time of 
need. The hero's crown is theirs, and we love to 
speak of their endurance and courage and of the 
victories which they achieved. Illinois responded 
nobly to the repeated calls of the War President 



whom her sons loved and honored, and to whose 
help they freely sprang. Benjamin Penn enlisted 
in one of the first regiments and at the first call 
of Abraham Lincoln, being one of those who en- 
listed for three months, believing that this period 
of warfare would end the rebellion. He became a 
private in Company K, Seventh Illinois Regiment, 
joining that body April 22, 1861. 

After his term of service expired this young 
man re-enlisted in Company C, Thirty -second 
Illinois Regiment, as a private, and served in that 
capacity until February 28, 1863, when he was 
commissioned Captain of Company B, of the same 
regiment. His term of service expired in the fall 
of 1864, and he was mustered out of scvice Sep- 
tember 1.3. He took part in the siege of Vicks- 
burg and in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain. 
Before he was (commissioned Captain he served 
as Wagon-master, first as Regimental, and later as 
Brigade Wagon -master. 

When Capt. Penn was mustered out he returned 
to Shaw's Point Township and engaged at once 
in farming, but afterward removed to Virden nnd 
devoted himself to the business of carpentry until 
1872, when he went to Butler County, Kan., where 
he farmed for two and a half years. He then 
came back to Carlinville and followed his trade 
until 1880, when he settled on the farm which is 
located on section 29, where he has made excellent 
improvements. 

It was during the days of the war that Capt. 
Penn took to himself a wife, being iniited in 
marriage April 22. 1863, with Miss Mary K. 
Prichard, at the residence of the bride's parents, 
Wilson and Polly (Plain) Prichard. both natives 
of Virginia and residenls of Shaw's Point Town- 
ship. The}' had come from the South some years 
before and the father liied in 1862. The mother 
still survives at an advanced age and is at once 
the care and comfort of her children. Mr. and 
Mrs. Prichard had four children, of whom IMrs. 
Penn was the third, being liorn June 18, 1840, in 
Mnhlenburg County, Ky. 

Capt. and Mrs. Penn are the parents of five in- 
teresting children, namely: Mattie L., Mary C, 
Josephine E., Florence R. and Ethel G. The sec- 
ond daughter aied in infancy. (Japt. Penn was 



POrtTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHJCAL RP:C0RD. 



701 



elected Justice of the Peace in the spring of 1 888, 
and iiiis lield that offlce continuously from that 
date to tliis. He also occupied tbe same position 
while living in Kansas. Both he and his amiable 
and intelligent wife nre active members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. He has taken a 
very active part in political affairs and always 
afliliates with the party which placed Abraham 
Lincoln in the Presidential chair. Ilis war record 
and experience give him a lively interest in the 
affairs of the Grand Army of the Repul)lic, and he 
lielongs to Dan Messick Post, No. 339, of Carliii- 
villc. 



'SjOHN R. CLEMMONS. The wealthy and 
I I progressive farmers of Virdcn Township 
have achieved their success by virtue of 
their own thorough-going industry, effective 
enterprise and the wealth which lay hidden under 
the sod of the Prairie State. They cannot lie ac- 
cused, as can manj' who have gained wealth in the 
populous centers of our countrj', of having wrung 
their wealth from the sufferings and efforts of 
their feilow-men. They may well take an honor- 
able pride in their achievements and can with a 
clear conscience say that they have wronged 
no man, but have truly helped their neighbors 
througli their own jirosperiiy. 

Among such we are pleased to mention the 
gentlt-man whose na ne we have given above. His 
|)arents, Peter and Eunice (Richardson) Clem- 
mons. emigrated from North Carolina to Pike 
County, III., in the fall of 1830, and there 
tht'\' s|)ent the reuiainder of their days. 
Oiii- subject was the youngest in a goodly 
family of seven children, and his birth took 
place in Davidson County, N. C , January 
19, 1.S22. He was therefore but eight years 
oM when his father and mother made their new 
home in the Piairie Slate, and from that time Pike 
County was his home and there he grew to man- 
hood. His quiet early life upon the farm was 
spent much as other farm boys spend their grow- 
ing yean-, and he received as good an education as 
the district schools of the county afforded. These 



were not as good then as can be found now, but 
the added earnestness of those early days, m.ade 
probably as good scholars as the greater advant- 
ages of to-day can turn out. 

This gentleman made his home in Pike Count}' 
until March, 1865. He had married in Greene 
County, this Slate, Elizabeth Ann Thomas, a 
daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Ann (Isley) 
Thomas and the wedding day of the young couple 
was March 28, 1848. Mr. and M.-s. Thomas were 
of Southern birth and [jarentage, the former being 
a native of Pendleton County, S. C, and 
the latter of Eastern Tennessee. They had come 
to niinois in llieir early days and were married in 
Madison County, from which they afterward re- 
moved to Greene County, where they spent the 
remainder of their d.ays. 

Mrs. Clemmons was the fifth in order of age in 
a family of truly patriarchal numbers, there being 
twelve in her father's family, and her birth took 
place in Greene County, August 21, 1825. As we 
have said Mr. Clemmons continued to reside in 
Pike County after his marriage until March, 1865 
wlien he came to Macoupin County, "and made his 
home on section 12, AMrden Townsiiip, which has 
since lieen the family residence. Both he and his 
wife are large land owners, owning together some 
live hundred and sixty acres, upon which he has 
made valuable and substantial improvements, in- 
cluding a beautiful residence, first-class barns and 
all outhouses necessary to the successful and syste- 
tnalie carrying on of farm work. 

Six children have blessed this home, namely: 
Eunice B., who died in the fourth year of her age; 
Samuel T., who was called away when about thir- 
teen years ohl ; Lewis H., who lived to attain his 
majority and was then laken away in the bloom 
of his young manhood ; Jane E., who died when 
seven years old ; Laura C, who is the wife of Frank 
P. Babb'ltand John ()., wlio married Miss Mary 
L. Chedister. In political matters Mr. Clemmons 
has been active and interested, working strenuous- 
ly for the success i>f his |)arty and believing firmly 
in the doctrines of Democracy. He is noi in any 
sense of the word an office-seeker, but at the earn- 
est solicitation of his neighbors he has consented 
to undertake the' responsiljle position of School 



702 



PORTRAIT AJMD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Director. He lias in this way forwarded greatly 
the educational interests of the township, as his 
intelligence and public-spirited enterprise make 
liim peculiarly well tilted to push forward progres- 
sive movements in this direction. Both he and his 
lovely and capable wife are earnest and devoted 
members of the Cliristian Church, and in tliis con- 
nection, as in all the relations of life the^' are 
active in forwarding the interests of those about 
tiiem. Their life in this coninuinity has been one 
which redounds not only to tlieir credit but to the 
good of their neighbors. 



•^»t*>-^»*^»^^-«5itf-.««F>^- 



S^M RS. MARTHA A. JOINER, a resident of 
I IV I^'''f' Township and a member of a promi- 
I 14) nent family in this section, makes her home 
* on section 5. Her father was Drurj' Pul- 

liam, and her mother bore the maiden name of 
Elizabeth Cole. They belonged to old Kentucky 
families and were married in that State and came 
from there to Morgan County, 111. There thej- 
made their home for some time but removed to 
Macoupin County at quite an early day, and settled 
in South Palmyra Townsliip. Here the good 
mother was called aw.ay from earth, leaving her 
children and husband to mourn iier loss, which 
was also deeply fell by the community at large. 
The father died in Waverly. 111. They were the 
parents of eleven children of whom Martha who 
became Mrs. Joiner, was one of the younger mem- 
bers. This daughter was born in Anderson County, 
Ky., in October, 1816. She came to Macoupin 
County, 111., with her parents while still a young 
child. 

This lady remained at home with her parents 
until her marriage with Thomas Joiner, which took 
place June 18, 1848, in South Palmyra Township. 
The first home of the newly married couple was in 
the township just named. Here they lived for 
some time and then removed to I>in! Townshii). 
and settled on section 5. In tno fall of 1883 
Thomas Joiner was called away from earth, leaving 
a widow and children to mourn his irreparable 



loss, in which the community deeply sympathized 
with them. 

Three of Mrs. Joiner's six children arrived at 
years of maturity, namely: Solomon, Mary and 
George. Mary died when a young lady of sixteen 
years; Solomon and George are both residents of 
the townshii) in which their mother makes her 
home and a biographical sketch of the eldest son 
will be found elsewhere in this work. Since the 
death of Mr. Joiner his widow has continued to 
reside upon the old homestead. This lady is an 
earnest and devoted member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church in which her departed husband 
was also an active member. Mrs. Joiner's pure 
Christian character, excellent judgment and neigh- 
borly kindness make her beloved by all who know 
her while her connection with two of the best 
known families in this section give her a broad 
field of o.cqiuuntance and friendship. 



-^-*-s 



;^p^HOMAS PIERSON occupies one of the best 
,'/v^\\ improved farms on section 7, Carlinville 
V^^ Township. lie is another of our British- 
American citizens wiio have found in the New 
World a belter home than they had even in the 
beautiful island of Great Britain. The father of 
this gentleman was William Pierson, an English- 
man. His parents emigrated to America and made 
their home in Morgan Countv. Here Ihc mother 
passed awa3' from earth. The father is now a resi- 
dent of Slissouri. 

The subject of this skctcli was the lifth in a 
family of six children. He was liorn in Morgan 
County, 111., April 5, 1863. He made his home with 
his parents until the year 1880, when he came to 
Macoupin County- and worked for others upon 
llieir farms until he was married. This event of 
great importance and interest look place April 2, 
1890. at the home of the bride in Carlinville Town- 
ship. The lady is Miss Ilaltic Morris, a daughter 
of ihc late Charles and IMaria Morris. Mr. Morris 
died ill Carlinville Township, December 7, 1886, 
and his widow is still living and makes her home 
with her children. 




DANIEL HUDDLESTON. 



PORTRAIT A^■D BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ro5 



Mrs. Hattie Piersoii wa.s bom in Carlinville 
Township. MjiV 18. 1863. After her marriage 
with Mr. Pierson they made their home ou her 
father's old homestead. They now own a tract of 
one liuiidred and sixty acres, upon which is carried 
on not cnly general farming but stock-raising. 
The farm is in excellent conditior and bears every 
mark of the h!»nd of a thorough-going £.nd intelli- 
gent farmer. Nothing npon the farm is allowed 
to run to waste, but every acre counts and every 
corner is made productive an 1 kept in excellent 
condition. In politics be is a Republican, but is 
not aggressive in this line, confining his interest to 
keeping himself well informed and casting his bal- 
lot for the principles which he espouses. 




I^AXIEL HUDDLESTON. The gentleman 
II 111 whose portrait appears on the opposite 
page died at his home on section II. Gil- 
" lespie Township, De<«mber 22, 1869. He 

had settled on his farm here in the spring of 1856 
and at that time it was an unbrtiken prairie, from 
which he was able by his enterprise and energv to 
build up a fine farm. He put upon it such improve- 
ments as redound greatly to bis credit and they now 
stand as a silent memorial to his thrift and in ' ustry. 
At the lime of his death he owned five hundred 
and twenty acres, most of which was in a good state 
of cultivation. 

Mr. Huddleston came to this county in 1832 and 
somewhat later made his home in the township of 
Gillespie, where he remaiced until death. For a 
number of j-ears he continued to reside with his 
parents on section 4, but after his marriage lie lo- 
cated on forty ocres which he afterward increased 
by purchase. This estate formed the homestead 
wliicli is yet in the family in a divided state. 

Mr. Huddleston was born in Ohio near Colum- 
bus. October 25, 181 6. and was the son of Abraham 
and Mary (Roe) Hudiileston. The Huddleston 
family is of German antestry and the Roe's are of 
English descent. After marriage this couple began 
life on a farm near Columbus. Ohio, but later re- 
moved to Indiana, making their home near New- 



port in that Stale. In 1832 they emigrated to Ill- 
inois coming with an ox-team in a prairie schooner 
and camping out along the road. Upon their arrival 
here in 1832 they secured some Government land 
ou section 4. Gillespie Township, and began their 
Western life after the primitive style of those times. 
In the original home of this couple the wife of 
Abraham Huddleston died in 1852. when past iifty 
years of age. Her husband married twice after 
her death, his List wife surviving him, f.nd his own 
death occurring July 4, 1874, when he was more 
than eighty-five years of age. 

The parents of our subject were idontifiad with 
the old school Baptist Church and Mr. Huddle- 
ston's political views were in accordance with the 
doctrines of the Democratic party. He was well- 
known throughout not only the township but also 
the county. Only two of the children of this couple 
grew to \ears of marurity — our subjec-t and his sis- 
ter Jane, Mrs. Kinder, who died near Clyde, Ibis 
county, in 1889, being about seventy-two years old. 
After Mr. Huildleston became of .age he was mar- 
ried in this county to Miss Raciiel Huddleston, who 
was born in the central part of Indiana on the Blue 
River, February 21, 1824. She is a daughter of 
William and .Juda Huddleston. natives of Kentucky 
anil Tennessee respectively, who came of similar 
ancestry with our subject. They were married in 
Kentucky and began life .as farmers and during the 
War of 1812 William fought during the entire 
period of conflict. He w.as under Gen. J.acfcson at 
the battle of New Orleans, and proved himself 
brave and daring. 

After the birth of some of their children, Will- 
i.am Huddleston and family set out for the North- 
west, coming through Indiana with teams and wag- 
ons. While passing through that State in 1824 
their daughter Rachel was born and she was but a 
child when her parents reached Illinois in 1830, and 
settled on Government land in Gillespie Township. 
They built a home on section 3. and tliere the wife 
and mother was called from earth in 1832. She was 
then in the i)rime of life, a devoted Christian, a 
kind mother and a woman of more than ordinary 
character. She was a Methodist in her religious 
connections. 

The second marriage of William Huddleston 



706 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



united him with Miss Rachel Hendersbott. They 
afterward lived in Greene County. III., where lie 
died in 1844, being then only a little past middle 
life. He was a man of true Christian character con- 
nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
was a Whi;^ in his political views. His wife survived 
him and spent her last days in Iowa. She also was 
connected with the Methodist Church. 

The wife of our subject was only eight years of 
age when her mother died and she was reared by 
her father. Of eight children born to her parents, 
three sons and three daughters are still living. She 
became the mother of thirteen children, nine of 
of whom are deceased, namely: Henry, Maria C, 
Susan. Lina, Preston and Mary I., who all died 
single; George D. L.; Julia A., wiio became the 
wife of Amos Ruckman a.nd died leaving no off- 
spring; Samuel J., who married Leonia Robins and 

left three children. Those who still survive are 

John W., who married .Sarah Halpin ami lives on 
the Huddleston homestead; Carrie E.. who is the 
widow of Adelbert James, and resides with her 
mother; Emma J., the wife of Daniel Duger, an 
engineer residing at Belleville, III., and Florence D., 
the wife of Julius Williams, now living on a farm 
in this township. Mrs. Huddleston and her children 
attend the Methodist Episcopal Cliurch and are 
active and earnest in their support of religious work. 
The family name was formerly spelled lluddlestun 
but was changed during the present geneialion. 




J ICHOLAS CHALLACOMBE. The gentle- 
man who is the original of this sketch is 
one of the most prominent in the county, 
not only for his financial standiig, which in itself 
would give him precedence, but ijecause of his 
popularity, reputation for honor and integrity, and 
his adherence to principles that naturally vote one 
to be a high-souled gentleman. He is the owner of 
and resident upon the very fine farm located on 
section 20, of Chesterfield Township. 

The ancestors of Mr. Challacombe were of noble 
origin, and he can refer with pride to the fact that 



they came over to England with William the Con- 
queror. For several generations before the birth 
Of the subject of this sketch the family held an 
honorable position among the yeomen of Devon- 
s'lire, where both his grandfather and father were 
born. The home of the Challacorebes was located 
in the Parish of West Down and was known as 
Buttercomb Hall. There are still many represent- 
atives of the family in the mother country, some 
of them 1 eing located at Bristol, others are scat- 
tered through manufacturing and rural districts. 
Nicholas Challacombe was the pioneer in his fam- 
ily to start out for himself in the new country. 

Our subject was the youngest son of a family of 
eight children, born to his father, John Challa- 
combe, his mother lieing Elizabeth (Parminter) 
Challacombe, also a native of Devonshire. The 
family emigrated to America in 1833 and settled 
ill Si.-iffonl, (ienesee County, N. Y. In 1840 th°v 
removed from their first location and came to Illi- 
nois, settling near Carlinville on the farm now 
owned by ixGov. Palmer, where they lived until 
the death of the parents. 

Tlie original of this sketch was the youngest sou 
and si.xih child in the order of birth of his family. 
His natal d.iy was June li). 1824. He made his 
home with his father until he reached his majority 
when his father presented him with four hundred 
acres of land lying in the Macoupin bottom. Of 
this tiact only eighty acres were under cultivation. 
It included a mound that afforded a beautiful and 
picturesque building site. He early became ac- 
qtiaiiiLed with a lady whose name was Xancv Glo- 
rian Carson, and tliey were united marriage March 
22, 1847, the ceremony being celebrated under the 
auspices of the Rev. Hugh Barr. The lady is a 
native of Franklin. Tenn.. and is of Scotch origin, 
her father was William- H. Car.son. a native of Ten- 
nessee, as was her mother, Mary (Goff) Carson. 
They were old settlers in Macoupin County, al- 
though they passed away from this life in Chester- 
field 'lownship. 

Immediately after our subject's marriage he set- 
tled with his young wife on the farm where he 
now lives, and with her he has since bent his ener- 
gies to seeing how bright and beautiful they could 
make the existence which the good P\allier has 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



707 



vouehsafed them. Tliis tliey have iTone, not self- 
ishly, hut remembering rJso in all the relations of 
life the principle laid down in the Golden Rnle. The 
jiresent residenee of oui' subject was built in 1870, 
although it was cominencefl lono- before that time, 
in 1860. During this time he h.as made extensive 
improvements upon the place, besides his house he 
has erected fine barns and outhouses for stock. 

Mr. and Mrs. Chailacombe are the [jarents of 
twelve children, whose names arc as follows: Isa- 
bella A., Mary E , Medor.i .I...k)hn W., P'nnnie Q., 
Niciiolas H., Mabel G. and Wesley. The other 
children died in infancy. Of those named Isabella 
A. has become the wife uf II. H. Warnoi-; Mary E. 
is the wife of A. C. Hartwcll; Medor.t .1. united 
herself for better or worse to .). K. Butler; John 
W. made mistress of his home Mary Kenton; Ean- 
nie (J. is the wife of John S. Series; Nicholas B. 
married Hannah Daniels; Mabel (t. is the wife of 
R. E. Woodrnanca. The youngest son, Wesley, is 
a student at Blackburn University where lie prom- 
ises to distinguish himself. 

Our subject has been chietly occupied with his 
business of farming, altiiougii he operates a saw- 
mill which is located on hiivfarm. He now owns 
about seven hundred acres of land although at one 
time he was proprietor of one thousand acres. The 
original of this sketch has been honored hy his 
election to several positions of public tiust. He 
has been Supervisor of Chesterfield Township for 
three terms and Treasurer of the townshij) contiii- 
ually since November, 1861. He assisted in the 
organization of the Bank of Medorr. and is its Vice 
President, also one of the Directors, having held 
these positions since the bank was organized. 

Mr. Challacombc formerly voted with the Re- 
publican party, but he has shown his progressive 
tendencies iu the right way by voting with the 
Prohibitionists. Our sidjject and his wife have 
been for many years members of the Presbyterian 
Church in which the former has been an Elder for 
a long time, supporting the church in its ecclesi- 
astical meetings foi nearly a quarter of a century. 
The postottice and station of the town near by 
were named after our subject. 

Mr. Cliallacombe has enjoyed the distinction and 
honor of being a delegate of the Alton Presbytery 



to the General Assembly- which was held in Pitts- 
burg, Pa., in 1877 or 1878. He is one of the Board 
of Trustees of Blackburn University of Carlinville, 
and by his liroad and liberal ideas and generous 
influence has done much to give the advant.-ige to 
that educational institution. 



+-i^ 



Vfi OHN W. DALBY, the respected Supervisor 
of Bnrr Township, resides on section 9, 
where his fine farm of two hundrtd and fifty- 
five acres well attests the thorough hand of 
a practical farmer. His father was the late Israel 
Dalby, whose native home was in Frederick 
County, Va., as was also that of his wife, Eliza 
Ogden. The former was born in 1 806, and Uie 
latter in 1813. They came from Virginia to Greene 
County, III., in the spring of 1854. and after resid- 
ing there one year decided to come to Macouitin 
County, where many of their old neighbors from 
the Old Dominion had made their home. Thej' 
settled on the section line of Harr Township, but 
their united residence there was to be of short du- 
ration, as the husband and father passed from earth 
in October, 1856, when they had hardly become 
settled in their new home. He left his wife and ten 
children to pursue alone the struggle of life. The 
children grew to maturity and bravely helped their 
mother in her efforts to maintain the home. She 
has now passed away, her decease occuiring March 
24, 1890. The children bear the names of William 
J., Joseph F., Caroline, Mary E., George E., John 
W., Isaac A., Robert B., Ella and Harrison R. 

John W. Dalby was the sixth child in his fath- 
er's large family and was only a little boy at the 
time of that parent's decease. He was born in 
Frederick County ,Va., October 28,1848, and came 
with his parents to Hlinois, growing to manhood in 
Barr Township, where he has always been a resident. 
He has been engaged chietly in farming, although 
for seventeen years he pursued teaching in Macou- 
pin County. 

Mr. Dalby was first elected Su|)ervisor of Barr 
Township in the spring of 1875, and has served 
continuously with the exception of one \ear. from 



708 



J?ORTRArr AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



that date to this. During one year he was Chair- 
man of the Boarrl and he has filled the office of 
Scliool Trustee and Township Cierli. He taiies an 
active part in political movements, and is a promi- 
nent member of tiie Democratic party. His tlior- 
ough integrity and judgment give to his opinion 
full weight among his neighbors who regard iiirn 
with genuine esteem and respect. 



^^ AMUEL HALL. Prominent among the 
J^^ residents of North Otter Township, we are 
•IM^ plc-isod to mention the name which appears 
at the head of this sketch. A view of his 
charming home is also shown on another page. The 
beautiful farm, handsome residence and delfglitful 
surroundings attract the eye of every stranger who 
visits this section of the county. Those who enter 
the hospitable door notice within a harmonious 
home which corresponds well with the beauty of 
the exterior, and find a mentpl and social stimulus 
in the intelligent society of tliis household. 

Thomas Hall, father of our subject, w.as born in 
North Carolina, May 28, 1792. ' He w.as the son 
of George Hall, a native of England, who came to 
this country in the early Colonial days and died in 
North Carolina. iMary McVey, the mother (,f our 
subject was a native of Tennessee, her natal day 
being February 23, 1797. .She lived in her native 
home until she was married and later the family 
removed to Illinois. Her parents, however, had 
died two years previous to this removal, and she 
has lost much of the records of their lives. 

Thomas Hall and Mary Mc Yey were married 
near Duck River, not far from Nashville. Tenn. 
After their marri.age in 1815 they remained in that 
vicinity for short time, and then emigrated to the 
Prairie State, coming here in Decembef, 1817, and 
settling on what is known as the American Bot- 
toms, which are situated below Alton. They lived 
there until the fall of 1818, wiien they came to 
Greene County, and built a small log house about 
five miles southwest of Carrollton. Here for many 
years they made their happy home until death sev- 
ered them March 17,1855, upon which date the 



husband passed away from earth. The widow con- 
tinued to live on the old homestead for about a 
year, but it was no longer home for her, now that 
her companion had departed. .She has since made 
her home with her children, and is now living at 
an advanced age. Of her nine children, seven 
grew to raaturity. 

The subject of this biographical sketch was next 
to the eldest in age in this household, and was born 
in Greene County, 111., January 7, 1822. There he 
made his home through his boyhood and through 
all the years of his early manhood. His educa- 
tion was received in the district schools and he 
w.as faithfully attentive not only there but in his 
farm dutiis, and thus grew to be a young man 
who was looked up to amoug his comrades as a 
progressive and thoughtful citizen. When about 
thirty -three years old he removed, in Febiuary 
I 855, to this county, settling in North Otter Town-' 
ship, making his home where he now resides. 

The marriage of Mr. Hall in Greene County, 
III., February 27, 1850, united him with Miss Eva- 
line Reynolds, a daughter of John and Catherine 
(Clepper) Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds was a native 
of Virginia, and his .wife of Tennessee, although 
but little is known of tlieir early history. .She 
died near Greenfield, Greene County, about 1836, 
wh-n her daughter was but a little child; the father 
survived until the spring of 1858, when he passed 
from life near Carrollton, Greene County. Of a 
family of nine children, Mrs. Hall w.as the fifth and 
was born at the home in Greene County, Novem- 
ber 9, 1830, and there m.ade her home until her 
marriage. 

Nine beautiful and promising children blest the 
marriage of our subject and his wife. Their eldest 
child, Laura, died at the age of seven years, and 
was deeply mourned by her affectionate parents. 
John T., marrie.l Miss Lucy E. Compton, and is a 
farmer in North Otter; Mary L., an accomplished 
and reflne<l lady, still resi.les at home; .Sophronia 
E. is the wife of Eber Shroyer, a farmer in North 
Otter. Then came four sons, Charles C, Enoch 
A., Luther and Robert P., of whom three are living, 
while Luther died at the age of eleven months and 
another child, unnamed, died in early infancy. 
Mr. Hall has made farming his life work and 




^ '%, 



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;|i |n''lli [ |ii i |i i4<»|i j||'lil li | l 



«>^^ a atiBa«tf , r>,'^i{«^yi''i«>et«<».sfc'^-tosci^^ 



RESIDENCE. OF SAMUEL H ALL , SEC. 13. , NORTH OTTER TP.,MAC0UP1 N CO., ILL. 







RESIDENCE or SAMUEL ENG LAN D , SLC . 33., GIRARD TR,MACOUPI N CO., ILL. 




RESIDENCE or Wl LEY B ALLARD , SEC. 2e., NORTH OTTER TR,MACOUPiM CO., ILL. 



PORTRAir AND BJOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



711 



with it has mingleil stock raisinjj to a consiflernble 
extent. In all his work he has been successful, for 
he has baaerl it upon an intelligent unrlerstanding 
of the soil and its products and on the qualities of 
the stock be undertook to raise. His fine f.irm 
compriaes two hundred acres of rich and produc- 
tive soil, and it is ornamented ami made more 
profitable by the planting of shade and fruit trees. 
A comfortable and commodious farm-house and 
other sul)St.autial buildings speak aloud of the thrift 
and prosperity of the owner. 

The offices of Highway Commissioner and School 
Director have been satisfactorily tilled by our siilj- 
ject, who in his politics is a stiff, old fashioned 
Jackaonian Democrat, believing that the doctrines 
which were promulgated by Jefferson, the author 
of the Declaration of Independence, are good 
enough for these modern days. He is an active 
worker in his party wtierc his opinions are looked 
up to and his judgment approved. Both he and 
his excellent wife are true helpers in the cause 
of religion, and consistent members of the Baptist 
Church. The sons of this family are making their 
mark amf)ng the young men of their community. 
Charles C, ia now a physician, graduated at 
•-ihurtleff College, I'pper Alton, and also a*. Rush 
Medical College, at Chicago, and was honored by 
being appointed to deliver the valedictory address 
before his class at Rush in March, 1891. Knoch 
A. ia a farmer and resides at home. Every mem- 
ber of this honoi'ed household helps to sustain the 
reputation of the family for intelligence, charactir 
and laudable ambition. 



SAMI'EIL ENGLAND, one of the prosnerous 
citizens of Girard. wjis born in Morgan 
County, Tenn.. February 22, 1820. He 
comes of substantial parentage. His grand- 
father. Joseph England, moved frori: Virginia to 
Tennessee and was a pioneer in Morgan County, 
where he bought, a tract of land and engaged in 
farming. He so/iurncd there until 1830. when he 
came to Illinois, and resided in Macoup'n County 
for a time. Removing thence to Marion County, 



he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Wilkins, 
until the day of his death. 

John England, father of our subject was born in 
Virginia and reared in Tennessee. He bought a 
tract of land and engaged in farming until 1830, 
and then with his wife and ten children and his 
father and mother came to Illinois, making the re- 
moval by team and bringing the household goods 
along. After five weeks of travel they lanrled in 
Morgan County, and there spent the winter, which 
was tl'c season of the deep snow. In the spring of 
1831, they came to Macoupin County and buying 
a squatter's claim, entered land from the Govern- 
ment in the vicinity of what is now known as North 
Otter. 

The new home waa in a cabin Hxlfi, Iniiltof logs, 
and covered with clapboarda which were rived 
by hand. The chimney waa of slabs covered with 
mud and the floor of puncheon split by hand. 
The family lived there for two years, and 
then built a larger log house. Neighbors were 
scarce ;ind Mr. England had to go eight miles to 
get sufficient help to raise the house. He split 
puncheon for the floor and made the doors of the 
s.ame material, using wooden pins instead of nails. 
From the wooden latch the door string hung out. 
For many years there waa no railroad near them 
and Alton was the nearest market town. Deer were 
plenty and roamed at will. 

The mother of our subject, whose n-.aiden name 
was Lina Kail, waa accustomed to spinning and 
weaving cotton cloth aa well aa flax, and clothed 
all her children in home spun. The father cleared 
quite a tract of his land and continued to reside 
there until his death in 18.58. The mother ditd 
at the old homestead in 1841, having reared ten 
children. In company with his brother-in law our 
subject purchased land at «2..50 per acre. He 
built a small house and after residing there one 
year sold it for $700. He then bought another 
eighty -acre tract in the same township ( North Ot- 
ter) for which he paid *.oOO. From that time he 
was prosperous. He improved the land, built upon 
it. and [jurcha.sed otlier land adjoining, and resid- 
ed there until 1866 when he sold out and bought 
where he now lives. The farm comprises two hun- 
ilred and twenty-five acres of finallj'-improved 



712 



POKTRAJT A^JJJ BIOGUAPIIICAL RECORD. 



prairie land, adjoining the village of (iirani. Good 
buildings have been placed upon it and tlie thrift 
and entei prise of the owner is apparent at a glance. 
A view of this pleasant home is presented elsewhere 
in this volume. 

The marriage of our subject took phice in 1846. 
His bride was Louisa C. Smith, a daughter of 
Moses and Permcdia Smith. Her death occurred in 
1863, mourned by all who knew her. Six children 
blest this union, namely : Antoinette, Elias M., Mar- 
shall W., Evelyn, Elizabeth and John. Mr. Eng- 
land is an active and earnest memljer of the Meth- 
odist E|)iscopal Churcli and ins wife was also con- 
nected with that denomination. 



^_§^^m^^- .^ 



1i f//^^^^'^' ^-^^^^^^^^^ '^"'"-' wt^ll-cullivated 
\&J// ^'^''"' ^^ "'"-' l"i"''>'»^il -Mil seventy acres 
WlJ which is part of section 27, North Otter 
Township, is owned by him of whom we write. 
Mr. Ballard is a Southerner by birth, his father 
being Lewis Ballard, who was a North Carolinian. 
His mother was Lucy (Pace) Ballard a native of 
Georgia. They were, however, among the early 
settlers of Greene County, where they both died. 
Our subject was born near Whitehall. Greene 
County, December 27, 1833. 

Tlie father of our subject was a farmer and on 
his place the son was reared and remained until he 
had reached manhood. His life was not unlike that 
of other farmer boys He attended school in the 
winters and helped with the farm work in the 
summer season. Pearly in life he was attracted to 
a lady of his own county and they were married 
in Greene County, this State, March 15. 1857. 
Mrs. Ballard's maiden name was Rebecca E. Brod- 
markle. She was a daughter of John and Ellen 
(Bell) Brodmarkle, natives of Maryland. Her 
parents, however, were early settlers in Greene 
County and there they died. 

Mrs. Ballard w.as Ijorn in Allegany County, 
Md., December 14, 18:51. In the spring of 1857 
she came witli her family to Macoupin County and 
in the fall of 1858 settled on the farm where they 
now live. Our subject has always been a farmer 



and is much interested in all the branches of agri- 
cultural pursuits. Eor thirty -eight seasons he °an 
a threshing m.achine. The family occupy a fine 
large house which Mr. Ballard erected ui)on his 
place at a large cost. It is well located, command- 
ing a charming view of the surrounding country 
and is as convenient and pleasant as intelligent 
arrangement and taste can make it. A view of 
this beautiful country home is i-resenled on another 
page. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ballaid are the parents of three 
children The eldest child. John II., died when six 
and a half years old; Mary E. became the wife of 
Robert Alford. and the youngest son. Charles W., 
is a student in Brown's Business College of Ja'-jk- 
sonville; he is a bright young man and the expec- 
tations of his friends are that he will be a central 
figure, by virtue of his ability and adherence to 
the course of work he has adopted, in whatever 
circle lie cists his lot. 

The original of this sketch favors the economic 
principles and theories held by the Republican 
[larly and casts his vote with them. Although a 
quiet, unpretentious man, and having no desire for 
the emoluments of oltice, the township has recog- 
nized his judgment and worth by electing him to 
the important post of School Director. Mr. Bal- 
lard's farm is a model of neatness, showing the 
most painstaking care of every detail in farm life. 
He has good buildings which are kept in fine re- 
pair anri the implements on his farm are those hav- 
ing the latest improvements. 



<xrK> 



JOSEPH P. HEBEXSTREIT,Superinten<lent 
of the Consolidated Coal Company's Mines 
at Staunton and Mt. Olive, including shafts 
numbers 6, 7, 8 and 10, has occupied his 
present position since September 1. 18i)0. and 
makes his home in Staunton, where he has resided 
almost continuously since 1876. The story of his 
life is as follows: He was born at Christmulhousen, 
Prussia, June 29, 1849, and is a son of Phili|, j" 
Hebenstreit, who was also born in the same country 
and learned the miller's trade. In his native lanil 



]'0KTRA1T AND IJJOGKAPHICAL RECORD. 



713 



lie niarriocl f'allirhia Diotiiuk, anil iiiilo lliem were 
born tvvo cliilihen. Josepli and William. With 
iii.s family, in Mareli, 18,5-2, Uiq father saileil from 
Bremen and after a long and tedious voyage of 
seven weeks landed at New York City, whence lie 
made his way to Belleville. III. He there engaged 
in eoal mining, being one of the (irst miners of 
that place and carried on the business until 1878, 
when he lenioved to Staunton where he has since 
lived a retired life, being now seventy three years 
of age. His first wife died in Belleville, the same 
week of her ari-ival, her death being caused by 
cholera, winch was then epidemic tlirougliont the 
country'. Mr. Ilebenstreit again niairied, his wife 
wiio died some years later in Staunton, leaving tive 
sons. He was a third time married in .Staunton, 
his last union being with Mrs. Annie Ring, who is 
still living. The children of his lirst marriage are 
Joseph and Wdliam, the latter a mechanic of 
Staunton. 

The suliject of this sketch was cmly three years 
of age when his parents came to the United .States 
and therefore almost his entire life has been spent 
in Illinois where he grew to matnie years and was 
eiJucated. He entered upon his business career as 
a miner at the age of fourteen years and his long 
experience has therefore ably fltted him for the re- 
sponsible position which he now holds. He locat- 
ed in Staunton in 1876 but afterward spent four 
years as a professional miner of coal and minerals 
in Colorado. He is now Superintendent of some of 
the leading mines in this part of the .State. Of one 
in particular, No. 6, he has been in charge of for 
many years, having been its manager when it was 
owned by Voge & Seivers; later when it was the 
property of the Ellsworth Mining Company from 
1882 until 1887, and since it has come under the 
control of the Consolidated Coal Company of St. 
Louis, l^nis mine is the most productive in this 
region and the outi)Ut in 1889 was two hundred 
thirty-five thousand tons, and in 1890 — two hund- 
red eighty-five thousand three hundred and eight 
tons of coal the largest out|)ut in the .State and 
Mt. Olive, No. 8, with an output of two hundred 
tliirty thousanil tons ranks the third. 

In Belleville, III., Mr. Ilebenstreit was united in 
marriage with Frances Kiefer, who was born and 



reared in Randolph County. She died in Staunton, 
Januarys, 1881, at the birth of Irijilets, two sons 
and a daughter who died in infancy. She left 
three sons to mourn her loss — Thomas Golleib, an 
engineer for the Consolidated Coal Company; 
Albert .1. and Henry E , who are yet at home. The 
mother was then twenty-six years of age, and many 
friends mourned her early ilealh. Mr Ilebenstreit 
was again married in Staunton, his second union 
being with Mrs. Mary Carlton, a native of Mis- 
souri, who in tiiat Stale became the wife of Joseph 
Carlton, a brakeman, who was killed in a railroad 
wreck on the Iron Mountain Road in Missouri, at 
the age of twenty-six )ears. By that union were 
born two sons, Fred and Joe, both yet living. 
Three children grace the second marriage — Carrie, 
Robert and William. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hebenstreit are members of the 
Catholic Church, and in jiolitics he is a Republican. 
A practical and skillful miner, be occupies a re- 
sponsible position, but his duties have never been 
slighted in the least. Hc^ has the entire confidence 
of his employers whom he has served since 1881, 
and those vvith whom social relations have brought 
him in conti^ct also hold him in high regard. 






farm located on section 20, Norih Otter 
^■\ Townsliip,has for some lime been the shep- 
herd of the little flock of the German Bap- 
tist Church at West Otter Creek. He is a Southerner 
by birth, his father being Isham Gibson, who was 
born in Tennessee. His mother, Elizabeth (Gates) 
Gibson, was a native of Kentucky. "They early re- 
moved to this State, settling in Morgan County in 
1829, where they lived until 1846, and then re- 
moved to Macoupin County, where they lived 
until 1871. They then wentto Bates County, Mo., 
where they died. 

Our subject is one of twelve children, of whom 
he was the fourth child. He was born in Morgan 
County, this State, March ,5, 1835. He spent his 
early life in his natal place until he reached eleven 



714 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



years of age, and then with his parents removed 

lo Macoupin County, where the years were spent 
until he reached manhood. Until his marriage hi; 
made his home in his father's house, after wiiieh 
he settled in North Palmyra Townshii). 

The first marriage of i\Ir. Gibson was with Miss 
Mary Cummingj and tiie bridal ceremony took 
place March 13, 1866. The lady was a daughter 
of William and Julia (Davis) Cummings, both of 
Kentucky. Her father died in Girard, this Stale; 
the molhcrstill survives. Mrs. Gibson was born in 
Palmyra Township March 7, 1836. She presented 
her husband vvitii nine children who are named as 
follows: Julia E., Amanda J., Ida A., Emlus N., 
Sarah B., Albert Q., William M., Lillian ]\L, and 
Ollj' B. The oldest cliihl and daughter is the wife 
of Oscar Carr; the second daiigiiter married J. W. 
Crump; Ida A. is the wife of Peter Brubaker; 
Sarali B. died in infancy; Lillian M. is the wife of 
G. W. Wrightsman. Mr. Gibson's first wife died 
in North Otter Township, April 2, 1889. 

Our subject again married in Montgomery 
Country, this State, December 1, 1890. His bride 
was Mrs. Elizabeth (Studebaker) Leer, daughter of 
John E. and Mary (Neff) Sludebaker, and widow 
of the Rev. Abraham .S. Leer, who died in Christ- 
ian County, this Stale, January 6, 1883. The 
family comprises four children by thai marriage. 
They are Asa A., who married Leotha Mertz; John 
W. married Martha E. ShuU; P^lma N., and Laura E. 

Mis. Elizabeth Gibson was born in Elkhart 
County, Ind., July 2, 1846. Our subject has taken 
a deep interest in educational affairs and has licM. 
various offices in the school district. He is also 
an active worker in the church, a member of tlie 
German Baptist Church, as is liis wife and family. 
Ho has always been engaged in agi-icultural work 
and now owns one hundred and sixty-eight acres 
in North Otter Township. With liie exception of 
some eight or ten monllis Mr. Gibson has always 
resided in Morgan or Macoupin Counties. In that 
short interval he lived in Jackson County', Mo. 
For many years he was Deacon in the church and 
since 1874 has been a preacher. In 1883 he was 
appointed pastor of the West Otter Creek Church. 
Mrs. Gibson's first husband, the Rev. Abraham S. 
Leer, was elected to the ministry in 1870 and in 



August, 1876, he became pastor of Bear Creek 
Church in Cliristian Count}', and was thus engaged 
at tlie time of his death. John E. Studebaker, tlie 
father of Mrs. Gibs^>n, was for a long time Deacon 
in the German Baptist Church. Tlie Rev. Isham 
Gibson was an Elder in the church from 1829 until 
he removed to Missouri and was a minister for 
upwards of fifty years. 

Our subject has a fine place, bearing a good and 
commodious dwelling. His family are genial, 
pleasant people who are much liked in the com- 
munity. 

^^^- 



TOWN A. WALLACE. The original of this 
sketch is the owner of one hundred and 
eight3-two acres of land located on section 
24, Noith Otter Township. He is a native 
of New Hampshire, having there passed his youth- 
ful days and there remained until :cfler he was 
twenty-two years old. His father was Amos 
Wallace wiio was born in Franconia, N. H.; his 
raotlier was Mary (Hildreth) Wallace, vvlio was 
born in Littleton, N. H. They settled in Little- 
ton and there reniaineil until they died. The 
father was a farmer by occupation and d(iul)tless 
found his time fully occupied in making prolific 
the rt)ck3- ground of New Hampshire. One can 
imagine that the twelve chiliiren tliat tiie family 
boasted, found occupation in picking up the stones 
on the farm and ranging them in symmetrical 
order as fencing. 

Our subject was the eleventh child and was born 
in Littleton, N. H., November 8, 1835. When he 
had reached his twenty-second 3'ear lie left home 
and came to Macoupin Count}-, where lie lias ever 
since been a resident with the exception of about a 
3-ear and a half spent in Sangamon County. He 
has alw.iys followed farming. His marriage took 
place October 2, 1861, his wife's maiden name 
being Mary II. Smith, a daughter of Elisha and 
Susan A. (Eaves) Smith of whom a sketch may be 
found under the name of Elisha Smith in another 
portion of this volume. Their marriage took [ilace 
in North Otter Township at the residence of the 
bride's father. 





J^^Ulyt^yiJ^- 



POKTKAIT AND BIOGUAPHICAL RECOBD. 



Tliey are the [>arenUi of eight chil'Iren — Willie 
A,, who marrierl Mary E. Cable; l->lgar E.. who 
filed when an infant; JeAne E., who marriwl MjTlic 
K. Chaffin: Lew E . who did in infancy; Delia A.. 
Clara A,, lyeslie. all of whom die<J when children, 
and Glcnria P. Mrs. Wallace was horn in North 
Otter Township Novern'oer 14, 1840. Oar subject 
has erc-ctf^l a series of baildings on hb place which 
are complete in every way. 

Mr. Wallace iias been ap[>ointed Ut several of- 
fices in North Otter Township. He has served as 
ScU<>f}i Director for a long time. In his political 
preference he is a Republican. Our subject and 
his wife are active members of the 3Ielhodisl Epis- 
co|*al Church, .'socially. Mr. Wallsce is an Odd 
F.-lJow. 



^^ 



'\ ANIEL FEKKI.NE. A family which comes 
1 of a gfx^l and noble ancestry in the genuine 

'^ &fii»<; of the word noble, may well Iwve 
cause for con;^ratulalion. To l>e descendwl from 
lords and dukes it is not ne<,-e*sarj' U) come of no- 
ble IiUxkI. hut tr> be the descendants of genera- 
tions of pure lives and strict integrity is U> have 
a heritage which stands one well in the struggles 
of life. Such an inheritance has Mr, Ferrine. who 
is a successful and practical farmer, residing on 
sections 13 and 14, Hilyard Township. One hun- 
dred and eighteen acres of hb farm are in this town- 
ship and most of it is under cultivation. His 
homestead of nin'.-tj' acres is especially fine, being 
highly improved and having upon it handsome 
and coriimo'lious buildings. 

Since he came to this place, about 1836, Mr. 
I'errine has resided continoously upon the same 
estate. The j'ear previous to his coming here he 
s[j«nt in Brushy Mound Township and i^asserl three 
j-ears in .Je»'»ey County. He was reared in Pick- 
away f bounty. Ohio, and came thence to .Jersey 
County early in the '-^Os. He had hb nativity in 
.Monmouth County, N. J., July 4. 1822. His 
father. William Perrine. and his grandfather, 
Matthew, were both bom in that county. The 
grandfather had reached an extreme age at the 
time of bU death, as had also the grandmother 



who survived her husband. He was a soldier in 
»lif Revolutionary War during the last 3'ear of that 
struggle. 

William Perrine, the father of our subject, is one 
of a family of seven children, who linve all passe<l 
to the spirit land except the youngest daughter. 
He grew up a farmer in New Jersey and there 
marrie'l Miss liachel Lippincott, a native of Mon- 
mouth County. I hey came from New .Jersey to 
Ohio afu.-r their marriage and tlie birth of four 
children, and lived in the Buckeye State for some 
years. The mother was of New Jersey parentage 
and New F^ngland stock. After the birth of all 
his chihlren and the death of his wife, William 
Perrine came West and sf)ent his last years with 
our subject in Illinois. He [massed away at the age 
of sixty-seven j'ears. Both he and hbamiable wife 
were persons of true goflliness and loveliness of 
charact<-r and were worthy of the universal affection 
with which they are regarded. Thej- are roemberg 
of the United Brethren Church. 

Daniel Perrine wag the second in a^c of a family 
of seven, three of whom still remain in this life. 
After being reare<l Ufjon the farm in Hocking and 
Pickaway Counties, Ohio, and having attained 
iiianhfx^'l. he was married in H<jckiiig County to 
Miss Emil}' Doyle. Thb la.i'y was a native of 
Ohio and was there reared in Perry County and 
caine to Illinois with her liusV>and. She died at her 
home in tliis lowiship, Septcu»l*er 7. 1884. having 
at that time reached the age of fifty-five years. 
She was a most worthy wife and mother and a con- 
sistent and belovwl member of the McthofMst 
F^piscopal Church, with which she had been &>n- 
nrcted from the time she was sixteen j-ears old. 
She lost two of li?r twelve children b--?fore her own 
ileatb, but the others lived and most of Uiem have 
c-stablishe*l families of their own. They arc bring- 
ing up their children Uj reveie the memor>' of the 
grandmother. 

The two children who difd are Alice, who was 
laken away when a litMe one of three years, and 
Elizabeth, who was called at the age of twenty-. 
Those children who are still here are John, who 
to<^k to wife ElLzaljeth Jones, and who owns and 
occupies a farm in this township; William, who 
marries] Alice Mitchell and lives in Morrison ville. 



718 



PORTRAIT AND lUOGRAPHJCAL RECORD. 



Christian County, this Stste; Ann, the widow of 
William Colter, who lives on a fiuiii in this town- 
ship; Jane. Mrs. Charles Huukleliridge, who lives 
on ii farm near Wellington, Sumner County, Kan.; 
Clara, Mrs. Edward Huddleston, who lives on .a 
farm in Spanish Needle, this county; Emma, who 
is at home with her father; Dora, the wife of 
Charles Trabne, of Alt(;n; Daniel Edward, Effle and 
Katie, who are at home. 

Mr. Perrine wasa se.'ond time married in this 
county at CarlinviUe to Mrs. Mary Barrett nee 
Raynolds. She was horn in Tennessee and in her 
infancy came with her parents to (rreene County, 
III., where she was reared. She married Elijah 
Barrett, who enlisted to fight in the War of the 
Rebtllion and did not live to return home. He left 
to her a family of eight children, but she has no 
chihlren by her present marriage. The Methodist 
Ciiurch is the religious home of this valuable 
couple whose lives of Christian charity and helpful- 
ness to others, endear them to all their ueighbbrs. 
Mr. Perrine advocates the principles of the Repub- 
lican party and casts his vote for its men and 
moasuies. 

A lithographic portrait of Mr. Perrine accom- 
])anies this biographical review. 



-^.j".*- 



ENRV .J. CALDWELL, one of the leading 
y, and representative farmers of Staunton 
Township, resides on section 34. where he 
(^ has made his home for the long i)eriod of 
thirty-seven years. His residence in "the county 
covers a period of fifiy-flvc years, and thus he is 
one of its earliest settlers. A representative of 
one of the pioneer families he well deserves repre- 
sentation in this volume. His father, George 
Caldwell, was born in Coupty Tyrone, Ireland, 
near Belfast in 1802, and was of Scotch-Irisli de- 
scent. He grew up in the county of his nativity 
and was there joined in wedlock with Miss Mary 
Johnson, soon after which they sailed for America, 
crossing the Atlantic about 1828. They took up 
their residence in Philadelphia, where some years 



before an older brother of Mr. Caldwell had lo- 
cated— Henry by name. During the Jackson ad- 
ministration he was oHicially connected with the 
Custom House and later came West, making his 
home for some years in Staunton Township! this 
county, where he became a prominent citizen and 
served as Justice of the Peace and Postmaster of 
S'.aunton for some years. He met his death by a 
train on the Wabash Road which struck him while 
lie was standing near the station. There was also 
another brother of the family who came to this 
country— Hugh. He, too, served for a number of 
years as Pustm.nstcr of Staunton and is now living 
in Missouri. 

After spending some years in Philadelphia, 
George Caldwell and his family finally came West, 
locating in 1836, on lau.l which his brother Henry 
had previously entered fr„m the Government. He 
lived to see almost the entire growth and develop, 
ment of the county. A man of robust health and 
abundant vitality he was well fitted for pioneer 
life and enjoyed many of its experiences. When 
he came here the city of Staunton was a mere 
hamlet containing only two or three houses and all 
around was wild, unbroken land. The nearest mill 
and market was at Alton and it was no easy task 
during some seasons of the year to make the jour- 
ney there :is the roads were almost impassable. The 
family experienced the usual trials and hardships 
of pioneer life but this mode of living also had its 
pleasures. It was the day of hospitality which is 
hardly seen now, when the latch-string always hung 
out and ever\- visitor was made welcome. Tjie 
woods were full of wild game which bountifully 
supplied the table with meat and one had ample 
opportunity to indulge a love of hunting. Ur. 
Caldwell was prospered in his efforts and in" the 
course of time he had become owne;- of an excel- 
lent farm. His death occurred at the home of .,ur 
subject July 6, 1887, at the age of eighty-five 
years. Thus another of the honored and early 
pioneers p.assed away He was one of Nature's 
noblemen whom everyone respected and esteemed 
for his sterling worth. In politics he was a Demo- 
crat but never sought or desired public office. His 
wife passed away in 1882, at the age of seventy- 
five years, and like her husl)and she was a member 



|i 



I 



PORTRAIT AND IJlOGiiAPHlCAL RECORlJ. 



7ia 



of the Presbyterian Chnrcli. Their family num- 
bered six children but only two ore now living; 
Henr3' J. of this sketch; and Lavina P. who re- 
sides with her brother. 

Under the parental roof and amid the wild 
scenes of frontier life our subject grew to manhood 
and in the log school, so common at that time, he 
acquired his education. He was early inured to 
hard work but thereby developed a self-reliance 
and force of character which have proved of incal- 
culable benefit to him in later jears. When he 
had atlainid his majority he was united in mar- 
riage near Ilillsboro. 111., with Miss >'ancy Griffith, 
wlio was born in Montgomery County. 111.. Septem- 
ber 6, 1832, and is a daughter of John and Harriet 
(P\att) Griffith, the former a native of Tennessee 
and the latter of North Carolina. During child- 
hood they came with their respective families to 
Illinois, where they were married and ever after- 
ward continued residents of Montgomery County. 
The mother there died some j'ears ago but Mr. 
Griffith is still living at the age of eighty-five 
J'ears. He has been a second time married, his 
wife having formerly- been Mrs. (.Skillman) Bryan. 
He is a member of the Baptist Church and has 
made farming his life-woik. His children all called 
in on March 27, 1890, (except .John .jr.. of Oklaho- 
mo) and gave him a surprise on the eighty-fourth 
year of his age. Mr. Griffith is still hale and 
hearty for one of his age. 

Mrs. Caldwell was one of a family of ten chil- 
dren, five of whom are yet living. .She remained 
at home until her marriage and then came to pre- 
side over her husband's home which she graces 
with all the true attributes of a wife and mother. 
By their union have been born sis children but 
four are now deceasetl: George W., John F. and 
Marj" died in infancy; and George B. died at the 
age of nineteen years. Charles E.. who married 
Miss Lizzie Voyles. is living on the old home farm; 
and James H. assists in tiie operation of the old 
homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell are members 
of the Prcsbj-terian Church and in politics he is a 
Prohibitionist. For four years he has served as 
Justice of the Peace. He deserves to be classed 
among the honored pioneers to whom we owe a 
debt of gratitude for the pait which they have 



taken in the upbuihling and development of the 
county. He has ever identified himself with its 
best interests and is known as a worthy and valued 
citizen whose life entitles him to the regard and 
esteem of all. 

-^ -^-#* ^- 



^ I^ALLACE H. BRUCE, one of the exten- 
\\/cJ// si"e land owners and prominent farmeisof 
y^ .Staunton Township, has in his home farm 
three hundred and twentj- acres of valuable land, 
the whole under a high state of cultivation. Its 
many excellent improvements were nearl\- all 
placed there by himself and stand as monuments to 
his ambition and industry. The farm is supplied 
with good buildings, a comfortable and substantial 
residence, the latest improved machinerv- and is 
well stocked. There is not the minutest appear- 
ance of neglect, but evevy thing indicates the care- 
ful attention of a thrifty and progressive owner. 
He also has a valuKble farm of two hundred and 
foity acres elsewhere in .Staunton Township and 
has other possessions to the amount of thirteen 
hundred acres of land, the greater part of which 
is well tilled and yields a golden tribute to the 
owner. 

Mr. Bruce was born in Countj- Dare, Ireland, in 
1827, and is a son of Samuel Bruce who belonged 
to an Irish Protestant family. He was reared in 
the usual manner of farmer lads and in the county 
of his nativity led to the marriage altar Miss Ma- 
tilda Patters. Accompanied by his wife and sever- 
al of their children, he sailed from Belfast in 1830, 
having determined to try his fortune in the New 
World. Landing in New York City after a long 
and tedious voyage of more than six weeks, he 
came on at once by canal and river to Alton, 111., 
and with teams overland to Macoupin Count\-. He 
made a settlement in ."^taunton Township, near the 
village of that name which then consisted of only 
one store and a few houses. His time and attention 
he devoted to farming until his death, which was 
caused by pneumonia. He died after a very short 
illi.ess at the .'ige of fifty-six years and his loss was 
deeply mourned by many friends. He lived a 



720 



J^OETRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



quiet, unassuming and np.ight life. His wife who 
survived iiim for more tlian twenty years, died in 
Staunton at tlie age of seventy. Both were mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian Church and were active 
workers, doinj- all in their p„wpr for the advance- 
ment of the cause. 

()ur subject was only ten years of aoe when his 
father died and his care and training thus devolved 
upon the mother who failhfully performed her 
<)uty, laboring for the interests of her children 
until they were old enough to care for themselves 
Not wishing to tax his mother will, his support as 
soon as he ha-i attained a sufficient age, Mr. Bruce 
began to earn his own livelihood, working as a 
farm hand until he had acquired sufficient "apital 
to purchase land. He further completed his ar- 
rangemenls for a home by his marriage with Miss 
Eliza Clark, a native of the Emerald Isle, born in 
1«30. With her parents she came to America in 
l«42,and spent her girlhood days npon the old 
homestead farm. Together Mr. and Mrs Bruce 
bave labo.-ed and her able assistance has been no ' 
unimportant fac'or in securing h^s success. Their 
"uK.n has been blessed with eleven children and 
the family circle yet remains unbroken, though 
some have married and left the |,arental roof for 
liomes of their own-Chnrles, who wedded Jennie 
Sprecher. is engaged in farming in Clyde; Thomis 
'« now operating his father's farm in JIadison 
County; Lizzie is at home; Belle is the wife of 
James Earley, a farmer living near New Dou<x|ns 
Madison County; AValter and Edward aid" in 
operating the home farm; Agnes is a dressmaker of 
St-umton; William, Robert, Callie and May are at 
borne. Mr. Bruce and his wife are members of the 
Presbyterian Church and in the social world are 
lif>ld in high regard. They have reared a lar.^e 
famdy of children who do honor to their name and 
ot whom they may well be proud. 

In politics, Mr. Bruce is a Democrat and keeps 
bimself well informed concerning the issues of the 
'bay but has never sought or desired public ofHco i 
preferring to devote his entire attention to his busi- ' 
ness interests and this he has done with most ex- 
cellent success. He is not only industrious and 
enterprising, but also possesses good m.na..cment 
i-xeellent business ability and is sagacious Tnil far- 



sighted. As his financial resources have increased 
be has made judicious investments in real estate' 
and as the land has risen in value he has become a 
wealthy man. 

S^g^ 



^EORGE H. SEWALL, editor and publisher 
vVVlF "^ ^'"^ ^'''"'''"' Reporter, is one of the lead- 
%;^ ing journalists of this secti.m of Illinois 
He is a fine representative of the intelligent and 
progressive native-born citizens of this county, who 
may be found in the various walks of life actively 
promoting its highlest interests, \hdcn is the 
birthplace of our subject, and November 8 1859 
the date of his birth. He is a son of William 
W. Sewall, formerly a well-known resident of this 
city. 

William Sewall is also a native of this .State, born 
at Jacksonville February 11,1832. His father's 
name was William Henry Sewall, who was born at 
Augusta, Me.. June 17, 1799, descending from 
good ol.l New England stock, being the son of 
Gen. Henry .Sewall, a brave officer of the Revolu- 
tion, who was born at York, Me.. October 24 
1752. and at about the age of twenty-three years 
took up arms for his country at the very commence- 
ment of the Rev(,luli.,nary War, and was appointed 
Corporal of David Bradish Company, from Fal- 
mouth, and continuing in the Colonial Army to the 
close of the war, he rose to the rank of Major, 
part of the time acting under W.ashington at the' 
North. After the war he was seven 3 cars a Select- 
man, and ihirty.two years Town Clerk in Hallo- 
well and Augusta. He w.as seventeen years Re^Msier 
of Deeds and Clerk of the District of Maine^from 
Its origin in 1789. He was promoted in the mili- 
tary service of his State through the subordinate 
gr.ades to the rank of Major-General of the Eiahth 
Division. He died at his residence in Au-usta 
Me., September 5, 1845, aged about ninety-three 
years. 

The grandfather of the subject of this sketch 
was both a teacher and a farmer. In his youth he 
received a fair education, kept his father's books 
for several years with success, and about tb.e age of 
twenty-one went to Washington to accept a Gov- 



POIITRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



721 



eniment position wliioii lie had secured, but being 
sliipwieckod on the way and npail\- freezing to 
death, it l)einu midwinter, a long and serious ill- 
ness followed, aftei- recovering from which his 
plans were eiilirel} changed, and he taught school 
for several years in Maryland and Eastern and 
Western Virginia, and was married August 9, 
1820, at Green's Hotel in Washington C'ity, to a 
widow latly, Mrs. Elizabeth W. Adams, of Charles 
County, Md., Rev. Mi-. McCormack officiating. 
Mrs. Adams was formerly Miss Middleton, daugh- 
ter of .Samuel W. and Chatham Middleton, and was 
born July 27, 1795. After marriage this couple 
came to Illinois and settled at Jacksonville in 1829, 
where they resided two or three years, and Mr. Sew- 
all aoain taught schf>ol. 'I'hcy were present at the 
organization of the first rresbyterian Church in 
the place, and were among its first members. In 
1833 they removed to their farm of six hundred 
and forty acres, entered from the ISovernment near 
the present site of Chandlerville, Cass County, 111., 
then ])art of Morgan County. Here he organizeil 
the first Sabbath school in the neighborhood, helped 
organize the first church (Presbyterian), and was 
one of its first Elders. He laid the foundation for 
a competence for !'is family, although his life was 
cut short by his untimely death, April 7, 1846, at 
the age of forty-nine years. His wife spent her 
last days with her daughter. Mrs. J. H. Goodell, 
near Chandlerville, and died there October 5, 1872, 
aged seventy-nine years, two months and eight 
days. 

The father of our subject was a youth when his 
father died, and he continued to live with his 
mother on llie home farm for a lime. He then 
went to Jacksonville to complete his education, and 
was graduated from Illinois College in the Class of 
'56. Possessing much mechanical skill, he learned 
the trade of a carpenter, serving his apprenticeship 
at Jacksonville. He came from there to Virden in 
the early settlement of the village, an(i in the exer 
cise of his calling was an important agent in pro 
moling its growth. 

In August, 1862, he threw aside all personal 
aims and private business to help light his country's 
battles in the great war that was then raging be- 
tween the North and the South, enlisting in August, 



18(j2, in Company G. One Hundred and Twenty- 
second Illinois Infantry, and he did good service 
with his compan^'in all its marches and campaigns. 
While bravely righting at Ft. Blakely, he was 
wounded. His gallant conduct in the various en- 
gagements with the enemy in which he took jiart 
received due recognition by his promotion from 
the i-anks to the iiosiiion of Sergeant, and he was 
honorably discharged while acting in thai capacity. 
After leaving the army Mr. Sewall resumed work 
at his trade at A'irden, and was thus employed until 
1869. In that year with Simons, Patterson & Co., 
he erected a Hour mill, known as the North Star 
Mill, and he devoted himself to the manufacture of 
flour until 1884. In 1885 he went to Carthage, 
Mo., bought a tract of land close to the town, and 
eslalilished a fruit farm, which he has had in suc- 
cessful operation ever since. He was married De- 
cember 9, 1850, to Miss Susan E. Cox, a native of 
this county, born in North Otter Township, and a 
daughter of Jesse and Cynthia (Gihson) Cox. For 
parental history see sketch of William Cox. Mr. 
and Mrs. Sewall have four children, namely: 
George H., Mary E., William J. and Haltie. 

Our subject was reared in his native town, and 
laid the solid foundation of a liberal education in 

I the local public schools. In his youtl) he became 
a student at Blackbuin University, where he api)lied 
himself assiduously to his studies, and was gradu- 
ated with a good rank for scholarship in the Class 
of '83. He was thus well fitted to enter upon the 
duties of his chosen profession as a joui'nalist, and 
he became local eilitor of the Macoupin Enquire)-. 

j Six months later he gave up that position to take 
charge of the Yirden Reporter, of which he has 
since been sole editor and proprietor. Under his 
able management this publication has risen to a 
place of importance among the newspapers of this 
and surrounding counties. It is issued in a neat 
and attractive form, is bright and interesting, and 

I its editorials on the leading questions of the day keep 
apace with the times. It is a strict Republican 
[jarty organ, but always deals fairly with its oppo- 
nents, and presents their views on national and local 
politics impartially. 

Editor Sewall is a popular man with all classes, 
and he is prominent in various social organization,. 



J-22 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 




He belongs to Virdeu Lodge, No. 161, A. F. & A. 
M. ; is a member of the J.ames R. Freeman Camp, 
No. 305, S. of v., of which he was the first Captain. 
He was one of the first to join Looan Camp .at 
Carlinville. vvhicli was among tlic first organizeii 
in Illinois. He is also .Secretary of the Rlnsonic 
lodge. 



AJ. P. C. HUGGINS, of Bunker Hill, is 
one of the most honored of INIacoupin 
•> County's pioneers and this work would be 
incomplete if his sketch w.is omitted. No 
man has been more prominently connected with 
its history and upbuilding or done so much toward 
founding its leading towns as he, and we could not, 
if we would, efface Iris name from the annals of the 
county. 

In Cornish Township. .Sullivan County, N. H., 
the Major opened his eyes to the light of the day 
February 2.S, 1814, and was reared to manhood in 
the .State of his nativity. He received a good 
practical education in the e(>mraon schools and his 
l)usiness training was acquired as a clerk, in which 
occupation he engaged at the age of fourteen j'ears. 
He came West a single man and after two years 
returned to New Hampshire, where he wedded Miss 
Mary L. VVhittelsey, who was also born and reared 
in Sullivan County. The wedding journey of the 
young couple was a trij) to their new home in the 
West an<l they began their domestic life at this 
place where INIrs. Huggins died at the birth of her 
first child, which is also deceased. The Major was 
a second time married in Bunker Hill, his second 
union being with Mrs. Elizabeth S. Knowlton. Her 
maiden name was Woodard and she is a native of 
Connecticut, where she grew to womanhood and 
was married to Samuel Knowlton, with whom she 
came to Macou|)in County about 1836. Her first 
husband died on his farm in Bunker Hill Town- 
ship. Three children were born of that union — 
Albert, now living in Newton, Kan.; Sarah, wife of 
D. W. Woodman, a lumber merchant of Litchfield, 
now living a retired life; and Nellie, wife of S. O. 
Sawyer, a dealer in stationery, of St. Louis. Mr. 
Huggins and his wife have two children — Frank 



E., who married Laura Spencer, and is Secretary 
of a coal company in Zanesville, Ohio; and Mary 
E., wife of Henry B. Davis, an attorney of St. 
Louis. 

On the main traveled road between St. Louis and 
Springfield, 111., more than a half a century ago 
was a little village, one of the chief stojjping places 
on the road. It was in a thriving condition and 
gave promise of future growth. Such a place was 
likely to attract the attention of an enterprising 
and ambitious 3'oung man who wished to make a 
successful life. Being pleased with its prospects, 
Mi'j. Huggins there located in 1838, securing a 
small tract of land upon which he builta cabin and 
has there made his home continuously since, al- 
though the first house has long since been replaced 
by a commodious residence which is now situated 
on Main Street, in the heart of the little city. Af- 
ter a short time he put in a small stock of general 
merchandise and began to sell goods, which ])lace 
of business was the first permanent one of the kind 
in Bunker Hill. Not long after a postotlico was 
there located, called Lincoln and a Mr. Phillips, an 
old Boston gentleman, was made Postmaster. On 
his death the Major succeeded him. having to take 
the office first as bondsman and later was appointed 
the regular Postmaster by President Polk, although 
he was a Whig. He held the oHice forscuiie years, 
during the time when high rate of postage was 
charged on all mail matter. 

The usual experiences and hardships of pioneer 
life form a part of Mr. Huggins' history. The 
country around about Bunker Hill was in those 
days all wild and unsettled and game of all kinds, 
including prairie chickens, turkeys, etc., was to be 
had in abundance. However, as time passed set- 
tlements were made in the timber or along the 
streams mostly east and south of Bunker Hill, which 
w.as known for years as Wolf Ridge, from the fact 
that a den of wolves was there found. Wonderful 
are the changes which have occurred since that 
time and the transformation which lias been 
wrought. To the earlj- settlers is due a debt of 
gratitude which can never be repaid for they laid 
the foundation of the county's prosperity. Mr. 
Huggins has been prominently identified with the 
business interests of Bunker Hill and in order to 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



723 



make it a business center lie establisijed a castor- 
nil mill, the first in the county, wi?ieli had the de- 
sireil effect of bringing people into the town. So 
well did his enterprise sncceed that a large mill of 
the kincl liuilt some time before at Edwardsville, 
found in him a competitor who was drawing much 
of their tr.ule. so that the proprietors sought to buj- 
him t)ut, offering him a la.-ge profit on his invest- 
ment. In the meantime, bj' an accident, he had 
<liseovered a successful process for purifying the 
oil. Snow had blown into his kettles and he found 
that soft water was the needed article. Having 
concluded his sale with the Edwardsville Brm Mr. 
Huggins launched into the tlourlng-mill business, 
establishing what was known as the Red Mill near 
Bunker Hill. It was th(i first one in successful op- 
peration in the county and drew custom for more 
than twenty mdes around. He continued to ope 
rate it for some years and in the meantime became 
interested in another enterprise. He saw that the 
introduction of a railroad v/ould prove of immense 
benefit to Bunker Hill and began operations to- 
wards securing the construction of the Alton <fe 
Terre Haute Road through this place. After a long 
and hard struggle and much engineering on his 
part the road was secured to this point and he be- 
came one of its first directors, a position which he 
held seven years and during that time he located a 
number of depots and laid out the towns of Litch- 
field. Gillespie. Pana and others. The history of 
the introduction of railroads into Illinois is famil 
iar to him. Tlie schemes and intrigues woiked l)y 
the various roads became known to him and he de- 
serves great credit for circumventing these and se- 
curing the road to Bunker Hill. 

From the organization of the Republican parly, 
Major Huugins has been one of its supporters and 
by it in 1.SG9 was elected to the count3' judgeship, 
which position he filled during the "courthouse 
light." He ha(i many intricate questions to settle 
and had to use every effort to prevent further in- 
trigues by those who had woiked up tlie great la.K 
iuiposilion. [le labored hard to prevent expenses 
iieing heaped up upon the people and in this way 
made some bitter enemies but at the same time 
he won hosts of friends by his efforts and sacriQces 
in defense of the rights against malicious intrigues. 



His rulings were alwaj's wise and just and he proved 
one of the ablest and most efficient judges which 
INLacoupin County has ever had. 

Between 1855 and 1860, Maj. Huggins with a 
number of others of the leading citizens of Bunker 
Hill determined to improve the educational inter- 
ests of the city and builded what has since been 
known as the Bunker Hill Seminary, be becoming 
one of the Trustees and President of the school, 
which has h.ad a varied experience and is now run 
as a private school under the direction of Prof. 
Stiver. In his social relations the Major is a Mason 
and a demitled Odd Fellow and both he and his 
wife are members of the Congregational Church at 
Bunker Hill, of which he was one of the organizevs 
and of which he is a liberal su|iporter. The public 
and private life of Maj. Huggins is alike above re 
proach and he is honored as one of the pioneer 
fathers of the county, where for more than a half a 
century he has made his home. 



£k 



^*H-tH^^ 



-i~5*^^' 



G 



^EORGE DREW, manufacturer and dealer 
in harness of Bunker Hill, has carried on 
'^ijJl business in that line longer than an}' other 
in the county. He is a native of England, his 
hirlh having occurred in Slallbridge, Blackmore 
Valley, Dorsetshire, March 2, 1828. His parents, 
.John and Hannah (Jeans) Drew, wore also born in 
Dorsetshire. His father was a harnessmaker by 
trade and follow-ed that business throughout his 
entire life in pursuit of fortune. He married Miss 
Jeans, whose father was a blacksmith of Dorset- 
shire. The parents of our sul)ject spent their en- 
tire lives in the count}' of their nativity, the father 
dying at the age of seventy-five years, and the 
mother when seventy-two years of age. Bolh were 
members of the established Church of Englan<l. 
In their family were twelve children of whom 
(ieorge is the fourth in order of birth. He has 
one brother and a sister, vt'ho came to this country. 
The former, Martin Drew, came to America and 
after living for two years in Bunker Hill, went to 
Minnesota, where he spent the remainder of his 



J 24: 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAfUlCAL RECORD. 



days. Tlie sister, Maitlia, wife of Thomas Sawyer, 
livcil for a time in BLinker Hii), and lli^n witii ber 
liusband went to Kansas City wiiere bolli died. 

Our subject spi'Ut the days of his boyhood and 
youtli in the parental home and with liis father 
learned the trade of a harnessraaker. After work- 
ing for a few j-ears as a journeyman he decided to 
try liis fortune in America, and in January, 1851, 
liaving bade good-by to home and native land, em- 
barked on the sailing vessel, "Cato" bound for 
New Orleans, but during the voyage the ship was 
stranded on the Island of Liitle Bermuda in the 
Atlantic. The passengers were carried by another 
vessel to Nassau and afterward to New Orleans, 
from wlicnee Mr Drew made his wa}- n() the Mis- 
sissipi)i River to St. J^ouis and on across the coun- 
try to Bunker Hill, where his brother Martin had 
located the year before. Me at once established 
business in the line of his trade and for forty con- 
secutive years has now carried on harnessmaking 
in Bunker Hill. His trade increasing he has at 
times furnished employment to several i)ersons. 
He has always received a good share of the busi- 
ness of Bunker Hill and the surrounding country 
and is well known throughout this section of the 
State as a straightforvvaril, honest business man, 
well deserving of the liberal patronage which is 
accorded him. 

In the city where lie makes his home, Mr. Drew 
was joined in wedlock with Mrs. Mary James, 
widow of Joseph James. She vvas born in Hamil- 
ton in the Province of Ontario, Canada, in 1823, 
and is of English and Scotch descent. Her par- 
ents were also natives of the Province of Ontario, 
where they spent their entire lives. The daughter 
w.as a joung maiden when slie came to Bunker Hill 
and some years later she married Mr. James by 
whom she had two children — Robert, who is a har- 
nessraaker of Athens, 111 ; and Martha, a music 
teacher of recognized ability in St. Louis. By 
the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Drew have been 
born six children— Frank, now a student in col- 
lege at Bloomington, 111.; Fannie at home, Edward 
who is now located in Sacramento, Cal.; Addip, 
wife of Eugene Barnes, a resident fanner of Hun- 
ker Hill Township; Mary, wife of John Ayers, a 
hardware dealer of Ft. Smith, Ark.; and Charles 



who is employed as a salesman in the mercantile es 
tablishnient of Charles Johnston in Decatur. The 
Drew household is noted for its hospitality and the 
members of the family rank high in the social 
world. Mr. Drew is a sound Republican in polit- 
ical sentiment and his wife is a member of the 
Baptist Church. 



I 



.,41 IV,ILLIAM SURMAN, a resident of Carlin- 
\/\J// ville, vvas born in Cannelton. Perry Coun- 
^^ ty, Ind., April 18, 1852. His father, 
Frederick Surman, was born in Gerruany, July 7, 
1809. Here he was reared and married. He re- 
ceived a good education and became a teacher, 
whicli profession he |)ursued in his native land 
until 1850. Then accompanied by his wife and 
one child he came to America. He located in 
Perry County, Ind., and there engaged in the 
mercantile busines-;. In 1867 he removed to Car- 
linville, and resumed teaching. He continued to 
reside here until his death, which took place Jan- 
uary 31, 1881. The maiden name of the mother 
of our subject was Fredericka Pust. Her carl3' 
home was in the same locality as that of her hus- 
band. Her natal day was October 28, 1806, and 
she died in Carlin ville, February I. 1888. She 
reared and trained two children. Her first-born, 
Frederick, died when twenty-five years old. Our 
subject, the only surviving child, received his ed- 
ucation in the public schools, whicii he supple- 
mented by attendance upon Blackburn University. 
At the age of nineteen he commenced clerking in 
a dry -goods store, and later took a similar position 
in an establishment devoted to gentlemen's fur- 
nishing goods. He thus bec.nmc acquainted with 
this branch of business. This enabled him in 1875 
to establish a business of his own, in whicli he has 
been very successful. He has a large and well 
chosen assortment of goods, in the display of whicli 
he exercises great taste. 

In 1880, this gentleman v.-.as united in marriage 
with Miss Paulina Loehr, who was born in Carlin- 
ville, a daughter of John C. Loehr, whose sketch 
will be found elsewhere in this volume. Six children 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



727 



have been granted to these wortliy parents, namely: 
'riieodore J., Alpha P., Hiio;o E., Stella T., Will- 
iam P. and Earnest F. Mrs. Surman is an earnest 
member of the Lutheran Cluiicli. hi IS'JOlSIr. 
Surman erected a beautiful residence at the 
corner of East Main Stieet and College Ave. 



►^- 



•-H^ 



<¥/OHN LEWIS MORRELL. The portrait on 
I the opposite page peipetuates the lineaments 
j of a gentleman vvlio has been a resident of 
vjj Virden Township since 185L He is a na- 
tive of Maine and was born at Cornish, York 
County, that State. !\lMrch 10,1813. His ancestors 
were Quakers and among the early settlers of 
Maine. Hi.s greatgrandfather, grandfather and 
father all bore the Scriptural name of l^avid, an<l 
his mother in her maidenhood vvas known as Anna 
A^'ers. The grandfather was a farmer and spent 
his last da^'S in Beiwick, Me., and his wife bore the 
maiden name of Lewis. 

The father of our subjict was a farmer and lum- 
berman and after marriage bought a farm in C(n'- 
nish and there spent the remainder of his days. 
His good wife was born in Hiram, Me., and was a 
daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Pike) Ayers. 
As the family home was in the lumbering distiicts, 
schools were few, and the father, although in com- 
fortable circumstances, could scarcely afford to 
send his children away froTn home to school. For 
this reason John obtained his education mostly by 
studying ai night with his (jlder brot'iers as in- 
structors. When fourteen years old he was 
apprenticed to the trnde of tanner and currier. 
Soon after attaining his majority he engaged in 
the lundicr business on his own account, getting 
out lumber at a sawmdl owned b^- other parlies, at 
so mucli a thousand. He came to the conclusion 
that the West offered a better liehl for a young 
man of enterprise and energy, auc{ in his twenty- 
third year ho came to Illinoi.". 

Reaching Alton in IS.'S.'), he took charge of a 
steam sawmill in that city, but after a few weeks 
was taken ill with malarial fever, which continued 
fur about seven months. Before his entire recovery 



he began to teach, and in the sijring of 1836 he 
went to what is now Jersey County and taught in 
the vicinity of Ottervillo, at the same time under- 
taking the charge of a mill and a farm. 

In 1837 John L. Morrell and Elizalieth Benian 
were united in marriage. This lady is now one of 
the oldest citizens in the State living in Macoupin 
County, having been born Deceudier 11, 1818, the 
year that Illinois was admittec) as a State into the 
Union. Her parents, Ornian and Talitha ( White) 
Beman, were natives of Connecticut and South 
Carolina respectively. Mr. Beman was a soldier in 
the War of 1812 and became an old and respected 
citizen of Jersey County. His first coming to Illi- 
nois was in 1810 and both he and his worthy wife 
<lied in Jersey County. 

After marriage our subject entered (Jovernment 
land and went to farming near Otteiville and dur- 
ing the summer of 1837 he carriid the mail 
between Alton and Uilead in Calhoun County. 
This business was by no means easy or remunera- 
tive. There wen; hardly any roails and no bridges 
and he vvas obligetl to go on horseback and cut his 
way through the woods; swimming the swollen 
streams was one of his fre(|uent ativentnres. In 
his hard work of clearing the land he had an oj)- 
|)ortunity of exercising his inventive genius and 
he constructed a plow which was a (iecided success 
in "grubbing" brushy and tindjer land. 

Having accumulated some money by his farming 
operations in Jersey County, he determined to in- 
vest in land which would make a first-class farm 
and which would also increase more rapidly in 
value. He therefore pu'clKised land two miles 
southeast of the |)resent tovvn of Virden, near the 
line of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, which vvas 
then in process of construction. The following 
year, 1852, saw the completion of this part of the 
railroad and property rapidly rose in value. He 
had previous to this rise invested largely, buying a 
section and a half of finely located land. He 
learned the business of surveying while living in 
Jersey County and is widely and favorably known 
in this line of work, yet is best known as an exten- 
sive farmer and land owner. He has about two 
thousand acres, throe hundred of which lie in 
Macoupin County. He has a large farm of eight 



728 



PORTRAIT AMD BIOGRArHICAL RECORD. 



hundred and fortj' acres in Christian County, eighty 
acres in Montgomery County and the balance lies 
iu Pawnee County, Kan. At tlie time he located 
in Virden there was but one other house for a long 
distance in any direction from his home. When- 
ever the men were away after dark Mrs. Morrell 
placed candles in all the windows, and these, which 
could be seen for a long distance, formed a sure 
guide across the trackless prairies. 

Mr. and Mrs. Morrell have five children living: 
Talitha A., tlie wife of R. N.Terry, of Virden; 
D. O. Morrell, M. D., a graduate of the Missouri 
Medical College, now living retired in Virden; 
Mary F., now the wii'e of Geo. W. Gill}'; Lydia 
Victoria, now the wife of James Allison, living in 
Fayette County, and Harriet B. S. the wife of 
George M. Wilson, who resides in Morrisonville, 
Christian County. This family- has a noble record 
as rega^-ds loyalty and adherence to principle. 
Being brought up as a Quaker, Mr. Morrell had a 
deep and conscientious abhorrence of the institution 
of slavery and when the war broke out he encour- 
aged his sous to help put down the rebellion which 
had originated with those who defended slavery. 
His eldest son, James Henry, enlisted in 1861 in 
the Eleventh Missouri Infantry. He took part in 
the capture of Island No. 10, was in the battle at 
Corinth, participated iu the assault on Vicksburg, 
and several other important engagements. He 
died in camp hospital near Vicksburg, fruni sick- 
ness caused by exposure. The son, D. O., enlisted 
in May, 1862, and served throughout the war, tak- 
ing part in the Battle of the Wilderness and other 
important engagements. 

One of the most remarkable traits of this charac- 
ter which we are trying to describe is the indepen- 
dence with which this honest man has held and 
advocated his own views without regard to their 
unpopularity. He believes thoroughly that "truth 
is mighty and will prevail," and has lived to see 
principles which once he supported almost alone 
receive at last the crown of popular approval. 
During the War of the Rebellion he made several 
trips into the South. In the spring of 1863 the 
train was captured bj- the rebels between Memphis 
and Corinth. He was taken prisoner and confined 
in the swamps for four days; he was then paroled 



and sent back into the Union lines at Ft. Pillow, 
whence he proceeded to Memphis. The next day 
he again took the train for Corinth and disinterred 
the remains of his brother-in-law, for which pur- 
pose he had made this perilous journey, and 
returned homo. In the fall of 1863 he went to 
A'icksbiirg and again passed through perilous ad- 
ventures, bringing home his hat with a bullet hole 
through it. 

The subject of our sketch has accomplished a 
great deal of hard work without serious injury to 
his constitution and appears to possess peculiar 
recuperative powers. The loss of a tooth has been 
followed by the growth of another in its place and 
some of his teeth have been renewed four times in 
succession. Few men have preserved so late in 
life the appearance of youthful vigor, and few men 
deserve higher honor than John L. Morrell. 

'^OHN GOSCH, who for thirty-one years has 
engaged in the boot and shoe business in 
Bunker Hill, was born in Schleswig-Hol- 
' stein, German}-, March 16, 18-44, and is a 
son of Clause and Christiana (Kolb) Gosch. They 
both belonged to families that for generations had 
resided in Germany, and in their native province 
both the father and mother lived and died, the 
former passing away at the age of seventy years 
and the mother's death occurred when she w.as fifty 
j'ears of age. They were members of the Luther- 
an Church and were worthy and respected people. 
Their family numbered ten children, eight sons 
and two daughters, seven of whom grew to mature 
years and were married, while four brothers still 
survive. A daughter and four sons came to 
America. Our subject was the first to cross the 
ocean and several years later the others of the fam- 
ily sought homes in America. One brother, 
Thomas A., is now a resident farmer of Bunker 
Hill Township. 

John Gosch, when a youth, learned the trade of 
a shoemaker in Harnilurf, a little village near his 
home, and afterward worked as a journeyman for 
about three years. With the hope of bettering his 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



729 



financial condition he resolved to emigrate to 
America, and when, on the 7th of April, 1857, the 
Uiree-mast American sailing vessel "Onward," left 
the harbor of Hamburo;, he was on board. The 
voyage lasted seven weeks and at lengtli tlie ship 
droped anchor at New Yotk. From tliat citj- Mr. 
Gosch went to Brooklyn, N". Y., and after two 
weeks' stay continueil his journey to Davenport, 
Iowa, from whence he came to Bunker Hill niiev 
two years. In 1861 he led to the marriage altar 
Miss Julia Roettger, daughter of Henry Roptlgcr. 
who with his family sailed from Hamburg to New 
Orlenns in 18.57. Coming up the Mississippi 
River the}' hailed at St. Louis, and then traveled 
across the country to Bunker Hill, where the par- 
ents spent the remainder of their days, Mr. Roett- 
ger dying at the age of seventy and his wife at 
the age of sixty-five years. Mrs. Gosch was born 
in Braunschwig, (iermanj*, March 16, 1834, and 
reared in her native province. Slie had reached 
womanhood when with the family she came to 
America, and a fevv years later her marriage was 
celebrated. 

Three childien have ijeen born of this union who 
are yet living and they have lost three — Minnie, 
Julia and Henry, all of whom died in childhoofl. 
Herman, is now .assisting his father in his business; 
Otto is engaged in business in Webb Cit}', Mo., 
and John is clerking in Eluber's store in Bunker 
Hill. The family all attend the Methodist Church, 
of which Mrs. Gosch is a member. Socially Mr. 
Gosch is a member of Flncampment No. 31, and 
subordinate lodge No. "2.58, I. O. (). F., of Bunker 
Hill, in which he has filleil all the chairs and is now 
Treasurer of both lodges. He is also a member of 
the (ierman Lodge of Bunker Hili, the Harrigari, 
No. 402, and has filled all tlic offices in that order. 
In polities he is a stanch Republican who does all 
in his power for the interest and success of the 
[jarty, and has been honored with public offices of 
trust. He has for seven years served as Council- 
man of Bunker Hili. and for one term filled the 
position of Mayor. 

The year after his arrival in that city Mr. Gosch 
established business as a manufacturer of boots and 
shoes, and from the beginning had an excellent 
trade which constantly increased. Often he had 




.as nianj' as seven emplo^-ees working umier him. 
In 1883 he abandoned this branch of business and 
established his present boot and shoe store, located 
on Warren Street, where he carries a full and com- 
l)lete stock and now has a thriving trade. He pos- 
sesses thrift and industry, perseverance and good 
management — qualities essential to success, and is 
accounted a wide awake and successful business 
man and a public spirited citizen. 

--^ — ^_^^ 

HARLES C. RHOADS. There is an incli- 
nation in our country' of recent origin to 
/^ found an aristocracy, not considering indi- 
vidual advantages and power, but upon the fame 
attained by the early ancestors of a few families res- 
ident in the East. We hope that the sentiments of 
right minded and sensible people will make this 
attempt abortive. At the same time one cannot 
help taking a pride in the fact that one's ancestors 
have taken a jirominent part in the Colonial strug- 
gles that resulted in the successful establishment of 
a Republic, the like of which has never l)een known. 
Were there in reality a blue book the family of 
our subject would rank high therein, for several of 
them have done g(jod service both in the Revolu- 
tionarj' War and the patriotic War of 1812. 

Charles C. Rhoads who resides on section 17, 
Shipman Township, is the son of Henr}- Rhoads 
who was born in Greyson County, Ky. His mother 
was Mary Cleaver, who was horn in Meade County, 
the same State. They came from Greyson County 
to what is now Jersey County, 111., May 1830, and 
after living there for about one year they removed 
to Macoupin County, and settled in Chesterfield 
Township, where the mother's death occurred in 
183.5. The father p.assed awaj- in Shipman Town- 
ship, August 20, 1854. 

Our subject is one of six children, being the 
fourth in order of birth. He was born August 
11, 1824. He was nearly six years old when his 
parents removed to Hlinois and he grew to man- 
hood in Chesterfield Township. His man iage took 
place in Jersey County, March 15, 1846, his wife's 
maiden name being Emeline Darr. After a mar- 



730 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ital experience of twenty -six years, she departed tliis 
life in Sbipman Township, Septemlier 15, 1872. 
Soon after his marriage, Mr. Rhoads settled on the 
farm where lie now lives and upon wliicli he lias 
ever since been a resident. 

He w.as again married in. Jersey County, III., Oc- 
tober 9, 1873, his second wife being Mrs. PUinor 
Randolph, a daughter of William and Delilah 
(Waggoner) McDou. the former of whom was 
born in Madison County, 111., and the latter in Vir- 
ginia. He departed life in Otterville, .Jersey County, 
March 14, 1887. The second Mrs. Rhoads was tlie 
widow of Moore Randolph of Jersey County. Her 
first husband died in the same county near Delhi, 
July 4, 1858. She had one daughter by that mar- 
riage, whose name is Eva. This lady is now the 
wife of Joseph Blackstoek. Mrs. Elinor Rhoads 
was born in Jersey County, May 30, 1835. Two 
children are the fruit of this union, their nanies 
being respectivel5' Delia C. and Bernie. 

The original of this sketch has always been en- 
gaged in agricultural life and at the present lime is 
proprietor of a fine farm comprising two hundred 
and forty acres, which he has brought up from a 
raw state to one of high cultivation. His home is 
a good brick house, commanding a delightful pros- 
pect of the surrounding country with every con- 
venience and many elegancies that make life pleas- 
ant. He has made many valuable improvements 
on his farm, and alrogether it is one of the best in 
the township. 

Various offices have been conferred upon our 
subject by virtue of his known loyalty to true 
Governmental principles and because of his high 
reputation for honor .ind integritj'. He tilled the 
oflice of Constable for one term and Justice of the 
Peace for one term. He has ever taken an active 
part in political affairs, casting the weight of his 
influence and vole with the Republican party. Mr. 
and Mrs. Rhoads and daughters are members of the 
Baptist Church of which body our subject has been 
a Trustee for nearly forty years. 

The paternal grandfather of Mr. Rhoads was Ja- 
cob Rhoads, a soldier in the Revolutionarj^ War. 
He acted as a spy at that time for the Colonists,and 
as a return for the risk tiiat he ran and the dangers 
that threatened his life at every turn he was 



awarded seven thousand acres of land by the Gov- 
ernment. Our subject's father served as a soldierB; 
in the War of 1812, and has left beliind him an en- 
vinble record that is precious to his son of l>ravory 
and loyalty to the principles involved in the 



struggle. 



^1^ 



/^APT. JAMES S. CHILES. Macoupin 
[|( County was well represented in the Union 

'^^7 Arm}- during the late war, and Capt. James 
S. Chiles, a well-known farmer and stock-dealer of 
South Palmyra Township, is one of hor loyal and 
intrepid citizens that she sent to the front to de- 
fend the old flag. And on many a holly contested 
Southern batUeSeld he won a noble record for valor 
and efticiency that raised him from the ranks to be 
Oiie of the leading officers of his regiment. 

Capt. Chiles was born in Smith County, Tenn. 
August 16, 1822, a son of John G. Chiles, who 
wasa native of Orange County, Va. He in turn 
was a son of James Chiles. The father of our sub- 
ject learned t!ie trade of a wagon-maker in his na- 
tive State. After marriage he went to Tennessee, 
and two years later removed thence to Todd County, 
Ivy.,' where he manufactured wagons, and also en- 
gaged in farming. In 1833, with his wife and seven 
children, he migrated to Illinois, making the jour- 
ney with a wagon, to which were attaelied a yoke 
of oxen and a pair of liorses in the lead. After 
three weeks of travel he arrived in .Madison 
County, and after staying there a few weeks, he 
came to this county the last of November. He 
entered Government land, and in the busy years 
that followed developed a fin'j farm. His death in 
the home that he thus maiie for himself and family 
removed a most worthy pioneer who had con- 
tributed his quota to the upbuilding of this section 
of the State. In early manhood he luad married 
Elizabeth, daugliter of Thomas and Elizabeth 
(.Smithson) Wills, a native of Fluvanna County-, 
Va. They had eight children. 

Our subject remembers well the incidents of 
pioneer life after he came to this county with his 
father and mother when he was a lad of eleven 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



731 



years. At tliat time there were hut few settlers in 
.ill tliis legion, wlii;li was still in its primeval eon- 
rlilion, <'X(!ept wlsere the pioneers liad hegnn to 
eliminate farms and Imilri up homes in the wihler- 
ness. The greater part of the land was in the 
haucls of the Government and for sale at ¥1.25 
ail acre. There were no railways here for years, 
and our snliject had <o lake grain to Alton for his 
fatlier with a team, that being the nearest market. 
U took six da^'s to make the round trip v\ith oxen, 
and he used to take his food with him and (■ain[) on 
the way at noon and nightfall. The schools that 
he attended were of the old fasliioned pioneer type, 
taught ill a log house, furnished with rude seats 
made liy si)littiug logs and hewing one side smooth, 
wooden pins serving as supports. A log was eut 
out the entire length of the building to admit the 
light, and the looni was heateil by a fire in an open 
fireplace. 

Capt. Chiles resided with his parenis until he was 
twenfy-lhree ye.'irs old. Jit that age he, went to 
Selman's Island and started a woodyard to supply 
steamers with fuel. E^e managed it successfully 
two years, and then high water swept everything 
away. Kelurn'ng to Macoupin County after that 
disastrous ending to his enterprise, he engaged in 
breaking prairie until after his marriage, when he 
turned his attention to fanning and stock-dealing, 
making St. Louis his market. He was actively en- 
gaged in that business when the war broke out, 
and in 1862 he nbandoneil it to take up arms in 
defense of the I'nioii, enlisting in Company F, 
One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois Infantry. 
He was at oiice commissioned First Lieutenant of 
his company, and later his coolnees anil daring in 
battle and his acknowledged eftlciency as an otti'jer 
received further recognition by his promotion to 
the rank of Captain. He served with his leuiment 
in all its marches. cam[)aigns and battles until at 
last, the dreadful confiicl was brought to an end, 
and his gallant conduC' during those long and try- 
ing ye.irs reflected credit on the military of his 
State. He was l.'oiiorably discharged from the 
army in July, 18(55, and returning home, rpiietly 
resumed his business as a farmer and dealer in 
stock, and has ever since carried it on profitably. 
He is honored and esteemed throughout the com- 



munity for those fine traits of character that have 
msde him loyal in his citizenship, manly and 
straightforward in his conduct, and true to his 
friends and associates. lie is a member in high 
standing of Chiles Post, No. 278, G. A. H. 

Capt. Chiles hai been twice married, his first 
marriage taking place November 2. 1845, on which 
date he was wedded to Miss Amelia J. MeMullen, 
a native of .SheU)y County, Ky., and a daughter of 
Angus and Jane (Richardson) McMulh n, natives 
of Kentucky'. For more than thirty years our sub- 
ject and the companion of his early manhood passed 
life together and then were separated by her death 
.\pril 17.1877. There are eight children of that 
marriage- living. Georgia. John. Thomas. Lincoln, 
William. Florence, Caciy I\I. and Samuel. Decem- 
ber 2, 1879, the Captain was united in marriage 
with Mrs. Nancy (Ridgcway) Searc}', who has made 
him a devoted wife. Mrs. Chiles is a native of 
Boone County, Mo., and a daughter of John I), and 
Sophia Ridgeway. Sec sketch of J. B. Searcy for 
further information. 



E^ 



m 



\ff ACOB T. JOHNSON.- who resides on sec- 
tion 26, Staunton Township, is one of the 
worthy German settlers of this county. The 
people of his nationality have been mainly 
instrumental in upbuilding and developing the 
southern part of the county, and in this work he 
borne no inconsiderable part, especially has he 
been identified with the agricultural Interests. As 
he is widely and favorably known, we feel assured 
that his sketch will prove of interest to many of 
our readers. 

Mr. Johnson was born in East Friesland, in the 
Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, February 1, 1833 
and is a son of Tonjas Johnson, who was born in 
the same locality and grew to manhood as a farmer. 
He was married in Hanover to Fredrica Reineis, 
and eight children were born unto them, her death 
occurring at the age of thirty -eight years. Our sub- 
ject was about ten years old at that time. The 
father with five of the chibhen later bade good-hy 
to their old home and on the 15th of September, 



732 



FORTliAlT AND BJOGUAPHICAL UtX'ORI). 



1848 sailed from Bremen on Ibe vessel '• New 
Orleans", wliicli reached the city of that name 
after a voyage of nine weeks. When another week 
had passed aw.ay ihey had reiiched St. Louis, from 
whence they went to Alton and the spring of 1859 
witnessed their arrival in Staunton Township, 
Macoupin County, where Mr. Johnson, the father 
purchased forty acres of land and began farming. 
He spent his last days under the roof of our sub- 
ject, his death occurring in 1875, at the age of 
eighty years. He and his wife wore life long 
members of the Lutheran Church. 

The education of our subject was acquired in his 
native land where he grew to manhood and then 
accompanied his father to tliis country. Farming 
has been his life work and liis first purchase of land 
consisted of forty acres on section 26, Staunton 
Township. The boundaries of that farm have since 
been extended until it comprises three hundred 
and forty acres and in addition to this he also owns 
one hundred and twenty acres of highly- improved 
land on section 23, eighty acres of timber and two 
hundred and eighty acres of arable land in Mont- 
gomery County. The last is a good farm, highly 
cultivated and supplied with ail necessary iruprove- 
ments and buildings. The home farm of Mr. 
Johnson is accounted one of the best in the south- 
ern part of the county. He has a pleasant, sub- 
stantial and tasty residence, in the rear of which 
may be seen liarns and other outbuildings for the 
care of his stock while the eye can gaze abroad over 
beautiful fields of grain. 

Mrs. Johnson, the honored wife our subject, was 
in lier maidenhood Miss Margaret Eckhoff and 
their union was celebrated in Staunton Township. 
A native of the Kingdom of Hanover, she was born 
A|iril 17, 1838. Her i)arents spent their entire 
lives in their native province and both died at an 
advanced age. They were members of the Luther- 
an Church. Mrs. Johnson was about twenty years 
old wlien she came with an uncle to this countrj' 
and in Macoupin County she met and married her 
husband. They are worthy and respected citizeos 
of the commnnitj- who figure prominently in social 
circles and botli are members of the Methodist 
Church, to the support of which they contribute 
liberally of their means. Mr. Johnson and his sons 



vote with tiie Republican party, of which he is a 
stalwart advocate and for many years he lias served 
as Commissioner of Highways. The household 
once numbered the parents and ten (.hildren but 
two are now deceased, John and Margaret, and 
others have left the parental roof for homes of their 
own. Sopliia. tlie eldest living, is now the wife of 
L Kndlemann, who resides on a farm near Ray- 
mond, Montgomery County; Meta is the wife of 
William Egclhoft", a f.armer of the same locality ; 
Henry assists in operating the home farm; Lena 
wedded Otto Adams, an agriculturist, living near 
Bunker Hill: John. Gesena, Albert and Emma are 
at home. 



IPS" 






/^ HARLES A. WOOLLEY, an extensive far- 
ill ^_ mer and stock-iaiser of North Otter Town- 
^^(7 ship, now residing in Girard, was born un 
a farm eight miles west of C arrolton, Hluffdale 
Township, Greene County, this S'.ate, May i), 
1835. His father, David WooUey, was born in 
Washington County, N. Y., and his grandfather, 
Tllton Woolloy, spent his entire life in New York 
State. The grandmother's maiden name was Slo- 
cum. 

The father of our subject was reared In his na- 
tive county, and there married and resided until 
1822, when he came to Illinois. There were no 
railroads or canals in that early liay, and thej' came 
by the most convenient and expeditious route — by 
w.ay of team to Olean Point, hence by the Alle- 
ghanj' and Ohio Rivers to Shawneetown, 111. He 
resided in Hamilton County, this State, for one 
one year and then removed to Morgan County. 
At that time J.acksonville boasted of but a few 
straggling houses and Springfield was unheard of. 
He bought a tract of land near Jacksonville and 
lived there for a few months. He then sold out 
and removed to Greene County, purchasing eighty 
acres of land in what is now Blufifdale Township. 
He made a fine bargain in purchasing this land. 
The man who owned it had got himself Into trouble 
and a fine of II UO hung over his head. He told 
Mr. Woolley that if he would furnish the money 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



733 



with wliicli to pay liis fine he miglit have the land. 
He purcliasefi Jlliiiois scrip, which ivas then sellintf 
at fifty cents on the dollar, and thus secured 
eighty acres of land for ^50 cash. 

A log house was on the place when Mr. Woolley 
took it and into this he moved his family. Later 
he entered four hundred acres of Government 
land in the same township, hut there were then 
no railroads and none came through that region 
for many years. Markets for grain and produce 
were inacccssitilo. He used to take the products 
of his farm to the river three miles distant and 
ship it on flathoats to Alton or New Orleans. He 
remained a resident of that township until his 
death. 

The mother of our subject bore the maiden of 
].,aura no<lge. She wag born in Connecticut. She 
survived her husband and the last years of her 
life were spent with her daughter, Mrs. A. H. Eld- 
red, in PolU Township. She reared to maturity 
nine of her twelve children. They are named as 
follows: Joim FL, now deceased; James R., a resi- 
dent of Western Mound Township; Xorman C. 
and Edwin, who reside in Greenfield; Emeline, 
who married K. B. P.ldred and is now deceased; 
SLaria, who was the wife of W. H. Ellis, of Greene 
County, is now deceased; Laura, Mrs. A. H. El- 
dred, who resides in Polk Township; and Julia, 
the wife of John Ernst, of VV'estern Mound Town- 
ship. 

The subject of this sketch was trained to agri- 
cultural pursuits and attended the public schools, 
which were then taught on the subs'-ription plan, 
free schools not being yet inaugurated. They did 
not come into general use until this voung man 
was nearly grown up. He resided with his parents 
until he had attt.ined his majority, and after the 
death of his father bought the old homestead and 
resided there until 1865. He then sold his prop- 
erly and purchased a farm in Carliuville Town- 
ship. There he made liis home until the fall of 
1867, when he .sold out and purchased ten acres of 
land in the city, which is now known as C. A. 
Woolley's Addition to Carlinville. He platted the 
land and in February, 1868, traded it for his 
father-in-law's homestead in North Otter Township, 
there resided continuously until 1882, when he 



purchased his present home in Girard. Although 
a resident of the city, he still superintends the 
management of his farm, where he is extensively 
engaged in raising horses, cattle, etc. This farm 
of three hundred and fifty acres is mostly in a 
finely improved condition and furnished with good 
buildings and all necessary accessories for farm 
work. 

In 1858 Mr. Woolley was united in marriage 
with Miss Eunice W. Langley. She was born in 
Pennsylvania and is a daughter of James and Jane 
(Weston) Langley. Four children have blessed 
the union of Mr. and Mrs. Woolley, namely: Delia, 
wife of William M. Evans; Mae, James D. and 
Dale. Mr. Woolley is a wide-awake citizen and 
one who takes hold with energy of all movements 
for the promotion of progress and prosperity in the 
county. He is a Republican in politics i)Ut is not 
a seeker for office. He is a member of Hiawatha 
Loilge, K. of P., and a stockholder in the Ma- 
coupin County Agricultural Board. He is an ac- 
tive promoter of all movements which tend to the 
prosperity of the farming community, and de 
serves the high esteem in which he is held by the 
neighbors. Mr. Woollej' is engaged in the lumber 
business in connection with overseeing his farm. 
His office and lumber yard are located just south 
of the Public Square, where he keeps a full and 
complete stock of lumber, lime, cement, buggies 
and wagons. 



=^ EORGE MORRI.S, one of the prosperous 
and efficient farmers on section 1, Bird 

^( Township, is a son of English [jarents, Char- 
les and Maria Morris, wlio came from Yorkshire 
where they were married, and made their home in 
America about the year 1851. They established 
their first home in Morgan County, 111., and then 
came to Macoupin County and settled in Carlin- 
ville Township, where Mr. Morris died in 1878. 
His worthy wife is still living and makes her home 
with her children. They have ten children of whom 
our subject was the seventh in order of birth. 

He of -A-hom we write was born in Carliuville 



734 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



To»vnship. Soptembcr 12, 1860. He grew to man- 
liood upon liis fatliPi-'s farm in Carlinville Town- 
sbip, and attended the district school and was 
trained in the practical details of farm life. He 
early determined to pursue agriculture as his life 
work, and now owns three liundred and twenty acres, 
two hundred and forty of which are in Bird Tov/n- 
ship, and eighty acres in North Palmyra Township. 
Here he has erected a pleasant residence, capacious 
barns and other outbuildings necessary to a farm, 
and he gives his attention wholly to farming and 
stock-raising. 

The late Charles Morris was an extensive farmer 
in this county and owned about seven hundre<l 
acres of rich and arable soil in Bird and Carlinville 
Townships. He and his worthy wife iiad five 
children who lived to maturity. Tliej' were by 
name, William. Mary A.. George. Harriet and Sarah. 
William married Charlotte Yard and died in Car- 
linville Township; Mary A., has also passed Hway 
from earth; Harriet is the wife of Thomas Pierson; 
and Sarah is now Mrs. Harry Biown. 

The prosperous condition of Mr. Morris' farm, 
the fine appearance of the farm buildings, and the 
neatness and convenience of their internal arrange- 
ments tell the story of English thrift and industry. 
broadened by the influence of Western life. 



-4H»- 



sl:-;:-^^- ■ — ■«— 



^^p^EORGE JACKSON, who was formerly act- 
'|[ (— ^ ively engaged in fanning and stock-raising, 
'^^^ is still connected with the agricultural in- 
terests of this county as the proprietor of one of 
its finely improved farms, pleasantly located in 
Chesterfield Townsliip. There he and his wife are 
serenely and happily jjassing liie declining years of 
lives spent in usefulness and well-doing, enjoying 
an ample income and the respect and regard due 
to tlieir genuine worth. 

ftlr. Jackson is of P^ngllsli biith and antecedents, 
lioru in the village of Wistow, Yorkshire. England, 
January 18, 1823. His fatlier, William Jackson, 
was a native of the same village, and a son of 
George Jackson, who was also born at Wistow. 



The latter, who sp?nt his entire life in his native 
land, was well-educated, and was a practical sur- 
veyor. The fatlier of our subject learned the 
trades of a wheelwright and carpenter, and follow- 
ed them during his active business life in the vil- 
lage of his nativity, where he always lived. He 
married Mary Durham, who also jiassed her last 
years at Wistow. 

He of whom this biography is written was the 
only member of the family to come to America. 
When quite j'oung he worked wi^h his father and 
learned the trades that lie carried on, and he re- 
mained with him until he was iwenty-ono. On 
February 14, 1844 he set sail for this country from 
Liverpool in the vessel "Caledonia", and landpd at 
New Orleans after a voyage of six weeks. He 
came by the way of St. Louis and Alton to this 
county, and located in Chesterfield Township. His 
means were limited at that time, but in the practice 
of his trade as a skillful carjienter, at wiiich he 
worked until 1M4'.), he procured the wherewithal to 
purchase one iuindred and twenty acres of land 
thai year in Chesterlicld Township. Fifty acres of 
his land were under cultivation, anfl a small frame 
house and a log cabin constituted in improve- 
ments at the time of purchase. He resided there 
eighteen years, and then rented the place and 
bought the farm upon which he now lives, and 
which constitutes three hundred and twenty acres. 
Two hundred and forty acres are well im|>roved 
prairie Land, wliich yield fine harvests, and are 
ampl3' provided with substantial buildings. A 
view of this estate appears on another page. 

Though he still retains possession of his farm 
and looks keenly after his interests iMr. Jackson 
has retired from active labor. He and his wife 
know well how to enjoy the good things that life 
has brought them, and have also extended their 
]jleasures liy much traveling in the land of their 
adoption, and in 1876 the}- returned to England to 
revisit the scenes of thei>; childhood. Thej- are 
people of high character and standing in this coun- 
ty where so many years of their lives liave been 
passed, and they are universally esteemed for those 
traits tliat have made them true to all obligations 
in the relations that they have sustained towards 
others. Mr, Jackson was reared within the fold of 







:5iDENCE OF THOS. B I ELB Y, SEC 52.,WEST E R N MOUND TR, MACOUPIN CO., ILLS. 




REISIDENCE OF 6E0R6E JACKSON, SEC. I.,CH ESTER Fl EL D TP, MACOU PI N CO., ILLS. 



1'ORTRA.IT AND BIOGRAJ'tllCAL RPXORD. 



737 



tlie Episcopalian C'luirch, and still liolrls to thnt 
belief, while Mrs. .Inekson gives licr sanction to 
the Baptist faith by her attendance at tlie cluirch 
of that denomination. 

Onr subject anil his wife, who were married Feb- 
ruary 11, 1849 liavc been eminently happy in their 
domestic life. They have nine children living, 
namely : Alice, wife of Josluia Hafferty; Zerilda, 
wife of Kbenezer Kerby; Nettie, wife of Samuel 
Waters; Maud. v>ife of Benjamin Brown ; Gresliam, 
married Irene Bosemwortli ; Kstella. wife of Kdwai'd 
JNIarsliall ; C'aptiila. wife of Edward Miller; Villa 
Bella, wife of Edgai- Middlecof; and Rufns. who 
married Nellie Daniels and lives at home with his 
parents. 

Mrs. .Jackson bore the maiden name of Mary 
Morris, and she is. like her hnsbanil. a native of 
England, born four miles from the village of 
Thome. Yorkshire, May (5, 1825. Her father, .Tohn 
Moiris. was also born in that shire, and he there 
grew to manhood raid married Ann .Sext^-, who was 
likewise of Yorkshire birth. In 1832 he emigrated 
to this country with his faniilv. taking |)ascage on 
the vessel "Sarah", and landing at New York 
eight weeks latei. He came directly to Illinois by.- 
the most convenient and expeditious route at that 
time, traveling by the Hudson River to Albany, 
thence b\- Erie Canal to Buffalo, b^- Lake Erie to 
Cleveland, from there by the Oliio Canal toTorts- 
niouth, by the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to St. 
Louis, and from there to his destination in this 
county with an ox-team. 

Casting in his lot with the er.rly settlers of what 
is now Chesterfield Township, Mr. Morris '.vas one 
of the first to settle there. He entered land from 
the Government, and also (inrchased land which 
had been entered by others, which lie improved 
into a good farm, and he devoted himself assidu- 
ously to agricultural pursuits until death closed his 
earthly career. His wife also passed her last years 
at Chesterfield. Their daughter, Mrs. Jackson, is 
one of the oldest if not tlie oldest inhabitant in Ibis 
county in point of settlement. .She was seven 
years old when the family located here, and she 
still has a clear remembrance of the wild condition 
of the country then, when deer, wolves, bears, wild 
turkeys and other game were plentiful. In those 



early days there were no railroads and her father 
and husband used to team their grain to Alton, the 
nearest market. She has thus witnessed the entire 
ilevelopmeiit of the couul-y from the wilderness to 
its present iiopulous and nourishing condition. 

L«^^HOMAS BIELBY. Although not brought 
i/y^\ I'P i^s a farmer, having been a manufacturer 



and tradesman in his early life. Thomas 
Bielliy carries on successfully the large farm of 
four hundred acres which he owns on section 32. 
Western Mound Township. He is of English iiirlh 
and parentage. Iiaving been born in Yorkshire, 
Hlngland, August 14. 1818, where he remained un- 
til manhood. In his early youth be learned the 
trade of a boot and shoemaker, serving as an ap- 
prentice from the time he was thirteen years old 
until he became of age. This is why English goods 
are so superior to those made in America, the man- 
ufacturers learn their trades thoroughly and do not 
presume to think themselves fitteci to cany on a 
business unless thej- have been Indued to it. 

.Mr. Bielby followed his trade of shoemaker un- 
til he came to America, in 1850. Previous to his 
coming to th.is country he was married and brought 
his wife hither with him. He first located in New 
York Slate, remaining there for two jears, engag- 
ing for a time in his trade. He, however, gave up 
his trade and look uj) thnt of butchering, follow- 
ing it fo" about two years. He then came to Illi- 
nois and settled on the section vvheie he at present 
resides. 

Since coming to Macoupin County onr subject 
has followed the calling of a farmer, but in connec- 
tion with his agricultural work he has been the 
proprietor of a flouring-mill and also a saw-mill at 
Chesterfield. He has erected a good set of build- 
ings upon his farm and has made great improve- 
ments thereon. He eng.ages in general fariuing 
and the little domain is so productive in so many 
branches as to be almost independent of the out- 
side world. A vievv of his commodious residence 
and pleasant rural environments appears on another 
page. 



738 



PORTRAIT AxVD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mr. Bielby's marriage took place in Yorkshire, 
England, Junes, 1841. His wife bore the maiden 
name of Eliza Towse, and is a sister of tlie Hon. 
\V. A. Towse in Polk Township. A sketch may 
be found of this gentleman in that of his parents, 
chronicled in another part of this voUinie. Mrs. 
Bielliy was born in the place where she was mar- 
ried, September 12, 1820. The unio.i of Mr. 
Bielby and his wife has never been blessed with 
children, but they liave been parents in every 
sense to several little ones who would otherwise 
not have known the tender love and care belong- 
ing to a real home. This worthy couple celebrated 
their golden wedding .Tune 5, 1891 , when abou t 
one hundred neighbors and frien<is parlicii)ated in 
the anniversary. 

Our subject has taken an active interest in polit- 
ical affairs and is a Repuljlican in belief and prac- 
tice. In religious and educational affairs lie has 
taken a real interest and is a generous supporter of 
Gospel work. Our subject's experience in America 
has not been wholly "without drawbacks. In the 
spring of 1880, in A|)ril, a cyclone visited the por- 
tion of country in which he resides and did much 
damage. His house was unroofed as was the barn, 
and nearly all the trees in his orchard were up- 
rooted and blown away. Our subject and his wife 
were away from home at the time and on their re- 
turn found that their place was damaged to the ex- 
tent of about $3,000. 



nGNATIUS SNEERINGER. On February 19, 
1891, there passed from earth a gentleman who 
lis for years had been closely connected with the 
growth of the State and whose life was a clear and 
blotless page of noble deeds more nobly done. 
He it is whose name introduces these paragraphs 
and whose life we thus briefly- record for posterity. 

" What need his virtues to portray ? 
What need his memory to defend.' 
As husband, father, s.age and friend. 
He walked in his Great Masters way." 

Just outside the citv limits of Bunker Hill he 



had a small farm and there retired from the active 

duties which fell to his lot in younger years, he ■! 
|)assed his declining days. In his pleasant home 
he enjoyed all the comforts of couni,ry life as well 
as the advantages and privileges of the city. He ■ 
had witnessed almost the entire development of 
Macoupin County, although he resided in Madison 
Count}' until August, 1881, when he located in 
Bunker Hill Township. His residence in Illinois 
covered a period of thirty-six years, dating from 
1855. He went to Madison County from Adams 
Count}', Pa., where he was born on the 12th of 
December, 1819. He is descended from oM Penn- 
sylvania Dutch stock. His father was a life-long 
farmer of Adams County and died at the age of 
seventy-seven years. His wife, whose maiden 
name was Rebecca Oliold, first opened her eyes to 
the light of day in Ailanis Counli}', Pa., and there 
she lived until some years after her husban<r.s death, 
when she was called to her final rest. 

Upon his father's farm in the county of his nativity 
our subject grew to machood and in the common 
schools of the neighborhood ol)tained his educati(jn. 
His early life was marked by no event of special 
importance until his marriage which was celebrated 
in 1851. The lady of his choice, iMiss Elizabeth 
Lansinger, was born in lattlestown, Adams County, 
Pa., Deoember 22, 1830, and is a daughter of 
William and Catherine (Eline) Lansinger, who 
were also natives of the Keystone State, and be- 
longed to early Pennsylvania Dutch families. Her 
father was a carpenter and mechanic and through- 
out his life followed his trade in Littlestown, Pa. 
He lived to the ripe old Jige of eighty-two years. 
His wife died some years later in the ninety-fifth 
year of her age. Both were members of the 
Catholic Church. 

As before stated Mr. Sneeringer arrived in Illi- 
nois in 1855, and located in Madison County, on 
the 5th of September. He had but a limited cap- 
ital at that time and in consequence purchased only 
a small tract of land, located in Moro Township, 
but he was very successful in his operations and as 
his financial resources were thus increased he ex- 
tended the boundaries of his farm until three liun- 
dred and thirty acres paid to him a golden tribute 
for his care and cultivation. He also made many 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGKAPHICAL RECORD. 



739 



improvements such as are found on a model farm 
and devoted some attention to stock raising. 
Wishing to lay aside business care he sold part of 
his laud, retaining only one hundred and ninety 
acres and removed to Bunker Hill Township, 
Macoupin County, where he passed the remainder 
of his life in the enjoyment of the fruits of his 
former toil. 

Seven children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. 
Sneeringer, five of whom are yet living, Henrj- F., 
a farmer of Bunker Hill Township, married 
Rebecca Davis; William J., who wedded Lizzie 
Bivens, is also living on the farm of tiiat town- 
ship; Catherine C. is the wife of Richard Fleming, 
an agriculturist of Bunker Hill Township; Augusta 
F. and Edmund K. are at home. Rosalia M. died 
at the age of eight years and Charles I. died ivhen 
ten ypars old. Mr. Sneeringer was a member of the 
Catholic Church, as was his wife, and in politics he 
was a Democrat. Wliatever success he met with in 
life, and it was not a little, was due to his own efforts. 
His industry, good management and perseverance 
won for him a handsome competence which num- 
bered him among the substantial citizens of the 
comnninity. The confidence and regard of his 
fellow citizns he won b}' an upright life and fair 
dealing, and as the result of his sterling worth he 
gained man}- friends. 



^^-^^ ^ 



Vt70SEPH MONTGOMERY, who is now living 
in retirement at Carlinville, is honored as 
a pioneer of this county who has contributed 
his quota to its development, and we take 
pleasure in representing him in this Biographical 
Record. He was born February 23, 1815, twelve 
miles from Wheeling, AVest Va., near the Pittsburg 
Road, at the mouth of Turkey Run, in what was 
then Ohio Countj'. His father who bore the same 
name as himself, was born two miles from the city 
of Armagh, Ireland. He was a son of William Mont- 
gomery, who was born in the same couniy as him- 
self and was of Scotch descent. He was reared 
amid the scenes of his birth, and came from there 
to America when a young man. He subsequently 



returned to Ireland, where he resided for a time 
but in 1812 he came back to this country and set- 
tled in what is now West Virginia, where he died 
al the ripe age of eighty years. 

The father of our subject was reared and married 
in Ireland, and emigrated to these shores in 1812. 
He landed at New York and made his waj- from 
there to West Virginia by land. He bought a tr.act 
of forest covered land on Turkey Run, twelve miles 
from Wheeling, and settled in the primeval wilder- 
ness of that region. A few acres of his land had 
been cleared and a log house stood thereon, the 
same in which our subject was born. The father 
busied himself at the pioneer task of improving a 
farm and made it his home until his death. The 
maiden name of his wife was Mary Gray. She also 
died on the home farm, and her remains were bur- 
ied in the Presbyterian churchyard five miles from 
Wheeling. The parents of our subject reared six 
children, two others dying j'oung. Joseph Mont- 
gomery, of whom these lines are principally writ- 
ten, attended the pioneer schools in his native .Slate, 
which were taught on the subscription plan, in a 
rough log house that was heated by a fireplace and 
provided with plain board benches without backs. 
Our subject lived with his parents until he was 
nineteen years old when he commenced to learn the 
trade of a millwright, serving three years at 1^5.25 
a month and his board. After his apprenticeship 
expired he did journey work a year and then went 
into the business himself as a contractor. In 1837, 
shrewilly judging that in a newl3- settled country 
he would find men of his calling in demand as the 
population increased, he resolved to come to Illi- 
nois. He left home in the month of March with all 
his earthly possessions tied in a handkerchief, and 
voyaging on the waters of the Ohio and Mississippi 
Rivers to Bridgeport, Greene Count3-, this State, he 
landed there April 2, with fifty cents in his pocket. 
He walked six miles to where an acquaintance lived 
to visit him. While on the boat he had made a 
contract with a man then residing near Winchester, 
Scott Count}-, to erect a sawmill, beginning work 
on it in June. In the intervening time he was by 
no means idle, but erected a mill in Greene County. 
He worked hard, was frugal in all his expenditures 
and in the first j-ear after his arrival saved 1300. 



740 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



In tlie fall lip bought a farm near Scottville iu this 
county, for 11,300. paying his hard earner! money 
for a part of it and going in debt to the extent of 
$1 000 for the remainder. 

At the time of his inari'iage Mr. Montgomery 
settled on his farm, but still continued his trade as 
a millwright for some years. There were two log 
houses on his place at the time of purchase, and in 
one of these he and his bride commenced house- 
keeping. In a few years he replaced it by a more 
commodious frame house, drawing the lumber for 
it from Alton and Jacksonville. He lived on his 
farm until 1873, when he sold it and bought a res- 
idence on College Avenue which he occupied a few 
years. Disposing of that plnce he i)urchased his 
present residence which is very pleasantly located 
in the northwestern part of the citj-. 

Mr. Montgomery and Miss Elizabeth Sharp were 
united in marriage fifty-two years ago. June 'J, 
1839, is the date of iheir wedding and they have 
faithfully shared life's joys and sorrows, showing 
to the world an example of a true marriage. They 
have had fourteen children, of whom thirteen grew 
to nialiirily and two of Ihem are now living, Win- 
nie and Henry. Henry is an attorney practicing his 
profession at Carrollton. Winnie married William 
Hicks, and they reside in South Otter Township, 
two miles from Nilwood. The names of the other 
children were Barbara, Mary, Ann E., Lucinda, Isa- 
belle, Emma, Lizzie, John W., Lucina, Ellen, 
Jenny and Willie. 

Mrs. Montgomery was born October 23, 1820, in 
Claiborne County, Tenn., and is a daughter of Will- 
iam and Barbara (Hunter) Sharp. Her father was 
also a native of Claiborne County, and he was a 
son of John Sliar|i, who is likewise su|)posed to have 
been a native of Tennessee. He in turn was a son of 
George Sharp, who was one of the first settlers of 
Tennessee, where he carried on farming and cleared 
a farm from the wilds of Claiborne County, spend- 
ing the rest of his life there. Mrs. Montgomery's 
giandfather came from Tennessee to Illinois in 
183.5, and settled in Scottville Township, becom- 
ing a pioneer of this county. He bought a tract of 
partly improved land and resided on it until he 
closed his eyes in death. 

Mrs. Montgomery's father was reared in his native 



count}'. He learned the trade of a blacksmith in 
his youth and followed it in connection with farm 
ing. He remained in Tennessee until 1836, and on 
the 1st of October, that year, he started for Illinois, 
accompanied by his wife and nine children and by 
his brother-in-law and family, traveling with a 
pair of oxen attached to a wagon, and five horses 
to another wagon, taking along all their household 
goods. The little party arrived at its destination 
the second week in November. Mr. Sharp bought 
a tract of partly improved land near Scottville and 
resided there some years. He then bought a farm 
in Christian County, to which he removed and 
lived on it for a time. His next move was to La- 
mars, Mo., where he dwelt a few years but subse- 
quently came back to Illinois and made his home 
with his son in Christian County, until his death. 
His wife died in 1839. 

Mrs. Montgomery was sixteen years old when 
the family came to Illinois. She was carefully 
trained in all things that go to make a good house- 
wife and early learned to spin and weave, so that 
after she married she made all the cloth used in the 
family and clothed her children in garments of 
which the' material w.as made by her own hand. 
She and her husband are exemplary members of tin; 
Baptist Church, and their unblemished cliaracters, 
fiank, hospitable natures and straightforward, hon- 
orable conduct in all things have won them a high 
place among our most respected citizens. 

BRAM ISAACS, one of the well-to-do 
farmers of Dorchester Township, residing 
on section 1, has been identified with the 
history of this community for half a cen- 
The record of his life is an interesting one; 
it is the record of perseverance, of industry and of 
final success. Through a long life, some of it in 
shadow and some in sunshine, he has retained his 
belief in human nature and his simple goodness of 
character. For this reason and also because he is 
so widelj' known, he is deserving of representation 
in this volume. 

Mr. Isaacs was born in North Carolina, Novem- 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



741 



ber 10, 1810, and is of English descent. His 
father, Richard Isaacs, was born near Wasiiington, 
D. C, and when a young- man went to North Car- 
olina, where he became acquainted with and 
wechled Miss Mar_y Stoneslreet, a native of Mary- 
land, an<l a daughter of Butler Stonestreet, who 
scived thniughoui the Revolutionary War. Mrs. 
Isaacs died al tliu birtli of her sixth child, at which 
time our subject was three years old. Abraham 
Isaacs had a twin sister who died at birth. After 
liie death of his motiier his father was a second 
time married and he went to live with his maternal 
grand|)arents who took him to Kentucky. There 
he grew to manhood, being reared as a practical 
farmer boy 

In Jefferson County, Ky., Mr. Isaacs was united 
in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Mary 
Eaton, a native of Mississippi, born on the 23d 
of July, 1815, iu Adams C^ounty. Her parents, 
Tliomas and Sarah (King) Eaton, were natives of 
Maryland, the lady having been born in the Span- 
ish possessions, of parents who had emigrated from 
the New Jersey Colony southward prior to the 
Revolutionary War. They were married in Mis 
sissippi and four years later removed to Jefferson 
Counly, Ky., where they made their home until 
1836, when the family all came to Illinois, our 
subject and iiis wife being of the party. 

Mr. and Mrs. Isaacs maiie a settlement u|)on 
land which Mr. Eaton had obtained from the Gov- 
ernment in Madison County. That gentleman and 
his wife spent llieir last days in Madison County, 
Mrs. Eaton departing this life in Edwardsville, in 
1836, at the age of forty«eight years, while Mr. 
P^aton died in 1849, al, the age of sixty-nine years. 
His father, Henr^^ Eaton, was a native of Wales, 
who left the mother country when young, and in 
America was reared to manhood. He married Miss 
Violet Wallace, a native of the Emerald Isle, 
served throughout the Revolutionary War as a 
membpr of the Colonial Army and soon after the 
cessation of hostilities both he and his wife were 
called to their final rest. 

We see that Mrs. Isaacs was descended from ex- 
cellent ancestors. She remained under the parental 
roof until her marriage and then the young couple 
started out in life for themselves, determined to 



work their way ui)ward and win for themselves a 
comfortable home, if not wealth. They became pa- 
rents of ten children of whom three died in in- 
fancy, while Sarah, the wife of Alex Sinclair, died 
leaving one daughter; Richard, who married Lucy 
J. Burton, is engaged in farming in Dorchester 
Township; Charles C, who wedded Clara Ogden, 
of Philadelphia, owns and operates a farm in Dor- 
chester Township; Thomas W. wedded Harriet 
Snedeker, who died leaving one son, and after her 
death married Almira Robb. He is engaged in 
agricultural pursuits in New Douglas, Madison 
County; Henry K., also a farmer of Madison 
County, was joined iu wedlock with Miss Susan B. 
Hayden; Abraham married Nancy Fruit and oper- 
ates the old homestead; Amanda C. is the wife of 
Reed Ayrcs, a successful farmer of Madison 
County. 

After a four years' residence in Madison County 
Abraham Isa.ics and his excellent wife came to this 
county and settled upon land which now forms a 
part of their home. A half century has since 
passed, during which time the wild and unim- 
proved tract which he purchased has been trans- 
formed into fertile fields and the boundaries of his 
farm have been extended until it comprises three 
hundred and twenty acres which pay a golden 
Iriimte to his care and cultivation. By their united 
efforts they acquired a handsome property which 
numbered them among the -prosperous citizens of 
the community. Their home is one of the substan- 
tial and comfortable dwellings of the community 
and is the abode of hospitality. In the rear are 
all the buildings and improvements necessary to a 
model farm and these in turn are surrounded by 
welltilled fields. In politics Mr. Isaacs is a stal- 
wart Republican, having supported that party since 
185G, when the first Presidential candidate was 
nominated. 

For the long period of Bfty-five years, Mr. and 
Mrs. Isaacs traveled life's journey- together as 
man and wife and as the years vvent by their mu- 
tual love and confidence increased. Together they 
worked in the Methodist Church, with which they 
united in early life, and their elTortsat doing good 
won the love and gratitude of many. The devoted 
wife and mother passed from earth M.ay 9, 1891, 



742 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



mourned by the bereaved husband and children 
and a large circle of friends. Prior to her demise 
Mr. and Mrs. Isaacs were known as the oldest 
couple living in this localit}-, and had been longer 
married than my others. 



(^^HKODORE H. KOCH, one of the wide- 
V^S\ aw.ike and enterprising young business men 
^V^< of Mt. Olive, who holds the position of 
Postmaster, and is Cashier of the C. J. Keiser i 
Co. Bank, claims Missouri as the State of his na- 
tivity', his birth having occurred in .St. Louis, No- 
vember 26, 1863. He is a son of William and 
Minnie (Sewing) Koch, who were natives of West- 
phalia, Prussia, and came of respected and worthy 
German ancestry. They came to this country 
when young people, Ihdr parents remaining he- 
hind in the Fatherland, and when they reached the 
United States, made a location in the vicinity of 
St. Louis, both working for families in that neigh- 
borhood until, having saved up some uionej' to 
begin life for themselves, they were married. The 
father afterward followed Jiis trade of calker at the 
dry dock of that cit}-. and later became owner of 
the dock, which he operated until 1875, when he 
retired from active business life, but continued to 
make his home in St. Louis until his death, which 
occurred in 1884, at the age of sixty-five 3-ears. 
He was a well-known man of that city, who wit- 
nessed its growth from a village, and at his death 
many friends mourned his loss. He voted the Re- 
publican ticket, and alwaj's kept well informed 
concerning the political issues of the d.ay. but was 
not a politician in the sense of office-seeking. His 
wife still makes her home in St. Louis, and is now 
sixty-five years of age. She has been a life-long 
member of the Evangelical Church, to which Mr. 
Koch also belonged. 

In his native city the subject of this sketch grew 
to manhood, and aeqired a good education in both 
the German and English languages in the parochial 
schools. At the age of twelve years he began 
earning his livelihood, and has since been depend- 
ent upon his own resources. He well deserves to 



be classed among the successful, enterprising and 
ambitious young business men. When a youth he 
entered the employ of Keiser A- Niemeyer, general 
merchants, with whom he remained from 1876 
until 1882. He first began as a salesman, but 
afterward they gave him permission to attend 
Brj-ant & Stratton's Business College of St. Louis, 
where in 1880 he completed a commercial course 
of study, and took charge of the books of that 
firm, being employed as book keeper until 1882, 
when he entered the C. J. Keiser <fc Co. Bank 
as Cashier. For nine years he has served as Cashier, 
and his connection with the company covers a 
period of fifteen consecutive years, a fact which 
indicates his trustworthiness and faithfulness. His 
employers trust him implicitly, aud never have 
they had reason to believe their confidence mis- 
placed. In 1889 he was aptiointed Postmaster of 
Mt. Olive and still holds that position. We pre- 
dict for Mr. Koch excellent success in his business 
career, for a man of his ability- is always sure to 
prosper. In politics he is a Republican, and served 
for one term as Township Clerk. 




AMUEL LOVE, a resident of Bird Town- 
ship, is a son of John and Cynthia (Sej-- 
mour) Love, who emigrated from Alabama 
to Illinois in the early days. The^- came 
first to Madison County, where they remained a 
few mouths, and then came on to Macoupin County 
as early as before the '20s. but at just what date 
the son is unable to say. They made their home 
in what is now South Palmyra Township, but 
about the year 1828 they removed to Morgan 
County, this State, and remaineil through the life 
time of Mrs. Love, after which her husband re- 
moved to Greene County, where he spent the re- 
mainder of his daj's. 

The subject of this sketch w.hs one of the five 
children of his parents who lived to maturity, and 
he was the youngest of their number. It is claimed 
that he was the first white child born in Macoupin 
County, as he opened his eyes upon tiiis world in 
the year 1822 in .South Palmyra Township. He 



PORTRAIT AXD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



743 



made his Lome with his father until his mar- 
riage to F.Iizabeth Taylor, who died in Greene 
Connty. His second marriage took place in that 
county and was solemnized March 1. 1840. His 
bnde was Minerva J. Lastei-. daughter of William 
and Mar}- (Hill) Laster. They came from Tennes- 
see to Greene County, this State, and sfter making 
their home there for several years, removed to Jef- 
ferson Count}-, this Slate, where Mr. Laster died. 
His widow mnde her home with licr son-in-law, 
Mr. Allen Love, wiiii whom she spent her Last 
days. 

Ten children blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. 
Laster. Mrs. Minerva ,T. Love being the eldest of 
llie six who grew to maturity. She w.as born in 
Greene County. III.. April 6, IS31. Ten children 
constituted also the number of iier flock, namely: 
John J : James M.; Mollie, wiio is the wife of 
Ciiarles Kessiager: F.N.: Douglas A., deceased ; 
Ada E.. the wife of Francis Washburn : .Berneltie, 
tne wife of John A. Wood; Delia. George W. and 
Waiter. Mr. Love :md his wife are both earnest 
and active members of the Baptist Church. He is 
a Democrat in his political views and has filled 
some of the school offices. He settled in Macoupin 
County in 1854, when he came from Greene County. 
He has always been engaged in farming, and has 
good improvements on his productive farm of one 
hundred and eighty acres. 

:-^^: 

EINT ARlvEB.\rER. who owns and oper- 
ates a fine farm of two hundred and 
X eighty acres on section 10, Mt. Olive 
Township, is numbered among the sub- 
stantial anil resijeclcd citizens of this comniu- 
uity and his property has all been acquired since 
he came to this county in ISo.i. In addition to 
the homestead, he owns forty acres of land ad- 
joining the village of Mt. Olive and a timber 
tract of one hundred acres. His home .tnd the 
other buildings ^[wn the farm are first-class in 
every particular. His fields are well tilled and the 
stock which he raises is of excellent grades. He 
is a progressive yet practical farmer, and the suc- 




cess which has attended his efforts is due to him- 
self alone. He may therefore trul}- be called a 
self-made man. 

Mr. Arkebauor was born in the Province of 
Hanover. Germany. September 8, 1828, and is a 
son of Harmon and Anna (Johnson) Arkebauer, 
who were a'so natives of Hanover, where they 
were born, reared and married. After the birth 
of all of their children, the family started for 
America in the autumn of 1846, taking p.assage 
upim a sailing-vessel, the "Averhartlt." On cross- 
ing the channel they encountered a severe storm 
and were forced to remain at Portsmouth. Eng- 
land, thirty- days for repairs. At length, after a 
tedious voyage, they reached New Orleans in 
safety, fifteen weeks having elapsed since they 
left home. 

Coming up the Mississippi River to .St. Louis, 
a few months were spent in that city, during 
which time two of the nhie children died. Their 
next place of residence w:is on a farm in Moro, 
Madison County. They lived on a farm belong- 
ing to Samuel Dorsey for about five 3ears and 
then came to Mt. Olive, where the father died in 
1857. at the age of sixty j'ears. His wife sur- 
vived liim some yeai-s and met her death in 1886, 
while crossing the railroad track of the Wabash 
line. -\ fast passenger train struck her. killing 
her instantly. She was then eighty-fouj j'ears of 
age. The}- were both members of the Lutheran 
Church and were people whose worth and ability 
won them many friejds. 

The subject of this sketch was the second of the 
family. When a youth he accompanied his par- 
ents to this country and was residing in Madison 
County when he attained his majority. Not long 
afterward he led to the marriage altar Miss Telte 
Reiser, who was born in Hanover, and when a 
j-oung lady came to America in 1854. After liv- 
ing in Madison County for some time she removed 
to this county with her parents. John and Johanna 
(Jerguna) Reiser, both of whom are now deceased. 
Thev lived to quite an advanced age. the mother 
having reached her eighty-second year at the time 
of her death. Both were communicants of the 
Lutheran Church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Arkebauer 
were born six children, foui of whom are yet liv- 



744 



POiailAlT AKD IJJUUltAi'HlCAL RECORD. 



iiig— Johanna, wife of Fred Druster, of Mt. Olive; 
Haimina, wife of Henry Gebner, a resident farmer 
of Calioiiia Townsliip; and Anna and Jolin H., 
wlio are yet at home. The former attends to tiie 
houseiiold duties, wiiile the latter assists his father 
in tlie operation of the farm. The twu cliildreii, 
Anna and Herman H., are now deceased. 

In 1874 Mr. Arkebauer was called upon to 
mourn the loss of his wife, who died at the age of 
thirty-eight, after a happy wedded life of seven- 
teen years. She was a Christian woman, a mem- 
ber of the Lutheran Church and in her death iier 
neighbors lost a faithful friend and lier farailv a 
loving and tender wife and mother. Mr. Arke- 
bauer and the children are all members of the 
Lutheran Church and constitute one of the re- 
spected families of this community. In politics he 
is a Republican. 




ENRV CLARK, an industrious and intelli- 
gent farmer residing on section 27, Staun- 
ton Township, was born in this township, 
January 7, 1855, and is a representative of 
one of the honored pioneer families of the county. 
His father, William Clark, was a native of the 
Emerald L*le and came of a good Irish family. His 
parents, who were honest, worth\- and respected 
people and raemliers of the Presbyterian Church, 
spent their entire lives in the county of his nativity. 
William grew to manhfjod upon the farm, became 
a freeholder, and engaged in agricultural pursuits 
in Ireland until he came to America. 

Eliza Little, who became the wife of William 
Clark, was born and reared in the same neighbor- 
hood as her husband and belonged to a family 
who embraced the Protestant faith. Her father died 
when she was a small child, after which the widowed 
mother cared for her four daughters, devoting her- 
self exclusively to their interests. AVilliam Clark 
and his wife came to the United Slates with their 
three children in 1842, mailing from Belfast on the 
"John Bull", which landed him and his f.amlly in 
New York after a voyage of six weeks and three 
days. The autumn of tliat year found them estab- 



lished in a home in Pittsburg, but soon after they 
came to Illinois, locating in Staunton Township, 
Macoupin County, where Mr. Clark entered eighty 
acres of land from the Government and began 
developing a farm, after building a log house. 

Not a furrow had been turned nor an improve- 
ment made, but Mr. Clark soon had a large tract 
under cultivation and the crops which were gar- 
nered proved ample for the maintenance of the 
family. Some eighteen yeais later he sold to a 
good advantage and then made the purchase of one 
hur'flred and sixty acres on section 28, of the same 
township. An additional tract of eighty acres was 
afterward added on the west and ihe entire farm of ■ , 
two hundred and (orty acres was improved with W 
good buildings and other evidences of the thrift and 
enterprise of the owner. Mr. Clark was a hard- 
working and energetic man, fair in all his dealings, 
and to his business interests he devoted his entire 
attention, .caring nothing for public honors or polit- 
ical offices. He supported the Republican party by 
I his ballot, and in religious belief was a Presby- 
terian. His widow, who yet survives her husband, 
linds a pleasant home with our subject. She is now 
seventy-five years of age. A memiierof the Pres- 
byterian Church, she has led a consistent life and 
for her many excellencies of character and her 
great kindness is beloved by all. 

We now take up the personal history of Henry 
Clark, whose entire life has been passed on the old 
homestead farm. Midst play and work his boy- 
hood days were passed, and when he attained to 
mature years he was joined in wedlock with Miss 
Louisa E. Powers. This estimable lady was born 
in Staunton Township, July 10, 1854, and is a 
daughter of Daniel and Lucy (Cormack) Powers. 
Her parents were natives of North Carolina and 
Tennessee, respectively, and they were married in 
Illinois where they have lived since ehihlhood. 
Their domestic life was begun upon a farm in 
Staunton Township, where they made their home 
until called to their tinal rest. Mrs. Clark was left • 
an orphan during childhood. By marriage she has 
become the mother of four children, one son and 
three daughters: Grace, now deceased; Samuel 1)., 
Mary E. and Martha A., twins. On the death of 
his father, January 17, 1878, Mr. Clark came into 




bww.v.....,;^>^...;.^;:^:.a^^^^....v^;:>^y^tia^]g:^^ 



- -,-:7f^*^y,^gj^»i,i;i^.t^g':^;?r^^^^^ 



■-•ffVbV'f ^^<^geae^V.:^^- •': •-j?r^j,»-v^->-r- 



RES.OF SAMUEL WOOD, SEC. 35.^ B U N KER HILL TP_, M AGO U P I N C0._,! LLS. 




RES. OF HENRY CLARK. SEC. S^^STA UNTO NTR., MACOUPIN CO.., ILLS. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



747 



possession of the old homestead under whose sliel- 
tering roof liis ehildhi od days were passed, and a 
view of which is presented on anollier page. In 
addition to the one iiundred and twenty acres of 
arable land which he owns he has forty acres of 
timber land. Industrious and energsiic, he is meet- 
ing with excellent success in his undertakings and 
is regarded as one of the progressive and public- 
spirited citizens of the community. 

/^^, AMUEL WOOD, who resides on section 
^^^ 35, Bunker Hill Township, is numbered 
'v^UP among the honored pioneers of the county, 
and since I 832 has resided upon his pres- 
ent faini of three hundred and twenty acres, hav- 
ing entered the land from the Government on 
July 4 of that year. He still has in his possession 
a deed signed by President .Jackson. He has wit- 
nessed almost the entire growth and development 
of the county since the days when its lands were 
all wild and unimproved, settlements few and far 
between, ami liie work of civilization and progress 
seemed scarcely begun. 

Mr. Wood came to this count}- with a double 
yoke of oxen, and was thirty four days upon the 
road, traveling from Kentucky to Bunker Hill. 
He was born in Cumberland Connty, K}'.. Decem- 
ber 2.5, 1804, and is descended from one of the 
old Virginian families, which was founded in Amcr- 
in ITfjo by Samuel Wood, who was a line scholar 
and i)ecame Gen. Washington's Secretary. He 
served during the Revolution as a member of the 
Virginia Bines, and also |)articipnti'd in the battle 
where the Frencli an<l Indian r.rmy defeated Brad- 
doek. The great-grandmother of our subject, whose 
maiden name was SLarah Bean, was the daughter of a 
prominent Knglisliman. of London, who owned large 
possessions there, including the London Bridge 
across tin; Thames River. Miss Sarah, when a 
child, was kidnapped and carried aw.ay to America, 
wliere she was sold as a nurse to a tobacco planter 
near Jamestown. There she grew to womanhood 
and gave her hand in marriage to an American, who 
took up arms against the mother countrj-. When 
llie war was over she returned to England to claim 



the estate of her father who liad died, but, though 
she established a just claim to the heirship. King 
George confiscated the property on account of her 
husband having been an American soldier. 

The father of our subject, James Wood, fought 
;n the War of 1812, under (Jen. Harrison, and 
after his discharge his brotiier, Maj. William Wood, 
fought under Gen. Richard M. Johnson, and took 
l)art in the battle of Ti|)pecanoe, where Tecumseh 
was defeated. For a fuller account of the parents 
of our subject see the sketch of James E. Wood 
on another page of this work. 

Samuel Wood grew to manhood in the Slate of 
his nalivitj', and no event of sjjecial importance 
occurred in his childhood's career. In Cumber- 
land Count}- he married Keziah Dougherty, who 
was born in Tennessee, of Scotch-Irish parentage, 
but grew to womanhood in Kentucky. Twelve 
children grace their union, si.x of whom were born 
in Kentucky, and six in Illinois. Hiram D., who 
served as a soldier in the Mexican War, married 
Lydia Lukin, and is engaged in merchandising in 
Dundee, Delaware County, Iowa; Rosa is the wife 
of H. C. Smith, who was a Mexican soldier and 
■A-as wounded at the battle of Buena, Vista, and is 
now Judge of the Police Court of Hot Springs, 
Ark.; .Sarah .1. is the widow- of William R. Wood, 
and is living at the home of her father, for whom 
siie cares in his old age. She has two daughters, 
Mrs. John Ru>sell and Mrs. G. A. Mauley, of St. 
Louis, Mo.; Altlica is the wife of William Patrick, 
a mechanical engineer of .Staunton; Jasper N. is a 
photographer, artist and minister of the Christian 
Church of Hot Springs, Ark., who married Eliza- 
beth Cooper; Dr. B. K.. who wedded Fannie 
Choale, is now engaged in merchandising in ^'er- 
non, Te.x.; John died at the age of twenty -seven 
3ears; Silvers and Oliver were both marric(Land at 
their deaths left families; Thomas, Clayboui and 
Susanna died in infancy. Mrs. Wood, the mother 
of this family, was boni on the 1st of February, 
ISO'), and died in 1882. She w-as a noble woman, 
and one of the leading members of the Christian 
Church. In her death the famil\- lost a loving and 
tender wife and mother, her neighbors a faith- 
ful friend, and the clniich one of its active 
workers. 



748 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



For over forty years Mr.Wooil Iws been a faith- 
ful and consistent member of the Christian Church. 
He delights in doing good, is cliaritabie and bene- 
volent, and is known ihougiioiit the eomnuinity 
for his many excellent worlss. He cast his first 
Presidential vote for Gen. Jackson at his first elec- 
tion, and has since llial time been a slalnarl Demo- 
crat. Farming he has made his life work, and 
from tlie wild prairie lie developed rich aad fertile 
fields which have yielded to him aa excellent in- 
come, making him one of the substantial citizens 
of the community. He began life in the West in 
true pioneer style, his home being a log cabin, his 
farming implements of the crudest character, while 
oxen were used at the plow, but he has kept pace 
with the improvements of the age. and is now the 
owner of one of the best farms in the community. 
His cabin home was rejjhiced in 1870 by a large 
brick residence, a view of wliich appears on another 
page, and which is one of the finest dwellings in 
tlie couut}'. On March S, 1871, his home was vis- 
ited b3' a tornado, which demolished his fine barn 
and unroofed his new house, altogether entailing a 
loss of nearl}' $3,000. Notiiwitiistanding this and 
other misfortunes in his career, he has persevered in 
a course of honor and uprightness, and success has 
crowned his efforts. 



SAAC S. SNEDEKER, a well-known citizen 
and successful farmer who owns and operates 
(li one hundred and sixt^- acres of land on section 
23, Hilyard Township, was born near Trenton, 
N. J., on April 10, 1834, and is descended from 
Holland ancestry, who during Colonial days crossed 
the Atlantic and settled in America. The family 
was first established on Long Island, but James 
Snedeker, the great-grand fatiier of oursulijeol, rC' 
moved to New Jersey, where he began life as a 
farmer. He served in the Colonial Armj- through- 
out the Revolutionary War, fought at the battle of 
Monmouth, N. J., and afterward remained in that 
State until his death, which occurred at the age of 
seventy years in New Brunswick, at what is known 
as Long Branch. His son, Isaac Snedeker, was there 



born and reared to the occupation of farming. He 
married Miss Catherine Moore, and they spent the 
greater part of their lives in tlie vicinit\' of Tren- 
ton, N. .1., where the wife died in 1832, when about 
seventy years of age. Isaac Snedeker .afterward 
removed to Monroe Count}', N. Y., ami spent l.'is 
last days near Rochester, where he died at the age 
of four-score years. 

I'nto Isaac Snedeker and his wife were born 
eleven children, one of whom Jacob, became the 
father of our subject. He was born March 23, 
1806. and is the only one now living. In t!ie Msual 
manner of farmer lads his boyhood days were 
spent, his education being acquired in the com- 
mon schools while his business training was re- 
ceived as a clerk. He was married in the city of 
Trenton to Ellen Jay, who was born October 2, 
1813, and is a daughter of William and Hannah 
(^'.•lndt■ rvere) Ja^', natives of New Jersey, where 
they were reared and married and spent their entire 
lives. The father died in middle life, after wliich 
the widow was again married. Joseph Jay, the 
maternal grandfather of our subject was a native 
of Scotland, who emigrated to this country' and 
fought throughout the war for independence. He 
lived and died near Trenton, N. J. Jacob M. 
Snedeker and his wife bade good-by to their home 
in that locality after the birth of their first child 
and removed to Monroe County, N. Y.. in May, 
1834, settling on a farm near Rochester, where 
they spent about five years. In 1839, they be- 
came residents of Champaign County, Ohio, and 
the autumn of 1850 witnessed their arrival in 
Illinois. They traveled overland by team and at 
length made a settlement in Jersey County, where 
Mr. Snedeker rented land for one year. At the 
expiration of that time they came to Macoupin 
Count}' and purch<ased land in Hilyard Township, 
which the father transformed from the raw prairie 
into rich and fertile fields constituting one of the 
best farms in the community. He also made many 
excellent improvements and erected a pleasant home 
where he is spending his last d.ays. Mrs. Snedeker 
suffered a stroke of paralysis February 24, 1889, 
and was an Invalid until her death, which occurred 
March 21, 1891. Mr. Snedeker, however, still re- 
tains both his mental and phj'sical faculties to a 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



.749 



romarkahle r1p</r('c. Never but once in all his life 
liiis lie had to call a iloclor for himself ami that has 
liccn within the past two years. In early life he 
was an old-line Whiu and is n<jw ti stanch Uepnlili- 
can. Nnmljered amoiii; the liDiiored citizens of ihe 
community he and his wif^lKive been held in hiyh 
reijanl an<i their names well ileserve to be iecoi(Ie(l 
upon the annals of their county's history. 

Isaac Snedeker was a lad of seventeen years when 
the family located in this county. Me had begun his 
school life in Ohio, whence he lemoved in the fall 
of 1 850, to .lersey County, 111., where he spent 
one year. Since 1851, he has resided in this county 
and durinii;- ail the years which have since come 
and gone his home has been n|)on Ihe farm which 
h(f yet owns. It v.as puichased b}' his father when 
it was a tract of wild prairie, enlirelj* destitute of 
improvements, lletuined the first furrow upon 
many an acre and aiderl in the development and 
eiiltivation of llie land wiiich now yields to him a 
good income. He was married in I5nuker lldl 
Township, Februaiy 1(5, 1859, the lady of his 
choice being Miss Martha Kllen Frost, who was 
born .Inne 4, ) 8;{;3, in \'ermont, of which .Slate her 
parents. William and Caroline (Uicli) Frost, were 
also natives. With their family they emigrateil 
Westward in IKl I, .and after a short time spent in 
.lersey County, 111., came to Woodburn, Macoupin 
County, where the wife and mother departed this 
life at the age of thirty -seven years. Mr. Frost 
has been a seconil time inarrie<l and now lives on a 
farm near Woodburn. 

I'nder the parental roof Airs. Snedeker remained 
until her marriage and the training whicn she re- 
ceiveil (.'ombined with the natural e.\cel!encies of 
her character has made her a cultured woman who 
has |)iovcd a true helpmate to iier husband. Their 
home has been blessed by the presence of four chil- 
dren, but only two are now living — Caroline I. and 
jVlma. The latter is the wifeof Ilarrj' Colter who 
resides on a farm in Ililyard Township. Ida A. 
died in childhood; and Theodore died three djiys 
before he had attained to the age of twenty-one 
years. Mr. Snedeker is a practical and progressive 
fa.rmer who successfully operates liis quarter sec- 
tion of land and has thereby ac(|uired a compe- 
tence. He takes a commendable interest in all that 




pertains 'O the upbuilding and welfare of the county 
and always vvillingly gives his su [)port to those 
entei-piises wdiich arc calculated to promote the 
general welfare. Those who have known him 
from his youth up and are familiar with his upright 
life are numbered among his stanehest friends and 
in speaking of him they use only words of coni- 
inendalion and praise. 

-o♦<'•■©^><vf^- 



I.KX.WDKR H. BFLL of Carlinville, is 
Ji ki.own and honored as a law^'er who has 
risen to eminence among the members of 
^fl the bar of this county through personal 

merit and devotion tf) his profession. He is a na- 
tive-born citi/.en of this State; Troy, Madison 
County, his birthplace, and October 29, 1853, the 
date of his birth. He is the son of Thomas H. Bell, 
who was born at Cambridge, Dorchester County, 
Md.. where also his father is tiiought to have been 
born and passed his life. The latter, Robert Bell, 
was a merchant and planter, his pl.",ntation being 
worked by slaves. 

Thomas H. Bell was reared and educated in his 
native county, and early in life he learned the trade 
of a coachniaker, which he followed in Maryland 
until 1851, when he came to Illinois. Ever since 
that time he has made his home in Tro}', Madison 
County, except a pei'iod of five 3 ears in which he 
lived in Jersey ville, 111. He has carried on the 
business of manufacturing carriages and wagons 
until the present time. His wife, whose maiden 
name was .Tulia Hubbard, was also born near Cam- 
bridge. Md. They reared two children — Alexan- 
der, II.. of this sketch, and Angle, who married 
Truman K. Gore, of Carlinville. 

In the public schools of Troy aiui .lerseyville 
ourstibject gainefl the preliminaries of a good ed- 
ucation. In 1870 he enteretl Blackburn University, 
attending until the fall of 1873, when he left for a 
time to teach school, being thus engaged in Greene 
County the ensuing winter of 1873-74, and the 
following summer he worked on a farm. In the 
fall he returned to his studies at Blackburn and 
was graduated in th" Cl.ass of '75. Immediately 



750 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



after leaving the university he commenced the 
study of law with Hon. Charles A. Walker, and the 
next winter again gave his attention to the teach- 
er's profession, filling llie position of Principal of 
the Medora schools. In the spring of 1876 be re- 
sumed his legal studies with Mr. Walker and in 
June, 1877, was admitted to the liar. In Septem- 
ber, of the same year he formed a partnership with 
W. E. P. Anderson, which connection has continued 
since that time. 

In December, 1877, Mr. Bell and Miss Flora G. 
Mounts were united in marriage, and of their wed- 
ded life two children have been born, who are 
named Bessie and Robert H. Mrs. Bell is a native 
of Carlinville. and a daughter of Leandor and 
Elizabeth (Davis) Mounts. For her parental his- 
tory see sketch of William L. Mounts. 

Mr. Bell's fellow-citizens havecalled him to posi- 
tions iu the line of his profession. In 1878 he was 
chosen City Attorney. In 1880 he was elected 
State's Attorney for Macoupin County. Socially he 
is a prominent member of the Masonic order in 
this section of the countr3', being identified with 
the Mt. Nebo Lodge No. 76, and with Macoupin 
Chapter, No. 187, R. A. M., in which \w has filled 
various offices, lie is at present Districi Deputy 
Grand Master of the Twenty-second Masonic dis 
trict, including Macoupin, Jersey, Greene and Cal- 
houn Counties. Politically he is a Demoornt, and 
cast his first vote for Sanuiel J. Tilden for Presi- 
dent in 1876. 

^=^s ■ ■ 



« jfelLLIAM A. SHRIVER, M. D. The pro- 
\jjj// fessional men in any coramnnity are pre- 
WW suraably leaders in thought and action, 
especially in regard to the development of the in- 
tellectual, industrial and fiuiincial affairs of the dis- 
trict in which they live. A physician who has 
established a lai-ge and influential practice, has the 
entrance into hundreds of homes and the regard of 
many citizens who naturally look to him for ad- 
vice, not only in his own line but also in regard 
to matters in general. The gentleman of whom 
we write has established a practice and has made 



friends who would gladly accord him such a posi- 
tion as we have described. 

Dr. Siiriver was born in the village of .Sugar 
Tree Ridge, Highland County, Ohio. April 30. 
1844. His father, George A. Shriver, was a native 
of Clermont County, Olr'o, and was the son of 
Peter Shriver a Pennsylvanian, who emigrated at 
a very early day from his native State to Clermont 
County. He devoted himself to agricultural pur- 
suits through life and spent his last years in Higli- 
land County. 

The fatiier of our subject was also reared as a 
farmer, and chose that as bis life work until he 
learned the trade of a cabinet-maker which he fol- 
lowed for many years. Siion after his marriage he 
established his home in Highland County, Ohio, 
and resided near Sugar Tree Ridge until 1851, 
when he came to Illinois and made his home near 
Kockfoid. This journev was made by team, britig- 
ing Willi him his family md household gooils. 
Kockford. wliich is now so beautiful and nourish- 
ing a city, was then a small place, without railroad 
facilities. He removed from thereto Pike County 
in 1854 and bought land neir Pittsfield, at whicli 
time he returned to the vocation of a farmer. 

The mother of our subject bore the maiden 
name of Mniy A. Henslcy. She was a daughter 
of Jose|ih Hensley and her native home was High- 
lan(i County, Ohio. She became the mother of 
four sons and five daugliters. Our subject was 
seven years old when he removed to Illinois with 
his parents. The district school furnished his ele- 
mental y education which be so thoroughly im- 
proved as to be able to begin teaching at the age of 
fifteen. 

The joung man in imp'oving his o|)portunities 
for education had iu mind the attainment of a pro- 
fessional training and after In: had taught for three 
years began the study of medicine with Dr. Pitzer, 
now of St. Louis. He also attended lectures at 
the Eclectic Medical Institute ut Cincinnati, Ohio, 
and took a diploma from that college. It vvas in 
the spring of 1866 when he began to practice his 
profession in Virden and he has made this his home 
up to the present time. His skill has been con- 
stantly augmented by the experience which has 
come to him, and be has gained in reputation ever 



PORTRAIT AND UIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



751 



since lie began practice in tin's place. He has also 
jnade judicious investments, and more wisely than 
many physicians has so managed iiis business as to 
gain a comfortable competence. He is respected 
among business men as a linancier and his opinion 
is eagerl}' sought upon questions which concern the 
welfare not only of friends but of the community. 
The marriage of Dr. Shriver and Miss CJarrie E. 
Ilowland, at liarry, Pike County, 111., in 1865, has 
resulted in a union of unusual fehcity and useful- 
ness. Five children are the result of this union, 
the two eldest, Carrie and Frank, are deceased. 
Three remain to brighten the home of the Doctoi-: 
Edith, Estelle, and Earl. The Doctor is a warm 
friend of education and takes great interest in the 
schools of the city and at present is serving as 
President of the Board of Education of the city 
of Yirden and is giving his children all the ad- 
vantages offered in the schools of the city prepara- 
tory to entering a higher grade. The Doctor and 
his wife are united in their religious life, being 
both earnest and active members of the Methodist 
Episco|)al Chu'cli. 



.^".— *- 



ENRY P.\LL, an extensive and successful 
farmer and stock-raiser of Girard Town- 
ship, was born in Breconshire, South Wales, 
September 25, 1844. His father Richard 
Bali, was born on the Yatt farm, near Old Radnor, 
Radnorshire, Wales. His father, William, was 
born in Herefordshire, England. The grandfather 
was for many years a farmer, but in his later years 
opened a limestone quarry, and engaged in burning 
lime in Radnorshire, Wales, lime being extensively 
used as a fertilizer in Wales. The father of our 
subject was reared in his native land and becoming 
a veterinary surgeon, practiced in Breconshire and 
adjoining counties. 

In the summer of 1855 Richard B;dl, Sr., decided 
to emigrate to the New World, and leaving his 
family at the old homo came to America and loca- 
ted at Virden, becoming an early settler there. 
After dccidinff upon a location he sent back for 




his family, arid in the fall his wife pnd ten of her 
fourteen cliildren sailed from Liverpool in the 
good ship "Aurora," and landed safely in New 
Yoik December 8, after a voyage of nearly seven 
weeks. They came directly' to Virden and he 
bought a home in that village and engaged in bus- 
iness as a butchei, in which line he continued until 
his death in August, 185G. He was a strong ad- 
herent to the Episcopal faith having all his chil- 
di-en baptized in infancy in the Episcopal Church. 
His wife bore the maiden name of Maria F^vans, 
her father being Thomas Evans, a farmer of Rad- 
noishire, Wales, and her mother. Mar}' Ball Evans. 
She still rei;ides with her son, and although she has 
reached the advanced age of eighty-seven years, is 
interested in current events and especially church 
work-, being a consistent member of tlie Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

Fourteen children came to bless the home of Rich 
nrd Ball. Sr , all of wUom were carefully reared by 
their devoted mother, who adder! to her flock two 
others wIk^ were orphans. She lived to see all but 
one of her children grow to maturity and estab- 
lish liomes of their own, living in comfortable cir- 
cumstances and in houses which *hey had built for 
themselves. Thej' are by name: Frederick, Ara- 
bella, William E., Thomas. Richard Jr., Maria, 
Mary, Frances, Ann. John, James, Henry, George, 
and Agnes E. Maria died in Wales at the age of 
eighteen years. Ann ma'ried Calvin Tunnell and 
died in Montgomery County, III.; James difd in 
Virden at the age of twelve years; William, the 
second son, was a resident of London, England, 
about forty years, and died there February 27, 
1891, and Fredeiick lives in Missouri, bnt all the 
other children have made their home in Illinois. 
William I'ugh and John Dowdy arc the names of 
the orphans whom she reared with her own family. 
William Pugh was a nephew of Richard Ball. Sr., 
and was a twin brother of James, who died in Vir- 
den. 

The subject of this sketch was a boy of eleven 
years old when he came to America with his parents 
and therefore remembers well his native lan(L and 
the incident connected with their removal thither. 
He was reared to habits of industry, and has been 
very successful in his farming operations. For 



PORTRAIT AND JJIOGRAITIICAL RECORD. 



several years he was connected in his woi-li with his 
brothers, but since 1877 lias fanned alone. He 
now owns one of the best farms in Macoupin 
County, which is well lilletl and supplied vvith 
necessary buildings which are of an excellent grade, 
i^hort-horn cattle are his f.=ivorite breed, although 
he devotes himself largely to English draft and 
Morgan horses. He is a member of the Farmers 
Mutual Fire Insurance Company and of Grange 
^;o. 485. 



eOL. SARGEANT M( KNIGHT, a distin- 
guished citizen of Girard, and formerly one 
^^ ' of its leading business men, won a high 
reputation for Ins ability, unflinching courage am! 
devotion to the cause of liis country as an otlicer 
in the Union Army during the late war. in -ihose 
times that tried men's souls," and tested their pa- 
triotism, their manhood, and the value of their citi- 
zenship. He is well-known in tlie pulilic life of 
this county and State, as lie has held several i)rom- 
inent miiitarj- and civic positions, and is one of 
the leading members of the Grand Army of the 
Republic, at present serving on the staff of its Com- 
mander-in Chief, Gen. W. G. Veazey. 

The subject of this biographical sketch was born 
in Macoui)in County, 111., Januar}- 6, 1844. His 
parents were natives of Virginia, and emigrated to 
Illinois about the year 1830, becoming early set- 
tlers of Greenfield, Greene County. They subse- 
quently became pioneers of this county, locating 
first at Scottvillc, whence they carae to Girard in 
1859. His mother died in April, 1864, at the age 
of sixty-four years; his father died in April, 1868, 
at the age of seventy-two 3'ears. 

Col. McKnight is the youngest of a family of 
ten children, seven of whom are now living. He 
was educated in the public schools of his native 
county, and at the age of seventeen years he entered 
a dry-goods store at Girard as a clerk. He held 
that position until August, 1862, when, though but 
eighteen years of age, he threw aside all personal 
interests to serve his country, enlisting as a private 
in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-two Illi 



nois Infantry, commanded by Coi. John I. Rinaker. 
The regiment was organized at Cnrnp Palmer, Car- 
linville, and private JNIcKnight was elected First 
Sergeant of his company, thus entering u()on that 
military career tliat reflected honor upon himself, 
his frienils, and the soldier}' of his native State. 
The regiment was soon after ordered to the front 
and remained in active service until the close of 
the war. 

Our subject participated in every engagement in 
which his regiment took part. December 31, 1862, 
he was promoted and commissioned Second Lieu- 
tenant of his company, vice Lieutenant Briston. 
killed in battle at Parker's Cross Roads, in Tennes- 
see. During the lat:er part of 1863 he served a 
short time as Aide-de Camp on the Staff of Col. 
Mersey, of the Ninth Illinois Infantry', command- 
ing a brigade in Gen. Dodge's Division. Sixteenth 
Aimy Corps, but was relieveil at his own request, 
and in .lannary, 1864. rejoined his regiment at 
Paducali, Ky. Soon after his arrival at tliat place 
the Colonel was detailed as Assistant Inspector 
General on the staff of Col. S. G. Hicks, command- 
ing the Post, which position he filled until after 
the assault on Ft. Anderson at Paducah, March 24, 
by the Confederate forces, undei' the command of 
Gen. N. B. P'orrest. At this 'oattle after the Hist 
repulse of the Confederates, our subject was sent 
b}' Col. Hicks to meet a Confederate staff officer 
bearing a flag of truce and a demand from Gen. 
Forrest for the unconditional surrender of the fort 
and Federal forces, which demand was proini)tly 
refused h}^ the gallant Uidon veteran. Col. Hicks. 
The rebels then made two more fierce and deter- 
mined, but unsuccessful attacks on the fort, suffer- 
ing a loss of about one thousand men in killed and 
wounded. Col. Hicks in his official report of this 
engagement, makes special mention of the efficient 
and gallant services of Lieut. McKnight. 

The Colonel was soon after appointed Provost 
Marshal of Paducali, which important and respon- 
sible position he filled in a manner most satisfac- 
tory to his superior officers until about the 20lh of 
June, when he was again relieved at his own re- 
quest, and he accompanied his regiment that had 
been ordered to Mem|»his, Tenn., to join the forces 
under Gen. A. J. Smith. He served with his com- 



PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAFHICAL RECORD. 



753 



panj' until December, when at Nashville, Tenn., he 
was a|)p<iinled Aide-rlc-Cainp on the staff of Brev. 
Maj. Gen. Kenner Garrarri, commanding the Sec- 
ond Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps, and in 
that eap.aeit.}^ he took an active pait in the battle of 
Nashville, on the loth and Itith of December, 

1864, when the Fed.er.il forces, under Gen. George 
H. Thomas, defeated and anniliilated Hood's array. 
He remained on the staff of Gen. Garrard until the 
close of the war, and was breveted captain by the 
Presi<lent, his commission reading for "gallant and 
meritorions conduct during the campaign against 
the city of Mobile and its defenses." 

After he was mustered out of the service in July, 

1865, Col. McKnight returned to Ciirard and en- 
gaged in the dry goods business. In 1867 he en- 
tered into partnership with \i. Boggess, A. A. 
Cooper, and .John T. Holden, under the firm name 
of li. Boggess (fe Co. for the manufacture of woolen 
goods and the sale of geneial merchandise, at Gir- 
ard. About the Istof April, 1870, the firm opened 
a branch house at Taylorville, and our subject re- 
moved thither with his family to take charge of the 
business In lS7.i the firm of Boggess ife Co. dis- 
solved iiartncrship, but Col. McKnight continued 
the business at Taylorville until March, 1882, when 
at the request of his fathcrin-law. ho relumed with 
his family to Girard, and was engaged as a dry- 
goods merchant in this city until November, 1889, 
when he retired, and has not since then been en- 
gaged in active business. 

On May 15, 1866 Col. McKnight was united in 
marriage to Miss N'irginia A., eldest daughter of 
B. Boggess, Esq., an old and prominent citizen of 
Girard. Three children have hallowed and blessed 
this union, two of whom nre living, Emma Pearl 
and Robert Wade. 

Our subject's talent for affairs and high personal 
standing have brought liim to the front in the pub- 
lic life of this, his native count}', in various import- 
ant official positions. While a resident of Ta3lor- 
ville he was twice elected President of the Board 
of Trustees of the town. In 1889 he was elected 
a member of the Macoupin County Board of Super- I 
visors from Girard Township. At one time he , 
served four years in the Illinois National (Uiard as 
Cai)tain of Company B, and Inspector of Rifle Prac- i 



tice of the Fifth Regiment. Gov. Joseph W. Fifer 
recognized his military record by appointing him 
a member of his staff from the Seventeenth Con- 
gressional District, with the rank of Colonel, and 
in January. 1891 he was appointed Aide de-Camp 
on the staff of Gen. Veazey, Commander-in-Chief 
of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a 
valued member of that organization, belonging 
to the Luke Jlaylield Post, No. 515, and was an 
Alternate Representative to the National Encamp- 
ment held at San Francis'to, Cal., in August, 1886, 
also a Representative to the Tvventy-fourth Na- 
tional Encampment at Boston, Mass. The Colonel 
is a Republican in (tolilics, casting his first vote for 
Gen. IT. S. Cirant, m 1868, and since that time he 
has adhered to the fortunes and principles of that 
political organization. 



'-i-+if=^^4-'~h 



CASPER WESTERMEIER, Jk. Probably 
no resident of Carlinville is m<re widely 
, known, by reputation at least, than Mr. 

Westenneier, who was for several years the incum- 
bent of the office of County Clerk. In the arduous 
position, with all its responsibilities, he proved 
faithful, accurate and truscworth}', an*, his resigna- 
tion was accepted with regret. When he withdrew 
from politics he opened an ollice for general ab- 
stract of title, insurance and real-estate business 
and he represents some of the best insurance com- 
panies in the United States,while his familiarity with 
the records of Macoupin County makes him excep- 
tionally reliable in examination of titles to real es- 
tate. 

Mr. Westermeier is descended from excellent Ger- 
man stock, both parents having been born in the 
Old Country. His father, for whom he is named, 
wag a native of Prussia, and his mother, Anna 
Marie Deckemcier, was born in Hanover. The 
latter came to America with friends when a younw 
lady, being the only member of her family to cross 
the ocean. She was married in St. Louis, Mo., 
where Mr. Westermeier had located almost imme- 
diately after his migration. He had served his 
time in the German army, entering at the age of 



754 



PORTRAIT ANF) BIOGRAPHICAL Rl'X'ORD. 



eigliteen years, in aceordanco with the custom of 
the empire, anfl soon after his fiiseiiarge eame to 
America. He was a carpenter l\y trndo and in St. 
Louis lie worked as a journeyman for a time and 
then became contractor. In 18G1 he removed to 
Bunker Hill, this county, ant in 1884, their chil- 
dren havinor all left home, tlipy removed to Car- 
linville, where the two eldest sons resided, and is 
retired from active life, although for several years 
he carried on his business at Bunker Hill. T*lie 
faithful wife and mother died May 2.5, 1889. She 
had reared three sons — Casper, John and Joseph. 
The subject of this notice was born in St. Louis, 
Mo., July 22, 1846, and received his early educa- 
tion in the Catholic parochial schools there. When 
he was sixteen years old he began clerkinsj in a 
general store in Gillespie, where he remained a 
year and a half. He then returned to Bunker Hill 
and for four years was a clerk and bookkeeper, and 
then removed to Litchfield and embarked in busi- 
ness, carrying a stock of general !nerclKindise. 
After a year of business life he sold out and after the 
November election in 1868, came to Carlinville to 
accept and assume the duties of Chief Deputy in 
the Circuit Clerk's office, under H. VV. Burton, Ksq. 
He acted in tliat capacity nine years and during 
this time, in the spring of 1872. he was elected and 
served one term as City Treasurer of Carlinville, 
and wa.s then next elected County Clerk. This 
was in the fall of 1877, and after serving a five- 
years' term, he was re-elected and acted four years 
longer, and one of the chief duties and responsibil- 
ities with which he had to contend in the adminis- 
tration of the office of County Clerk was the re- 
funding of the iil, 500,000 courthouse bonds of 
Macoupin County, with eleven years' interest at 
ten per cent, accrued, outstanding into six per 
cent, bonds on comi)romised propositions, and hav- 
ing determined to adopt a different line of life he 
was no candidate for re-election, but opened the of- 
fice as before stated. 

The lady who presides in Mr. Westermeier's 
pleasant home was known in her maidenhood as 
Margaret Carlisle and their marriage was solemn- 
ized October 1.5, 1867, at Litchfield, III. The 
bride was born in Dumfries, Scotland. Her father, 
William Carlisle, was a Government baker. He came 



i 



to America witli a party of pleasure seekers, was 
stricken with yellow fever a.id died. Subsequently 
the widow of Mr. Carlisle came to this country with 
her two daughters, in company with her parents, 
who were McVeighs. They settled in Ohio and later 
made their home in Covington. Ky. In that State 
the widow was married to Mr. William Manly and 
the family removed to St. Louis, Mo. A second 
removal was made to Bunker Hill and thence Mr. 
and Mrs. Manly went to Litchfield, which is still 
Mrs. Manly's home. Mrs. Wcstermeier was two 
and a half years old when her mother brought her 
across the water and her education and training 
have been received in the city of St Louis and the 
towns above mentioned. She has the sterling qual- 
ities of the Scotch and the progressive sjjirit of the 
Ameiican and her care of her family is devoted. 
She has ten children, whose respective names are 
Joseph, Emma, Nellie, Miie, William. Mari^aret, 
Edward, Aloysius, Reba and Genevieve, all liorn 
at Carlinville except Jo.se|)h, who was born in 
Litchfield, III. 

In exercising the right of suffrage .Mr. Wcster- 
meier votes with the Democrats. The connection 
of the family is with St. Joseph's Cathi.lic Church. 
.Mr. Westermeier is a very enterprising man ar.d 
one who is likely at all times to make his way in 
business, as he has so far in life been doinsi. 



:f, IfclLLlAiM A. TR 
\ajl/ gentleman h.as 1 
VW in Atwater for 



ILLIAMA. TROUr, M. D. This young 
been established in practice 
ten years, and has acquired 
a good reputation as a physician, skilled in his 
work, and constantly on the alert toadil to his effi- 
ciency. He was born in St. Charles County, Mo.. 
June 14, 18.53, and spent his early y.^ars as do 
farmer's sons generally. He attended school as 
opportunity offered, both in Missouri and in this 
county and in the winter of 1 872-73 taught in Cuba, 
He returned to the farm and remained 



Mo. 



thereon until December, 1878, using every spare 
moment in reading medicine. He then entered the 
Missouri Medical College in St. Louis, and was 
graduated after a three years' course of study. He 





CT'^^^^- (hv, 3, 



I'ORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



757 



at once located in Atwater, where he has leiiiainerl 
aiul wliero since 1885, he has a'so cnrrieil on a drui^ 
store. 

The father of Dr. Trout was analive of Trimble 
(.'oiinty. Ky., and b >re theijiven name of KIkanah. 
His father in luin was Daniel Trout, a native of 
rennsylvaniaaud the son of German parents. The 
fritlier of our subject <jrew to inanhood in his na- 
live State and removed liicnce to IMissouri about 
1840. He was a pioneer settler in Warren County, 
whence he went to Clarke and from there to St. 
Charles County. He lived on a farm there until 
the spring of IStio, wl-.en he came to this ct)unly 
and bought his present property in Shaw's Point 
Township. His wife, formerly America C. Andei- 
sou. w.'is born in Kentucky, December 1, 1827. 
Their family consists oi seven sons and daughters. 

Dr. Trout takes much interest in the work of 
medical societies, finding them asource of persona! 
improvenu'ut, and greatly enjoying association 
with other professional men, in conversation with 
whom he can brighten and strengthen his ideas, lie 
belongs to the Society of iNIacoupin County for 
Medical Im[)roveirient, Illinois State Medical So- 
ciety and American Medical Association, and is 
aUo connected with the Illinois Pharmaceutical As- 
sociation. 



t-. - -»f<^<.|»>4. 



J^fLBERT CAMPBELL CORR, M. D., of 
!/lJ|| Carlinville, a specialist in diseases of the 
\ Hi EVE, E.VK and tiikoat and associated with 
^ ' his wife. Dr. L. H. Corr, in practice, is one 

of the foremost [ihysicians in this part of the 
State. He is a native of this county, a descendant 
of one of its earliest and best-known pioneer fam ■ 
ilies and was born in Honey Point Township, Feb- 
ruary 10, 1840. lie is a .^on of Thomas Corr, who 
was born in King and (Queen's County, Va., in 
1800. His father was of English birth, and coming 
to America in early life with his brothers, he ever 
after ra^de his home in \'irginia until his life was 
rounded out by death. 

Thomas Corr went to Kentucky when quite 



young and there married at the youthful age of sev- 
enteen yeiirs. Miss Preshea Wood becoming his 
wife. She was a native (jf Mississippi and a daugh- . 
ter of Micajah Wood. She died at Monroe, Iowa, 
October 9, 1888, at t!ie age of eighty-six years and 
six months. After marriage Mr. Corr locj\ted in 
Oldham County, and there engaged in farming, 
operating his land with slave labor. Ilissentiraents, 
however, were not in sympathy with that degrading 
institution of the South, and in conse(|i:euce he 
decided to emigrate to a free State. In pursuance 
of that resolve he visited Illinois in 18;i2 and 
bought a sqnatte-'s claim to a tract of land on sec- 
tion 18, of what is now Honey Point Township, 
and he entered that and some land a.'joining, his 
being (he first or second entry of land in that 
township. After bo had secured the title to his 
land ho returned to Kentucky on horseback, as he 
had come. 

Mr. Corr settled his business in Kentucky, and 
in 1834 removed his family to their future home, 
making the journey with teams. There was a log 
house on the claim that he had bought, and into 
that hiimblr" dwelling the family moved, and he at 
once commenced the hard pioneer task of develop- 
ing a farm from his wild land. The county was 
but thinly inhabited and deer, turkeys and other 
kinds of game abounded. There were no railways 
and the nearest market was at Alton, thirty-live 
miles distant. In 1849 Mr. Corr erected a sawmill 
on Honey Creek and shortly after removed his fam- 
ily to that neighborhood and there dwelt until his 
well-spent life was brought to a close in .laniiary, 
1852, ere old age had come upon him. 

lie was a man of pure and lofty character and 
was t'really beloved in his community, as he was 
untiring in his efforts to benefit his fellow-men and 
to do good. His wife possessed the same kindly 
nature, and among their benevolent deeds was the 
rearing of eight or|)han children. Both were active 
members of the Baptist Church, anil ho was 
Clerk of the Apple Creek Association. lie was 
a well educated man, and though never ordained 
he occasionally preached. He served as Justice of 
the Peace several years, and in that office he was a 
peace-maker indeed, as by his wise arbitration 
many a neighbor's quarrel was settled without 



758 



FORTEAIT AND BlOGEAPIilCAL RECORD. 



litigation. Politically, he was an anti-slavery 
Whig. He serverl his township as School Trustee 
and was one of the County Commissioners when 
the sorond court-liouse was built in this county. 

The parents of the subject of this sketch had 
eleven children of tiieir own. namely: Robert S., 
.James B.. Columbus W'.. William. Frances, Tiiomas 
.Jefferson. Martha Ann, John, Franklin R., Albert 
C. and Milton B.. only three of whom are living — 
.lames. Martha and the subject of this sketch. The 
family was well represented in the army during the 
Civil War. Franklin R. was in Company B. First 
Missouri Cavalry, and nobly sacrificed his life for 
his eonntry, being killed in a cavalry charge at 
.Sugar Creek. Ark.. February- 17, 1862. James 
was a physician and enlisted in Company F, One 
Hundred aud Thirty-third Illinois Infantry, serv- 
ing as Assistant Surgeon of the regiment. Lucian 
C. an adopted son, served in Company C. Four- 
teenth Illinois Infantry, three vears, and in Com- 
pany K. Seventh Illinois Infantry, one year and 
was four times wounded at the V)atlle of .Shiloh. 

Dr. Corr received his early e<lucation in a pio- 
neer school taught in a log house near the line of 
srctions 18 .-ind 10. The building was a primitive 
affair, chinked and daube<;I with mad to keep out 
the cold, and heated by a rude fireplace with an 
earth and stick chimney; it had a puncheon floor, 
seats maile of slabs without back-. There were no 
desks in front of the seats, but a board against the 
wall on the west side of the house answered the 
pur|K)se, as it was placed there for the larger 
scholars to write upon. Above this board there 
were two crooked logs comprising a part of the sidc- 
of the building and placed one above the other in 
such a manner as to leave a large crack to admit 
the light on the desk. When not in school our 
subject assisted in the farm work, bat he was de- 
sirous of completing his education, and in 1861 he 
prepared for three years steady attendance at 
school. He was, however, destined to be disap- 
jjointed in that aspiration, for the war breaking 
out aud his brother nest older than himself enlisting 
in defence of the Union, the care of the farm de- 
volved upon him, and he attended school only a 
part of each year. In 186.3 he entered Blackburn 
Seminary and was a student at the institution one 



year. During the early part of the war lie did 
duty iu a posse of the Deputy Marshal, and in May, 
1S64. enlisted in Company F. One Hundred and 
Thirty-tliird Illinois Infantry, in which he servetl 
four months. 

After this Dr. (.on rcsL'med his duties on the 
farm with his widowetl mother and soon began 
the study of medicine, which he read diligently at 
such times as was |)OSsible amid the farm work. In 
October. 186.5, he entered for a three-years' coarse 
the Chicago Medical College, now the medical de- 
l>artment of tiie Northwestern University, and c-on- 
linued ns a faculty student for two years. During 
the vacation of bis lost year he studied in the office 
of Drs. J. P. Mathews and L. Mathews, of Carlin- 
ville. He was graduatefl March -I, 186H and was 
the first physician in the county who took so ex- 
tended a course as three years in a medical college. 
He was also the first to graduate from a school of 
graded instruction as his Alma Mater was the first 
to establish such a course of instmclion in this 
country. 

Dr. Corr commenced the practice of his profes- 
sion in Chesterfield and remaine<1 there seven years 
before he established himself in Carlinvillp, where 
he has ever since lived. He has always taken an 
r.ctive interest in the development of the efficiency 
of the pr.ictice of medicine in his native county 
and State. He was one of the instigators and char- 
ter members of the .Society of Macoupin County 
for Medical Improvement, which was organized 
September 16, 1873. For a number of years this 
society held its meetings quarterly and during the 
first ten j-ears of its existence the Doctor was 
most of the time acting Secretary. In .-Vpril, 1880, 
he was chosen its President, and in 1883 be wrote 
and contributed to the society its decennial history, 
from which it appears that during those years he 
had not missed a meeling.and had contribute*! moie 
papei-s and topics for discussion anrl deliljeration 
than any other member. 

The population of Macoupin County having in- 
creased to over forty- thousand in 1886, Dr. Corr 
relinquished by public announcement the general 
practice of medicine to which he had so largely 
contributed, in order to devote himself exclusively 
to the development of a more efficient practice in 



( 



PORTRAIT AMD BIOGRAPHJCAL RECORD. 



759 



tiie special rtepartinciit of disease of the ej'e, ear 
and tliroat, a brancli of the practice liereto miieli 
neglected in whole or iu part by til the [jhysicians 
of the county. To prt pare himself for this work 
the Doctor pursued special studies; Qrst by private 
course while in college, and more recently before 
assuming the responsible work, by a course in Man- 
hattan Eye and Ear Infirniarj', New i'ork, and the 
Illinois Eye and Ear Intirraary, Chicago, besides 
special instruction under Dr. A. E. Prince, of 
.lacksonville, and special dissections in the dissect- 
ing rooms of his Alma Mater. 

In his chosen line Dr. Core has already won a 
reputation for skill andsuc^cess. He was the first 
lesident physiciau of Macoupin County- to perform 
the operation for cataract, June 10, 1887 — and de- 
termine errors of refraction, and has performed 
many other minor operations on the eye requiring 
delicacy of touch stead}' nerve, cleai- brain and 
ability on tlie part of the physician. In this wa}- 
he has helped to bring the practice of medicine to 
as high a standard in this county as it is in any 
other part of the State. 

Tiie Doctor was married .-^pril 20, 1865, to Miss 
Lucinda Hall, of whom see sketch on anollier page 
of this volume. They have a pleasant, well-ap 
pointed homo, and iheir many friends are ever 
sure of an hospitable welcome wlienever they cross 
its threshold. The Doctor is a prominent and val- 
ued member of various medical societies. He be- 
longs to the .Society- of Macoupin County for Med- 
ical Improvement, is a member of the Illinois State 
Medical Association, to which he has contributed 
several papers, and of the National Medical Asso- 
ciation. He was the Brst delegate fi-otn the County 
Medical Society to the State Medical Society, and 
the tliird |)liysieian from this county admitted to 
membe!shi|) in tliat organization. Dr. John A. llal- 
derman, one of its charier members, being the Grst, 
and Dr. .1. P. Mathews tlie second. 

The Doctor is of a scientific and mechanical 
type of mind, rather than literary, and is a member 
of tlie Blackburn University .Science Club. He is a 
charier member and Surgeon of Dan Messick Post 
No. 339, G. A. R.. and has prepared a roster of all 
the enlisted men from Macoupin County. He is 
also Secretar}' of the Board of Pension F^xauiiners of 



Montgomery County. A radical Republican, he 
believes iu n.ational and State prohibition and 
practices total abstinence; and also exerts ins in- 
fluence in behalf of universal suffrage. He is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Cliuicli. He 
is indeed an influei'ce for good in !iis community 
and none know him but to honor him. He and his 
wife have acted the (lart of foster parents to sev- 
eral orphan children. 

A lithographic portrait of the Doctor ap|)ears on 
the preceding page of this volume. 



€^-B- 



-*ss 



WILLIA.M E. BURGDOREF, President of 
the Carlinville National Bank, and a mem- 
ber of the firm of Williura F. Burgdorff 
& Bro., dealers in clothing, gentlemen's furnisliing 
goods, also merchant tailors, is one of the leading 
citizens of the county and an able representative 
of its financial and business interesls. He was 
born in the town of Steinbrueck, Hanover, Ger- 
many. March 19, 1846. His father, Carl Burg- 
dorff, grandfather Daniel Burgdorff, and great- 
grandfather, John Henry Burgdorff, were all 
n.^.tives of the same county. The latter was in 
the employ of the Government as a Collector, and 
spent his entire life in his native land. 

His son, Daniel Burgdorff, was a miller by trade, 
and followed that occupation in the old country 
until he came to America. After his arrival in the 
United States he bought a tract of land in Adams 
County, Wis., and <ievoted the remainder of his 
life to farming there until deatli closed his career 
in the fall of 1 8S3 at a ripe age. He was the only 
one of his father's family to come to this country. 

The father of our subject learned the trade of a 
miller, and continued to carry it on in the Father, 
lai.d until 1857, when he sold his mill, as he had 
resolved to emigrate to the New World, and accom- 
panied by his wife and five children he set sail fov 
these shores from Bremen on the 31st of August. 
and landed at New Oi leans on the 7th of the fol- 
lowing November. From there they went to St, 
Louis, stopping there six weeks, and then came to 
Carlinville, arriving here on the ver}- last <iay of 



760 



PORTRAIT AND 1510GRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tlio 3'ear. Mr. Burgdorff soon purchased a lot and 
creeled a dwelling here, and opening a grocer^' 
store, continued that business here some years. 
After that he retired from active business, and 
INIay 31, 1883, departed this life. The maiden 
name of his wife, who is still a resident of Carlin- 
ville, was Johanna Crainm. She was born in the 
same German town that was the birthplace of her 
husband, and is the dnughter of Henry Craram. 
She is the niollier of six children, namely: — 
William F., .lacobina, Lena, Charles H., Minnie 
and Hertlia, the latter of wlioni 'vas boin in Car- 
linville. 

William K. Burgdorff commenced to attend 
school when he -was six years old, and went quite 
regularly until he came to America. He then at- 
tended the public school here, also the German 
school, and advanced bis education by attendance 
at Blackburn University. In the summer season 
he was employed in the duties of the farm. For 
six months he worked at cigar-making when he 
fii'st staried out in life on his own .account, and in 
ISGl entered upon his mercantile career as a clerk 
in a general .store for Boyce & McNeill. Ho was 
tlius enipUiyed for various (inns until 18(57, when 
he began business for liiuiself, opening a clothing 
and gentlemen's furnishing store, which he has 
conducted successfully ever since. On the 1st of 
January, 1877, his brother Cliarles H. became a 
partner, and this connection still tontinnes So 
well have they managed their business it has stead- 
ily increased in size, and March 30, 188',), they 
opened a branch store at Greenfield, 111., which has 
been a success. 

October 22, 1868, Mr. Burgdorff was united in 
marriage with Miss i>ina Lieber. Mrs. Burgdorff 
w.as born February 18, 1847, at Heisfeld, Hesse- 
Cassel, Germany, a daughter of Dr. Alexander 
Lieber, a native of Amsterdam, Holland, his birth 
taking i)lace January 19, 1818. His father, Fred- 
erick Lieber, was born at Regensburg, Germany, 
May 1, 1789, a son of Nicholas Lieber, also born 
at Regensburg, the j'ear of his birth being 1759. 
The father of the latter, great great-grand fether of 
Mrs. Burgdorff, was Joseph Anton Lieber. He was 
a teacher of music, aiid also a Government employe 
in its service, his entire life being passed in his 



native land. His son Nicholas held a position in 
the king's palace, called in German "Hofrath," and 
was also a member of the Reichstag at Regensburg. 
His death took place in 1839. Frederick Lieber 
was a violinist at a theatre at Munich, and later 
tenor in a theatre at Mannheim, Amsterdam and 
Casell. He was at length appointed llofsinger to 
the wife of the Duke of llesse-Cassel. He died in 
18G7 full of j'ears and honors. 

The father of Mrs. Burgdorff received a univer- 
sity education, and was a Doctor of Philosophy at 
the High School at Hesse-Cassel, also Professor of 
Mathematics and Natural History. His death in 
1867 at Hesse-Cassel deprived it of a citizen who 
stood high among the educators of that part of 
(Jermar.y. The maiden nnmc of his wife was 
Mar\ Amanda Ranch. She was born at Nieder- 
rodenbach, Germany. May 17. 1819, and died 
JLarch 6, 185-1. She was a daughter of Metropoli- 
tan Henry Ranch, a minister in the Lutheran 
Church, and holiling a position mneli tlie same as 
I that of [iresiding elder in this country. He spent 
his whole life in the German Fatheiland. 

Mrs. Burgdorff and her sisters, Cornelie and 
Mary, set sail for this country July 9, 1864, on the 
steamer '•Borussia," landed at New York, and 
thence came directly to their aunt in Carlinville. 
The following is the lecord of the birth of the 
four children of Mr. and Mrs. Burgdorff: Hattie 
C. was born July 17. 1869; Amanda J.. December 
13, 1870; Alexander Charles. January 28, 1873; 
and Flora H., June 3, 1875. Both our subject and 
his estimable wife were reared in the Lutlier.in 
Church, and to its tenets are faitiiful adherents. 

Mr. Burgdorff is |)rominently connected with 
varioi'S enterpiises that h.ive advanced the growth 
of the business interests of this city of his adop- 
tion, and he has also borne a conspicuous part in 
tlie administration of its |)ublic affairs. When the 
Carlinville National Bank was organized in Ma}', 
1891', he was elected its President, and his capacity 
fur financial matters and clear judgment have un- 
doubtedly been of great service in establishing it 
on a firm foundation. He has also served as Presi- 
dent of the Carlinville Building and Loan Ass<jcia- 
tion. He has been elected to various iiffices of 
trust, and has attended to the duties thus thrust 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RPX'ORD. 



761 



upon liira with the same close attention and effi- 
ciency that characterizes bis management of iiis 
private husiness. He was a meml)cr <if ttie Board 
of Kdijcalion eiglit years, and for one year was its 
President. He was at one time Ma^^or of the city, 
and lie has also served it as a member of liie City 
Cotuicil. Socially, Mr. Burgdorff is a member of 
Ml. Nel.o Lodge, Xo. 76, A. F. & A. M. Politi- 
cally, he is one of the leading Republicans of this 
section, and has been a delegate to various State 
and county conventions. 



^/RANK M. .SOLOMON, a retired farmer re- 




siding in Palmyra was born on a fp.rm on sec- 
|\ tion 32, North Palmyra Township, .Septem ■ 

ber 6, 18.38. His father, the Hon. Lewis Solomon 
w;is born in Muhlenberg County, Ky., April 1, 1812. 
The family from which he h.as descended is of Welsh 
and English origin and the first !in?^stors in this 
country settled in Maryland and North Carolina. 
Lewis Solomon, the gram! father of our subject, took 
part in the Revolutionary War and was one of the 
gallant Marion's banil which did such good service 
in the (;ampaigns in .South Carolina, striking terror 
into the hearts of the British invaders. Ho was 
married about the year 1798, to Saraii Bowden, a 
daughter of John Bowden. a prominent citizen of 
P'ranklin County, N. C. In 1811 he removed into 
Kentucky and Judge .Solomon, the seventh cluld, 
was born in that .Slate. 

The home of the Solomon family in Muhlenberg 
County, was in a rough and poor strip of counlrj', 
and the father of our subject attended for a few 
months a subscription school kept by a m?n named 
8helton, and this was the only schooling he received 
in Kentucky. In 1825 the family emigrated to Ill- 
inois. n;akiiig a tedious and wearisome journey as 
most of the family came on foot. They had lost 
their financial means by the breaking of a bank and 
when they leached the new home, had no mone}- to 
invest in land. Their first home was made near 
Jacksonville, in Morgan County, and they spent 
tiie winter in a log cabin oart of the floor of which 



was composed of mother eartli. In the spring they 
moved to the head of the Sandy, five miles from 
Jacksonville, and the following year settled in Pal- 
myra Township, Macoupin County. Here Judge 
Solomon's father lived and engaged in fanning un- 
til his death in August ]H4'J. His mother died the 
preceiling February. 

The father of our subject was a bo}' of exceed- 
ingly bright faculties, especially in the line of 
mathematics and made excellent progress in his 
studies, although his opportunities were so poor. 
Besides heljjing his father in carrying on the farm, 
he and hi? brothers were hired out by the month 
and thus aided in raising the necessary money for 
family purposes. The father had to borrow the 
money with which to enter his first eighty acres of 
land, paying for its use the exorliitant interest of 
twenty five per cent. But, by the family industry 
and economy, ail debts were paid and when the 
grandfather of our subject died, he possessed a 
clear title to two hundred and fifty-six acres. Lewis 
the second, was a volunteer in the Black Hawk 
War and saw hard service during his short two 
months' campaign. 

The young man had ?;;36, which he had earned in 
the war and borrowing ^16 more, (for which he 
paid by making rails at forty cents a hundred) he 
entered forty acres of land a quarter of a, mile west 
of the town of Palmyra. He also grubbed land for 
his brotherin-law, who paid him b\- giving him 
one quarter of what he raised on his farm. He also 
chopjied wood at Jacksonville for forty cents a cord 
and boarded himself, and in tlie winter of 1831, 
took a contract to cut five hundred cords of wood 
at fifty cents a cord. Thus were the foundations 
laid for the future success of one of the most prom- 
inent families in Macoupin County. In 1856, 
Nancy Ann Fink, daughter of John Fink of Ken- 
tucky, and one of the early settlers of this township 
became the wife of the sturdy and independent pio- 
neer. She fiecame the mother of our subject, who, 
in honor of the General under whom his grandfather 
had fought, received the name of Francis Marion. 

The subject of our sketch attendeil the pioneer 
schools which were carried (m in the log school 
house with home-made furnishings anil furniture. 
and used (juill pens, as W;is necessary in Mial day. 



r62 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



These were made by the teacher from goose quills, 
and were in no floubt better in many respects than 
some of the steel pens of the present day. Matches 
were then unknown and a flint and steel must be 
brought into requisition to strike a fire. At night 
the fire was buried in the ashes, but in case it went 
out, it was sometimes necessary to go a long distance 
to a neighbors in order to "borrow fire" in shape of 
coals lo start one. From 1860 to 1863 inclu- 
sive, he attended tlie MoKendree College at Leba- 
non after which he taught for three years in INIor- 
gan County. He remained with his parents upon 
llie farm until his niarringe and then settled on a 
farm given hitn by his father on section 5, of North 
Palmyra Township. Here he continued farming 
until 1888, when he came to Palmyra, and has since 
retired from business. Mr. Solomon read law some 
years ago, has practiced in Justice Courts and is 
now finishing his law studies with .1. B. Searcy. 

The marriage of Frank Solomon with Miss" Mar- 
garet Lowrey took place October 31, 1861. Two 
ciiildren, Judson and Rosa, came to bless this home. 
Their mother is a native of the Emerald Isle be- 
ing born in County Down, twelve miles from Bel- 
fast, upon New Year's Day, 1843. Her fatheri 
James Lowrey was born in Ireland, of Scotch par- 
ents. They were Presbyterians and roared their 
children in this faith, and tlie grandfather died in 
County Down. The grandmother came to Amer- 
ica and spent her last years here with licr children 
dying in Piltsburgii, Pa. The fatiier of Mrs. Sol- 
omon was reared and married in County Down an<l 
died there in 1848. His wife's maiden name was 
was Kosanna Potter. She and her parents were na- 
tives of the same county and were of Scotch ances- 
try. She spent her entire life in her native county. 
The mother of Mrs. Solomon came to America in 
1853, with her seven children and settling in Ind- 
ianapolis, resided there for two years and then came 
to Macoupin County, and made her home east of 
\'irden and later at Lick Creek, Sangamon County, 
where her sons bought farms and where she has 
since resided. The names of her children arc Sam- 
uel John, David, Margaret, Flora, Sarah and Jennie. 
Flora married Thomas Jarrett and is a member of 
the Presb^'teriar Church, but the rest of the fam- 
ily except Mrs. Solomon, have connected them- 




selves with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Sarah 
is now the wife of Charles Turpin. Jennie became 
the wife of William Hall. Mrs. Solomon herself is 
a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Solomon 
is a Democrat in his political views and cast his 
first Presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas. He 
is prominently idcntittefi with Palmyra Lodge. No. 
463, A. F. & A. M. 

KV. SAMUEL L. STIVER, A. P... A. M., 
principal and proprietor of the Bunker Hill 
li\\\ Academy and Home School for Boys and 
!Young Men, was born near Potter's Mill, 
Center County, Pa., November 1,1848, and was 
brought up on his father's farm, ui)on which he 
labored some portion of each year until 1880. His 
l):irents, Thomas Jefferson and Mary (Foster) Sliver, 
were descended from hardy Pennsylvania Dutch 
families who came to this country and settled in 
Pk'nsylvania in Colonial days. Both were highly 
respected in the community in which they lived 
for sterling qualities. His father died in 1871 
at the age of seventy, and his mother is stiil living 
(1891) at the same age, in Center Hall near the 
old homestead, vvhicii is still in her possession and 
.wliich affords her a support in her declining days. 
From her early youth she has been a member of 
the Lutheran Church, to whicli her husband united 
himself also before bis death, although he formerly 
preferred and usually worshipped in the Presb}-- 
terian Church. 

The subject of this sketch is the oldest of seven 
sons, one of whom died in infancy, and two 
daughters. Of the daughters, o!ie resides with her 
mother and one is the wife of Dr. Ward, of Belle- 
fonte. Pa. Of the six living sons, one is a jeweler 
at Woodland, Cal., two are physicians, one at Chi- 
cago and the other at Lena; one is Countj' Super- 
intendent at Freeport and one is In business at 
Decatur. 

As a teacher. Prof. Stiver was prepared in the 
])ublic schools of his native place, beginning at the 
age of sixteen, teaching in the winter time, farm- 
ing; in the summer time, and proparinjj; for college 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



763 



in the sj^ring and autumn, cliicfly at the Spring 
Mills and .Jaiksonville Academies. Having ob- 
tained a professional certificate at an early age, he 
determined to go to college and in 1870 entered 
llie Freshman class of Lafayette College, Kaston, 
]'a.. the largest Presb^'terian institution in the 
Stale. In 1874 he was graduated with the highest 
honors in a class numbering about fifty, being 
awarded the Latin Salutatory at Commencement, 
and having carried off during, the latter years of 
the course, the highest prizes in ph3sics, raathe 
matics and astronomy. 

F"or one year thereafter Prof. Stivers was vice- 
principal of the ChambRrsburg Boys' Boarding 
School, where he also studied law in the otlice cf 
Stenger and McKnight. In the autumn of 1875 
he entered upon a theological course of three j'ears 
at Union Theological Seminary, New York, from 
which lie graduatcil with distinction and class 
lienors in 1878. having, during a portion of this 
lime, been vice-principal of Sach's Collegiate Insti- 
tute (a high grade Jewish school), and instructing, 
as private pupils, the sons of some of the most 
distinguished peoj'le of New York. After being 
licensed liy the Presbytery of New York and de- 
clining i-everal calls to Presbyterian Churches in 
that vicinity, for whom he had acted as temporary 
supply, he canae to St. Lonis in the autumn of 
1878 and was acting pastor of the High Street 
Presbyterian Church for one year. Being elected 
lierranncnt pastor he presented himself before the 
Presbytery of St. Louis for ordination and install- 
ation, but was rejected on account of his liberal 
construction of the Westminister Symbols, which 
he proiihesied would be revised and changed within 
ten years from that time — a [iropbeey which has 
been fnlfilleil. In 1879 he was elected and or- 
dained pastor of the Congregational Church of 
Bunker Hill, which position he held for over two 
3'ears until the auUinin of 1881. when he resigned 
and took charge of the Bunker Hill Academy. 

This institution, which luid been founded by the 
citizens of Hunker Hill irrespective of religious 
preferences, in 1859, as a ilay school of high grade 
had, in 1881, almost ceased to exist as a school, 
and Piof. Stiver took charge of it to save it from 
destruction. Taking a lease and a mortgage, he 



expended a considerable sum of money in repair- 
ing and improving the pro|)erty to adapt it to the 
uses of a Home School for Boys. A gymnasium 
and other buildings were erected and military and 
manual training departments were added. For 
ten years Prof. Stivers has labored hard and inces- 
santly and has succeeded in building up a school 
which compares most favorably with the ver3' best 
of its class in the Fast or the West. It grows in 
favor each year, and during its present adminis- 
tration has enrolled hundreds of students from 
Illinois, iVIissouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, 
Indiana and Ohio. It offers superior advantages 
in physical, intellectual, moral and social training, 
for those preparing for any college, for business or 
for teaching. 

As a writer for the press Prof. Stiver's career 
liegan while a boy as an occasional contributor to 
home [lapers. While at college he was editor of a 
suiieib college miscellany for his class; w,as editor- 
in-cliief of the Lafa3'ette Monthly to which he 
contributed poetry and prose for four years, and 
was on the staff of the Kastern Daily Express for 
almost four years, to which he made daily contri- 
butions on educational, ecclesiastical and general 
subjects, large!}" paying his w.ay then, as afterwards, 
b}' his earnings while attending school. In St. 
Lonis he contributed to religious and secular 
papers and controversial subjects, and while in 
Bunker Hill he became one of the founders of the 
Macoupin County Adrance, acting as the first 
editor, and contributing many articles upon politi- 
cal themes to its columns. Since, on account of 
his literaiy instincts and activities, he was honored 
at college with many literary offices and appoint- 
ments, being elected a member of the Delta Kappa 
Epsikni fraternit}', poet of his literary society at 
the annual entertainment on Washington's birth- 
day, class prophet on class day at Commencement 
and orator upon several public occasions. He is 
the author, more recenti}', of a series of systematic 
outlines on arithmetic, grammar, geography, civil 
government, botany and zoology, and of a lr,act 
entitled, "Why Germans should be Prohibitionists" 
which has been translated into German b}' the 
Foreign Department of the W. C. T. U. an<! is dis- 
tributed widely at home and in foreign lands. 



im 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



In politics, liis father was a Democrat, and Prof. I 
Stiver's first vote was oast for Greeley for Presi- 
dent. Since that lime until 1884 he voted with 
the Republicans, but at the latter date became a 
supporter of the Prohibition party and principles, 
lie has never been a partisan either in tlieology or 
liolitics, being by nature and education liberal in 
spirit towards all aspects of truth and duly, as well 
as uncompromisingly opposed to all evil, corrup- 
tion and dishonesty wherever found. Against his 
wishes he has been nominated at various times for j 
important city and Slate offices, and during the 
senatorial contest in the Illinois legislature in 1891, 
he was favorably mentioned by three home papers 
as a suitable couiprouiise candidate for the office 
to which John M. Palmer was elected. 

On December 2G, 1881, he was married to Car- 
melite Winchester, daughter of Dr. Robert J. and 
Cordelia (Dbrsey) ilornsby, of Bunker IliU, 111., ' 
and to them have been born four children — Mary 
Cordelia, Robert Thomas, Kenneth Hornsby, (de- 
ceased) and Gladys Margaiite. Mrs. Stiver is 
deacended from well known Kentucky families. 
Her parents came, during their early married life, 
to Illinois, where her father practiced medicine j 
and engaged in agricultural pursuits. Afterward 
they removed to Missouri, near .St. Louis, where 
Mrs. Stiver was born in 1855. Later her parents 
returned to Gillespie, 111., and finally io Bunker 
Hill, where they have resided for many years. Mrs. 
Sliver was educated in part at various local private 
schools and completed her education at St. Mary's 
School, Kiioxville, 111. Having a fine musical 
eilueation and being of a practical as well as liter- 
ary turn of mind, she lias greatly aided Prof. Stiver 
in founding and building up a superior Home 
School for Boys and Young Men. In all his plans 
and tft'orts she has been a true and faithful help- 
mate, winning testimonials of appreciation and i 
esteem from those who have placed their sons or : 
wards, sometimes at a comparatively early age, 
under the care and tuition of Prof. Sliver and his 
rcmiable and accomplished wife. 

While Piof. Stiver is by nature astudent and by 
profession a teacher, alive to every phase of his 
work, both tlieorelical and practical, yet he is much 
more than this. Cheerful and humorous in dis- ; 



position, a good financier and accountant, a man 

of business capacity and experience, a sagacious 
leader and counselor, an effective speaker from 
pulpit or platform upon almost any theme affecting 
the public good, he takes a lively interest in all that 
relates to human welfare and has a cap.acity for 
rapid and prolonged physical and intellectual effort 
which enables him to master an; thing he under- 
takes. To these qualities and to his undoubted 
integrity, he owes his success ^as a self-educated 
and self-made man. 

-i^m — 

\||OHN KNAPP was born near Tarrytown. 
Westchester County. N. Y., July 26, 1810, 
and died at his home in Bunker Hill, July 
v(^/ Hi, 1890, honored and respected by all who 
knew him. Although he rjever actively' engaged 
ill lmsii;ess after coming to Macoupin Countj' he 
yet became widely known and was one of her 
prominent citizens. 

The family to which Mr. Kna|)p belonged was 
early founded in America. On tiie maternal side 
he IS descended from the French Huguenots who 
were driven by the Catholics from Rochelle, France, 
into Holland, whence a colon}' emigrated to Amer- 
ica. Mr. Knapp, whose name heads this sketch, 
spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his 
native town and when a young man went to New 
York City, where he learned the trade of a car- 
penter with his cousin, M'illiam Cox, a master 
builder of that city. Afterward he ren.oved to 
Tarrytown, where he engaged in contracting' and 
building and in the meantime was married. On 
Cnristmas Daj' of 1833, he was joined in wedlock 
with Miss Rachel Smalley, who was born in Som- 
erset County, N. J., October 13, 1817, and is a 
daughter of David D. Smalley. Her father was a 
native of New Jersey, and belonged to one of the 
earh' families of English descent. 

The grandfather of Mrs. Knapp, David Smalley, 
who was born in New Jersey and there spent his 
entire life, was one of the heroes of the Revolu- 
tionary War and served throughout that struggle. 
Farming was his life occupation. He served as 
County Judge and was numbered among the lead- 






?\ 








PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



767 



ing citizens of the coQimunily in wliicli he made 
liome. Davi<l D. Smalley spent liis boyiiood dajs 
in tiie usual manner of farmer lads and wlien tlie 
War of 1812 broke out offered liis services to his 
coLintiy. He was made Captain and commanded 
his company during a number of important en- 
gagements, deserved .as .Jusiiee of the Peace for 
man}' years. He wedded Miss Mary Blackford, 
daughter of .lolin Blackforil, a prominent eili- 
zen of New Jersey, wiio in the latter part of his 
I ife liecame one of the pioneer settlers of Ohio, 
where he owned largo landed e.'^tatcs. David D. 
Smalley died at the age of forly-six years, and his 
wife spent her last days on the old Smallcj' home- 
stead, which her husband had fallen heir to at his 
father's death. 

On leaving the Kasl, Mr. Knapp emigrated to 
Illinois, settling in Logan County, in 1856. lie 
there followed farming and was ver^- successful in 
his operations, but at length his health failed and 
in May, 1869, he came ro Bunker Hill, where he 
lived a retired life. Howevei-, he still retained 
possession uf a well-improved and valuable farm of 
one hundred and sixty acres in Logan County. 
The competence which he had acquired enabled 
him to spend his last 3'ears in peace and quiet and 
to leave to his wife a good property which amply 
supplies her wants and surroiuids her with many 
comforts. His intelligence and ability fitted Mr. 
Knapp to be a leader and he soon won a promin- 
ent place among his fellow-townsmen of Bun- 
ker Hill. He was one of the stanchest ad- 
vocates of the tempirance cause and upon the tem- 
perance ticket w.as elected Alderman of this city. 
His public and private life were alike above re- 
proacii and he won and retained the confidence, 
good will and high esteem of a large circle of 
friends and acquaintances. His character is best 
expressed in the words of his loving wife wiio hon- 
ored his memory' with the following tribute. 

''His life was pure and gentle 
At |)eace with all n:ankind. 

In God alone he trusted 

And was to his will resigned. 

So i)atient and so peaceful, 

.lust at the close of day. 

Without a pain or struggle. 

His spirit passed awa^." 




Mrs. Knapp still survives her husband and is 
now seventy-three years old but she bears her age 
lightly. She still takes an active part in religious 
work and is a member of the Congregational 
Church. Out of the kindness of her heart she has 
cared for and given a home to twu motherless 
children — Nancy Xnn Tassel, now the widow of 
John W. Boyd and a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y.; 
and Adella, who is yet attending school. Mrs. 
Knapp is well known throughout this community 
and is belot'ed by all. Her life has been well and 
worthily spent, is full of good deeds and in look- 
ing back over the past she need feel no regret for 
opportunities wasted. 



RS. LUCINDA H. CORK, M. 1)., wife of 
A. C. Corr, M. D., with whom she is in 
partnership, occupies a distinguished posi- 
tion among the members of her profession 
in this State, and as a specialist in the treatment of 
diseases of women and girls she lias won a wide 
reputation for her skill and success. She is also 
known as the author of works and papers that are a 
valuable conliibntion to the medical literature of 
the county. As a prominent physician, influential 
author and estimable ladj', we are pleased to 
present her |)orlrait and biography to our read- 
ers. 

Dr. Corr is a native of Carlinville, born March 
9, 1844, and is a daughter of Oliver AV. and De- 
borah Hall, who are represented on another page 
of this volume. She early showed herself to be a 
bright and apt scholar, and at the age of seventeen 
had gained an education in the public schools that 
fitted her to teach. She began her career as a 
teacher at Honey Point, afterward teaching in the 
city schools of Carlinville and other places. She 
was assistant teacher in this city when there were 
but three schools here, with a principal for each 
school. She became a teacher in what was called 
Central Seminary. The building has since been 
burned, and the present commodious brick struct- 
ure occupies its place. 

April 20, 1865, Dr. Corr was married to A. C. 
Corr, who was then a medical stuilent, and is now 



JGS 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



a proininenl physician of this county. She taught 
one year after marriage. In 1869 she commenced 
tlie study of medicine with her husband, who was 
then practicing at Chesterfield. As a further 
preparation for tlie profession, siie entered the 
Women's Medical College, at Chicago, from wiiich 
she was graduateii in 1874, as valedictorian of her 
class, and to her belongs the distinction of being 
the only woman of Macoupin County to this date 
who has graduated from a regular medical col- 
lege. In .September of the same year she opened 
an office in her native city, and was joined by her 
husband in March, 1875, following. 

The Doctor continued in general practice until 
1878. when the demand for her services in speci.il 
lines required her to relinquish an extensive 
practice to give her entire attention to the dis- 
eases of women and girls, and at that lime she 
opened her home to receive invalids. She fur- 
ther prepared herself for her work at Bellcvue 
Hospital and at the DeMilt Dispensary at New 
York City, and has met with success in tiie many 
difficult cases that have come under her care. She 
is the only phj'sician in the county that has 
operated successfully for vesicle calculus, vesico- 
vaginal fistula, trachelorrhaphy and [lerinae-orrha- 

Our subject is a valued member of the Society of 
Macoupin County for Medical Improvement, the 
Illinois State Medical Societ}, and the National 
Medical Association; she was a delegate from 
the State Medical Society to the National Med- 
ical Association at Washingten, in 1884. She 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and is identified with the Illinois Woman's Christ- 
ian Temperance Union as one of its most intelli- 
gent and active workers. She was Su[)erintendent 
of the Healtii Department three years. Dr. Corr 
is a member of tlie tjueen Isabella Association, 
and of its Medical Department. The Doctor's 
writings on medical subjects have brought her into 
prominence. She is the author of a work entitled 
"[lygiene and Heredity, with Anatomy and 
Physiology in Outline Lessons for Blackboard In- 
struction," and of a volume on obstetrics that is 
used as a text book in the college from which she 
was graduated, and is higlily recommendi'd for 



that purpose by her Alma Mater. She has pre- 
sented several papers at the meetings of the Illi- 
nois State Medical Society, that have attracted 
favorable notice for their scientific and literary 
merit. 

In attaining her present high professional stand- 
ing. Dr. Corr had many obstacles to contend 
against, that would have discouraged and embit- 
tered a woman of less firm character and heroic 
mold. The chief of these was the prejudice 
against a woman entering the professions, particu- 
larly ihat of medicine, as it was thought especially 
unfi^ for a lady, and none in this section of the 
State had ever before thought of defying public 
opinion on that point by preparing themselves 
for its arduous duties. Her success has vindi- 
cated her right to choose her own walk in life, 
and has done mu('h to modify the sentiment that 
a woman is unsexed or less womanly because she 
enters a Held of labor that in times past was con- 
sidered man's exclusive dominion, if she attempted 
to practice the healing art in any other capacity 
than that of nurse, or of wife, mother or sister in 
the privacy of home. The value of girls is en- 
hanced in proportion as other women will have 
succeeded, beyond question, in making a living, 
establishing a reputation and achieving eminence 
in avocations professional or business, hitherto de- 
nied them by the prejudices of society or custom. 
To ilo this for women and girls has been the actua- 
ting spirit of the the subject of this sketch. 

We are pleased to be able to append to the 
above the following admirably written character 
sketch from the pens of two warm friends of Dr. 
Lucinda Corr : 

111 personal appearance Dr. Corr is not at all the 
ideal strong-minded woman. Five feet tall, straight 
as an arrow, with plump girlish figure, notwith- 
standing her forty-seven years, with round fair 
face, large deep set blue eyes, overshadowed by 
heavy brows, a full forehead, and a magnificent 
head of nut-brovvn hair four and a half feet long. 

Dr. Corr's mother was a woman of unusual 
strength of character. A Virginian Uy birth, con- 
servative in her views, ineflexible in principle, ex- 
clusive in habit, but symiiathizing deeply with her 
girls in all their efforts towards intellectual ail- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



769 



vancement. From iier the Doctor inlierited lier 
sunny ilispositioii and the courn<re that has enabled 
licr to always stand bravely for her convictions. 

A typical Western woman, Dr. Corr had ad- 
vanced ideas on all subjects, even when a girl in 
years, and like many other girls in Soutliern fami- 
lies, rebelled against the advice of that cloij to 
womanly [)r(jgress. tiie Apostle Paul, and determ- 
ined to know things for herself. Accordingly she 
fitted herself for teaching, ami when only seven- 
teen years old, taught her first country school. It 
was while teaching this school that she first met 
Mr. AlliertC. Corr, and began a friendship that 
ripened into a life long love, and resulted in an al- 
most ideal married life. Dr. Albert C. Corr was 
then a student of medicine and together they rt^ad 
an<l discussed subjects beyond the range of most 
young people. 

The close of the school brought separation to the 
loveis. He went to Chicago to vvin his diploma. 
She home to teacli and study and prepare herself 
for the keeping of the home they two should build. 
The young M. D. came liome, the little house vvas 
furnished and the bright young bride, sotlled down 
to sew on tiie Doctor's buttons, listen to long stories 
from half-sick, often hysterical women, and to make 
II do the work of $5. But in listening to these sad 
stories of sickness anil discouragement the listener's 
tender heart was wrung, and in thinking them 
over, "the times seemed sadly out of joint," was 
there nothing to be done to remedy the evils so 
constantly before her.' Coidd not woman's insight 
and intuition better reach and helplier sisters.' So 
her tlujughts turned to the study of medicine. 

After her graduation she formed a partnership 
wjlli her husband and ojiened an office in iier na- 
tive' town. With characteristic unselfishness, and 
a noble lack of jealousy. Dr. A. C. Corr, her hus- 
ijand, entered into all her plans, and it was his 
sympath3' that upheld her in her work, as step b}' 
step she climbed the ladder of success, bravely and 
heroically, winning her way, until to-day she stands 
triumphant, among the best physicians and sur- 
geons in the State. A radical in medicine, as in 
eveiyihing else, Dr. Corr keeps well abreast of the 
times, and in her house, poor sick humanity can 
find all the modern inventions and iliscoveries for 



its relief, and the skill and courage to use them. 
"Have your plans been successful.'" a friend 
.asked not long .ago when meeting Dr. Corr, after a 
few years absence. 

"Plans," said the Doctor, -'plans, I never had any 
plans. These things just grew upon me. You 
know I love my home and to have my own family 
in it, but the need seemed so great, for a place 
where sick women and children could come for 
treatment, and care, that gradually the house has 
been enlarged and patients have come and we have 
really a hospital without intending it." 

Dr. Corr is an enthusiast in her profession and 
though a delicate woman, has strength and cour- 
age to perform surgical operations, if tin; case de- 
mand, that would try the strength and nerve of 
the strongt'st man. It was not for ease that she 
chose this most laborious of the professions, but r)c- 
cause in her generous sympathetic heart, she 
thought she could do the most good in it; and the 
long list of those whom her care and skill have 
raised from beds of hopeless invalidism to health 
and strength, proves her belief to be well founded. 
In her well -ordered hospital home everything runs 
smoothly under her guiding hands; while her 
Christian faith comforts and upholds "those who 
tarry for the coming of the angel who o|)ens the 
way to the world whose portals vve call death." Her 
cheery smile anil sympathetic words, bring strength 
and courage to those who await the slower coming 
of "one who hath healing in His wings." 

While it is true is the liook says, "A merry 
heart iloetli good like a medicine," it is also true 
thao "lightest hearts have often heaviest mourn- 
ing," but whatever Dr. Corr's personal sorrows 
may be, they are closely locked in her ciwn breast, 
with tlie secrets and sins of her weaker sisters, and 
that she "hath learned of sorrow, sorrow's cure," 
hosts of care-sick, sorrowing women can testify. 
The loving heart that underlies her terse words, 
either quizzical or severe as the case may be, is too 
plainly apparent to allow even the disordered im- 
agination of an invalid to be woundeil therebv. 

Of the tender motherliness that is a strong tr.iit 
in her character, though alas! to her has come no 
mother's crown, but few who know only of her 
busv life as Author and Doctor, would have the 



770 



PORTKAIT AiSlD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



least idea; but the troop of wide-awake neiccs and 
nephews who at different times have found a home 
under her roof can bear most loving witness to her 
maternal love and care. A yountcer sister found a 
mother in her, so also an orphaned girl and boy, 
the children of sti-anpcrs. Both these girls are 
now happy wives and are mothers of children who 
are at once the torment and pride of their little 
foster grandmother. 

Of the ideal home life of the Drs. Corr. how 
shall we speak.' The tender companionship and 
mutual helpfulness that life pursuits have engen- 
dered between them, is as unusual as it is beauti- 
ful. Few men are capable of such living. A grey 
turbaned son of Arabia would call Dr. .\. C. Corr 
'■a brother of girls." A title purer and sweeter 
far than any ihat graced a knight of the round 
table. To an on-looker there would seem to be so 
many and diverging interests in Dr. Corr's home. 
that no one but a general could keep them separate 
and make all run smoothly, but the bright faced 
little woman, who sits at her ease in her rocking 
chair, talking on all sorts of subjects, between of- 
fice calls, has them well in hand and finds lime be 
sides bj' work of tongue or pen to aid the nine 
different societies to which she belongs. .Some arc 
for the further advancement of women, others for 
the elevation of the world at large, but all for the 
bettering of poor humanit\- and .'>ll dear to the 
Doctor's heart. 

This is a tame picture of the first woman doctor 
in JIacoupin County. To the true woman, tender 
wife and faithful friend, this liltie sketch is but a 
feeble offering faintly portraying tiie love and ven- 
eration of her character that fills the hearts of 

FrAKCES p. KlMB.VI.L, 

St. Paul, Minn. 
Virginia D. Peauce, 

Meridian. Miss. 



-v>*- 



"^AYID FKRGl'SON, a retired farmer resid- 
I ))) '"o '" Staunton, was born in County Derry, 
^f^ Ireland, October 31, 1837, and is a son of 
Henry J. Ferguson. The father was also born in 
the same county of Scotch-Irish parentage, his an- 



cestors having emigrated from ScotIan<l to Ireland 
during the religious persecution. He was reared 
in his native county, serving as a farmer and clerk 
and there married Miss Sarah Swan, who, likewise, ■, 
was born in that locality. After three chihlren,^! 
David, Hugh and Sarah, were born of their union, 
Henrj' J. Ferguson emigrated with his family to 
the United States, sailing from Liverpool in the 
latter part of the summer of 1839. In Sepiember 
he reached Philadelphia, Pa., whence he came to 
Alton by way of Cincinnati and the Ohio River, 
and continued across the country to Staunton which 
Wis then a small hamlet. 

The father purchased a partially improved farm 
of fortj- acres, afterwards entered a one hundred 
and twenty-acre tract and by purchase kept adding 
to his possessions until his farm comprised four 
liuiiilriil and thirty acres. He developed the land 
froui its primitive condition, transforming it into 
rich and fertile fields. It was quite low and some- 
what swampy and by his neighbors had been dis- 
carded as worthless, but he introduced the drain- 
ing process and soon had one of the finest farms 
in the county. Ke was everywhere known as an 
honest and upright man. and had a host of warm 
friends who esteemed liiui highl}" for his many ex- 
cellencies of character. A man of strong convic- 
tions, when he believed himself to be right, noth- 
ing could swerve him from his purpose. He was 
a member of the Presb3'terian Church and in poli- 
tics he was a Democrat until the war. when he be- 
came a su|)porter of the Republican part}'. His 
deatli occurred at his home in .Staunton Township, 
January 13. 1883, when nearly eight}' years of age. 
His wife still survives him and is living with her 
her daughter, Mrs. Capt. Burns, in .Staunton Town- 
ship, at the age of eighty-six. She, too, is a Prts- 
bylerian in religious faith. 

With his parents, David Ferguson came to this 
country, and upon his father's farm he resideil un- 
til he had arrived at man's estate. In Hilyard 
Township in 187."i, he wedded Mary J. Dej', who 
was born in .Terseyville, III., .September 23, 1845. 
A Lady of man}' excellencies of character, she is 
highly esteemed for her many acts of kindness and 
deeds of charity. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson 
are members of the Presbvterian Chu-ch with 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



771 



wliii-h tlicy liavc long been iileiitilicd, anct in poli- 
tics lie is :i Pioliiliitioiiist. For many years he lias 
bien a stanch advocate of teni|)ei'ance principles 
and believing that question to Ije of more impor- 
tance than any other issue up before the people, lie 
alliliales with that party which has taken a lirm 
stand in opposition to the licjuor traffic. 

Throughout his business life. Mi'. Ferguson fol- 
lowed farming and succeeded in making one of the 
finest fainis in tliis comraunily. His place had al- 
ways a neat and thrifty appearance, was well 
stocked and sup|)lied with good buildings. He 
made his home there for many jears but at length 
wisiiing to live a retired life, lie came to Staunton, 
in 1884, and has since made his home in this place. 
Occasionally he engages in selling religious books 
by standard authors, but has (jiactieally laid aside 
business cares, having accumulated a sufficient 
competency to keep him through his remaining 
years. For more than half a century, he has re- 
sided in this community, and is nu'idiered among 
its honored pioneers. 

2^, ARL II. I'HLER. The editor of a news- 
paper generally becomes well known in his 
^^' Community, particularly if the sheet he con- 
trols has a special aim and appeals to the people on 
a ground not oecu|)icd by many otiiers. Wiierever 
the paper goes the people .".re interested in knowing 
something of the man who is the ■' power behind 
the throne " and whose mind and character are 
stamped upon its pages. The subject of this bio- 
graphical notice is the editor and publisher of the 
Macoupin County Advance, liie office of which 
is in Bunker Hill. The paper was established in 
August, 1888, and Mr. Uliler assumed his present 
position after the issuance of the first nun. her. It 
is a six-column quarto paper and has a large circu- 
lation in Macoupin, Jersey and Madison Counties. 
It is the only Prohibition organ in .Southwestern 
Illinois, and while dealing with the liquor question 
more particularly, it advocates reforms of all 
kinds and to some extent favors the movement of 
the Farmers Mutual Benefit Association. 'I'he 



Advance office is supplied with machinery and 
type for all kinds of jol) work, and Mr. I'liler is a 
practical printer and pressman, so that he is caji- 
able of sending out first- class work of the various 
kinds that are called for. 

As preliminary to the sketch of his own life, it 
may be well to give some notes regarding the pro- 
genitors of Mr. I'hier. His grandfather was Eras- 
mus Uliler, Jr., who was born in Baltimore, Md., 
in 1786, and carried on a large sugar refinery and 
tannery. He owned a number of slaves. In 1836 
he failed in business and came West, dying at 
RainsviUe, Ind., in F^ebruary, 1852. His wife was 
Catherine Hoffman, vvho was l)orn at Boonesboro. 
Md., in December, 1796, and died at Danville, 111., 
in October, 1856. The father of I-Crasmiis Uhler, 
Jr., was born in Bavaria, Germany, 1751, and died 
in Baltimore in 1814. His family consisted of 
one son and four daughters. 

The son, John G., was born in Baltimore, January 
26, 1824, and h?.d not entered his teens when he 
came West with his father's family. He was soon 
after apprenticed to a cabinet-maker and thoroughly 
learned the trade. In 1854 he removed to Danville, 
this State, and later to North F^ork and Middleport, 
finally settling in Tuscola in 1863. There he made 
his home until his death. May 27, 1884. He was 
at that time a prominent figure in local Republican 
politics and held the office of Chief Patriarch of 
Tuscola filncampment, I. O. O. V., at the time of 
his death, having been a charter member of the 
order in tliat city. The leading architect and 
builder of the city his skill is attested by many 
buildings that stand in that place. 

In May, 1852, John G. Uliler was married at 
RainsviUe, Ind., to Martha C. Murdock, who sur- 
vives him and is now a resident of Oakland, III. 
She WPS born on Wea Plains, Ind., April 27, 1833. 
Her parents were John and Jane (Sterling) Mur- 
dock. The family on tiie paternal side is of 
Scotch extraction and traces its ancestry in direct 
line to Robert II. of Scotland, tiirough whom they 
are connected with the royal family- of Stuarts. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Uhler six children were born, 
three of whom are still living, Carl H. being the 
eldest. Blanche E., five j-ears younger, is a .school 
teacher at Oakland this State, and Clarence H, who 



PORTRAIT ASD BIOGRAPHICAL UKCORD. 



is nine \-ears j'ounger tlian Carl, is editor of the 
Pilot a Republican jcurual at Oakland. 

Carl H. Ubler was born in Danville, this Slate. 
May 1, 1856, but was reared :U Tuscola and edu- 
cated in the public scbools. During his bojiiood 
be worijed with his father and acquired a thorough 
knowledge of carpentry and joining. He .also 
spent several yeai-s in a drug store and passed 
througli various other experiences usual to the life 
of a youth in a small Western town. In 1876 he 
entered the office of the Tuscola Review as 
"devil" and after working there a year found 
employment on the Saturday Journal in the 
same place. He ran the gamut of newspaper work 
and graduated, tyjiograpliically, in 1881. .Soon 
after he engaged with Cyrus A. Cook in the pub- 
lication of a small evening paper at Terre Haute, 
Iiid. 

The venture did not prove successful and in the 
fall of the same j-ear Mr. Ubler was occuping the 
city editor's desk in the office of the Illinois Slate 
Journal at Springiield. In this position ho also 
reported the proceedings of the import^int special 
apportionment session of the legislature in 1882. 
His health broke down nader the strain of seven- 
teen to eighteen hours work a day, and he accepted 
a position as a special correspondent for the Odd 
Felloirs Herald of Springfield, and while acting 
in that capacity visited manj- of the Odd Fellows' 
Lodges of Illinois, among others that at Bunker 
Hill. Mr. Uhler nest assumed the editorship of 
the Independent which be held for a year, afler 
which he bought the Tolono Herald. He bad 
conducted that sheet but a few montiis when he 
was offered a remunerative position on a Cincinnati 
journal and for two 3-ears be was the editor of the 
Cincinnati Furniture Worker, a loading trades 
journal. 

In ti>e fall of 1885 Mr. Uhler returned to this 
State and for a few months was engaged as City 
Editor of the Canvon Reiiister from which he 
resigned in March, 1886, to lease the Monticello 
Bulletin. For a year be conducted that paper 
with marked financial success, but, being unable to 
renew his lease he accepted a position on the Sulli- 
van Neirs which he occupied until the spring of 
1888. He theu obtained a lease of the Macoupin 



Co^mty Advance and in August removed to 
Bunker Hill. He has been more successful in his 
work here than he anticipated. ;;nd is receiving the 
hearty support of the Prohibitionists and that of 
the others who are interested in knowing bow the 
movement progresses and understanding both sides 
of that as well as other questions. Mr. Uhler is 
what might be called a good, all-round newspaper 
man. having had sufficient experience in the differ- 
ent departments to know what is needed, and the 
abilit3- to see that the need is supplied. Li the 
editorial work of the paper he is aided by Prof. 
Stiver, but the responsibility of the busiaess rests 
upou bis own shoulders. 

While living in Cincinnati Mr. Uhler was mar- 
ried to Miss Sarah A. Hall of Sullivan, tliis State. 
She was born atl^dgewood, April 11, 1859, and is 
the daughter of Edwin and Mary (Clarke) Hall, 
both of whom are of English decent but natives 
of New York. The marriage of her parents took 
place October 4. 1854, and their familj- includes 
Eliza, wife of S. F. Balcom, a civil engineer in the 
employ of the Chicago. Cincinnati, Colum- 
bus cfe St. Louis Railroad, located at Mt. 
Carmel; .loseph C. who is engaged in the 
transfer department of the Illinois Central Rail- 
road at Cairo; Sarah A., wife of our subject; Ed 
.T.. clerk of the freiglil department of the Illinois 
Central Railroad at Cairo; Sam B. a jeweler at 
Sullivan. Joseph C. is the only married son. Mr. 
Hall w.as boru at Burnt Hills. Saratoga County, N. 
Y.. October 10, 1830. and his father was Dr. Jos- 
eph Hall. His present homo is in Sullivan this 
Stat<>. His wife died at Sullivan June 14, 1888. 
Her father was Joshua Clarke, a leading architect of 
Cohoes, N. Y. The Clarkes have been a well- 
known family in Westerly, now Richmond, R. I., 
since the death of their earliest recorded ancestor, 
Samuel Clarke, in 1680. 

Mrs. Uhler was educated mainly in Sullivan and 
is a graduate of the High School. She is a woman 
of bright mind, pleasing address and Christian 
character, her membership being in the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. To her and her husband two 
children have been born Marj- E. at Sullivan. Ma}' 
16, lS86,3nd Clarke Murdock at Bunker Hill. Jan- 
uary 19, 1891. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGKAFHICAL RECORD. 



773 



Mr. IMiIcr is not an offlccseekinfr politician, but 
is an earnost adlieronl of the Prolubilion party 
nn(1 an aident workei- in its interest. 'J'liai he is 
cntorprisini; and alive to the |)rospeets of tlie day 
is proved by the way in which ho carries on his 
l)usines3. 



-^^■' 



^^!^UY A. SNKLL, a well-known and success- 
'|[ g-, ful farmer of Honey Point Township, where 
^^jij he owns a large and valuable farm, was born 
in that part of Greene County which is now in- 
cluded in Jersey County, 111.. March 14, 1839, 
coming of good old Revolutionary and New Eng- 
land stock. His father. Dr. Asa Snell, was a native 
of Addison County, Vt., and a son of Solomon 
Sncll, wlio did gallant service in the ranks of the 
Continental army during the Revolution. He was 
pvesent at the capture of Uurgoyne, and a pewter 
platter taken from the British General's table at 
that time, was one of the tropliies that he secured 
and kept until his death. It is still preserved by 
Fair Association in Jersey County. The old sol- 
dier was a farmer by occupation, and his last days 
were passed among the green hills of Vermont. 

Dr. Asa Snail was reared and educated in his na- 
tive State. He early turned his attention to the 
study of medicine, and graduated from the Medi- 
cal Department of the Castleton Mcilical College. 
Until 1834 he |)racticed at (.Quaker Village, near 
Weybridgc, Vt., and then in company with a Mr. 
AVhitford he came to Illinois, making the journey 
with a pair of horses and a wagon. He selected a 
suitable location in that ])art of Greene County 
now included in Jersey County, and then married 
and established a home a little while after that 
event, having lived for a time with his father-in- 
law. He purchased one hundred acres of land two 
milea from Jerseyville, on which stood a log cabin 
in which he took up his residence, and lived there 
with his family for some years. 

The Doctor devoted his time to his profession, 
became well-known for his skill and success in con- 
tending with diseases i)revalent in a newly settled 
country, and in the course of years acquired a large 
practice. In the early days of his settlement there 



were but few roads in the countrj', carriages were 
almost unheard of, and his trips were made on 
horsel)ack. After a long and active life he passed 
away January 21, 1875, at the ripe age of seventy- 
eight years and six months. 

The mother of our subject, who still resides on 
the old homestead at a venerable age, bore the 
maiden name of Priscilla Landon. She reared 
twelve children. She is a native of Addison Coun- 
ty, Vt., and a daughter of Horace Landon. Her 
father brought his family from their early New Eng- 
land home to the Prairie State in September, 1835. 
He purchased a tract of land two miles from Jer- 
seyville, a few acres of which were improved, and 
a log cabin was standing on the place. Mr. Landon 
resided there nearly twenty years and then sold 
the farm, and bought another near Jerseyville, on 
which he made his borne the remainder of his life. 
His wife was Drusilla Ham. She died on the home 
farm in 1864. 

Guy A. Snell was carefully reared in his native 
county, and remembers well the incidents of pio- 
neer life. He received his early education in a rude 
log house that was furnished in a most primitive 
fashion. When still quite young he began to assist 
on the farm, and remained an inmate of the pa- 
rental home until his marriage in 1863. The fol- 
lowing year he came to Macoupin County and 
located on a tract of land in Polk Township owned 
by his father. After five years' residence there be 
purchased his present farm on section 4, Honey 
Point Township. At the lime of his purchase it 
compiised two hundred acres, which he has placed 
under a high state of cultivation, and he has 
erected a good class of farm buildings, and has 
made all the modern improvements necessary to a 
well-conducted farm. From time to time he has 
bought other land, and is now the owner of four 
hundred and sixty acres of land, part of which is 
in Honey Point Township, and the remainder in 
Shaw's Point Township. 

May 27, 18G3. was the date of an important 
event in the life of our subject, as he was then 
married to Miss Abbie Voorhes, a native of Jersey 
County, and a daughter of Peter P. and Maria 
(Kirby) Voorhes. Her parents were natives of 
New Jersey, and were pioneers of Jersey County. 



774 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPIIICAL RECORD. 



Of their marriage four children iiave hern born to 
our subject and his wife, namely : Hugli, whore- 
sides in Litchfield; Myron W.. a student of Bush- 
uel! College; Truman A., and Reba M., who are at | 
borae with their parents. For many years Mr. 
Snell was a Republican in his political views, but 
of late years iie has identified himself with the 
Democratic part}-. In his religious opinions be is 
very liberal, giving his support to all enterprises 
having in view the uplifting of the peo|)le and the I 
good of the community. He possesses a keen, well- 
balanced mind, and excellent business qualities, is 
always fair in all his dealings and is in every way 
worthy of the respect accorded him as one of our 
best citizens. 

- "I ' S ' ln * ! ' " " 




EUBEN K. BARNP:s. a general farmer and 



^'^ \M Hill Township, hns sin(;e his fifteenth year 
\'fS, lived on his present homeslead. He is a 
representative of one of the early families of the 
coramunit}'. His birth occurred in the county of 
Hillsboro. N. H., June20, 1838, and lie is descended 
from an early and respected New England familv. 
His paternal grandfather, William Barnes, was a 
a Hillsburo farmer and married Abigail Parker. 
After her d^ath he was again married, his second 
wife surviving him for some time. Her death 
occuired in Lowell, Mass. 

Throughout his entire life Mr. Barnes made 
Hillsboro County his home and died at the age of 
seventy years in Greenfield. Nathan Barnes was 
one of a family of six children, numbering five 
sons and a daughter, and he too was a native of- 
Hillsboro County. On attaining to manhood he 
married Snrah E. Evans, who was born and reared 
in Hillsboro Count}', and was a daugliter of Asa|)h 
and Sarah Evans, who spent their entire lives in 
the old Granite .State. .After the birth of llieir 
ten children they started Westward and in Septem- 
ber, 1851, reached Macoupin County, HI., loc.Ttiug 
on the farm now occupied by our subject. With 
characteristic energy Nathan Barnes began the 
development of his laud and soon iiad a good home 



where be lived until called to his final rest. Novem- 
ber 22, 1870, at the age of sixty-nine years. His 
wife who is still living at the age of eighty-five 
years, makes her home with her sou Reuben. She 
is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church as 
was her husband. In politics he was a supporter 
of Re|)ublican principles. The Barnes family 
comes of English parentage. 

Since bis boyhood Reuben Barnes has lived upon 
his present farm. He began bis school life in New 
Hampshire Sind completed his education in the dis- 
trict schools of this county, which he attended 
during the winter season, when his services were 
not needed at Ixjme. As a helpmate on life's 
journey he chose Miss Pauline A. Gohring, the 
wedding ceremony being performed in Bunker 
Hill Township, November 2-t. 1859, by the Rev. 
George Silver. The lady was born in Saxony, 
Germany, September 30, 1838, and is a daughter 
of John C. and Erncsta V. (PloLtner) Gohring, 
who were also natives of Saxony, where they were 
born, reared and married and began their domestic 
life on a homestead which had l)een in the family 
for two hundred years. 

Tlie wife died in the Fatherland when Mrs. 
Barnes was only seven years of age, after which 
Mr. Gohring with liis two (laughters, his only 
children, crossed the Atlantic to America in 1848. 
The vessel in which they saMed after many weeks 
arrived at the port of New Orleans, and thence 
they came up the Mississippi River to St. Louis 
and on to Madison County, where the father pur- 
chased a farm of fine hundred acres. Afterward 
he bought land in Macoupin County. His death 
occurred at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Barnes, 
on the 7th of November, 1890, at the age of four- 
score years. He was a weaver by trade and fol- 
lowed that pursuit in his native land, but made 
farming his occupation in his American home. In 
religious belief he was an Evangelical Lutheran. 

After coming to this country, Mrs. Barnes worked 
in several German American families and by study, 
observation and experience became an intelligent, 
cultured, yet practical woman. She still retains a 
good knowledge of her native tongue, being able 
to both read and write the langu.age. To her hus- 
band she has provcil a true helpmate and her able 
















;^4 




RESIDENCE OF R . K. B ARN E5 , 5EC.2 E. BUNK ER H 1 LL TR, M ACOUPl N CO., ILL. 




RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM H E AL , SEC. 5. , BUN KER H I LL TR , M ACOU PI h^ CO, ILL. 










RESIDENCE OF W. S. HART WICK, SEC. 19., BIRD TP., MACOUPIN CO., ILL 



rORTUAlT AND HIOURAJ'HICAL RECORD. 



assistance lias added nut a little to tlieir prosperity. 
Both M'\ and Mrs. Harnes are nienilicrs of the 
Baptist Church and in politics lie is a stalwart 
Republican. Their family numhers six children, 
five of whom arc yet livinsi: John 51., a farmer of 
liunUcr Hill Townshii), married Miss Lilly Dike; 
Kugene A., who wedded Ada Drew, is living; in 
Bunker Hill; W. Frank, who giaduated from the 
^^ ashington I'niversily and ManualTraining School 
of .St. Louis, Mo., in 18f<.5, is now employed as a 
teacher of drawing in that institution. He mar- 
ried Miss Lul.i I'hilbrook of Kau Claire, Wis.: 
L\(lia .\. and Albert N., who complete the family- 
are still at lioine. 

The farm which .Mr. Barnes now owns and oper- 
ates comprises one hundred and eighty acres of 
valuable land, situ;ito<l just west of Bunker Hill. 
It is Well improved and highly cultivated and is 
stocked with a high grade of milch cows fo' dairy 
purposes. He docs an extensive business as a dairy- 
man, supplying the St. Louis market with milk. In 
his business operations he lias been very successful 
and is now numbered among the substantial farm- 
ers of the township. On ;.uotlier page of this 
volume appears a view of his comfortable home. 



<^ I^ILLIAM HEAL, a thrifty and practical 
\ / stock-raiser and a prosperous farmer resides 
y Y on section 5, Bunker Hill Township. His 
farm consists of one hnndred and sixty acres, all 
excellent land and higlily improved with a fine set 
of good, substantial farm buildings. Mr. Heal came 
to this count}" a poor man in 1SG8 and began work 
as a laborer, saving his money and by careful 
economy was able in !874 to purchase the farm 
upon which he now resides and a view of which 
accompanies this biographical notice. 

Mr. Heal, subject of this sketch, is a native of 
Somersetshire, England. His n.-ital day was Jan- 
uarj' 17, 1848. He comes of an old family of that 
shire, of pure English stock. His father, Joseph, 
was an English farmer and lived and died in his na- 
tive shire, reaching the tige of sixty-four years. 
His wife bore the maiden name of Mar\' Lockj'er, 



was born and speni her life in the same locality as 
her husband. She died at the age of sixty years. 
Both of these worthy people were identified with 
the Baptist Church. 

I The suliject of this sketch is the lifth child in a 
family of six sons and four daughters, all of whom 
are yet living, and all have established families of 
their own. William and a l)rolher (ieorge arc the 
oul3' ones in this country. Oeorge is a farmer, 
occu|ning one of his b;ollier's farms in this town- 
ship. William was educated and reared in his native 
home anil was tweni,}- years old when he undertook 
independent work. He decided to come to the 

1 New World and was the first of the family to make 
this decision. lie look passage at Liverpool on the 
vessel ''City of Baltimore" anil landed in Xew Yoik 
City, February 11, 1868. His face was turned 
Westward and he was not willing to make a hiuie 
in the East so he came directly 'o Illinois aiid set- 
tled in this county, where lie has since accumulated 
a competency by his own efforts. 

The lady who became the wife of Mr. Heal bore 
the maiden name of Mary E. Lockyer. She was 
born in Macoupin County, this State, in 1852 and 
here was reared and educated. Her parents, Rich- 
ard and Emma (Barnstable) Lockyer, W'cre natives 
of Somersetshire, England, and after their marriage 
came at once to America in 1844. After landing 
in Xew York City, they came directly to the West 
and in.'Mle tlieir home in Macouijin County where 
they began life as American farmers. The father 
dieil in the prime of life before his daughter, now 
Mrs. Heal, was born. The mother, Mrs. Lockyer, 
was a second time man led and became Mrs. Henry 
Baker. Mr. Baker, who is an Englishman and a 
successful farmer, is now living in Brighton Town 
shi)). this county, at an advanced age. His wife 
died when fifty-eight years old in the year 188.'). 
They were both earnest and conscientious members 
of the Congregational Church. 

Mrs. Heal was reared by her mother and step- 
father. She is the niotlier of six children, C)uc of 
whom is deceased. Those who are living are Henry 
J., who is attending the Western Normal College at 
Bushnell; George E., Elizabeth I)., Walter W.,and 
Charles Edgar are all at home. The paients are earii- 
estand consistent members of the Congregational 



n 



778 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Church of Wood burn, where Mr. Heal is a Trustee. 
Thej' are rearing their cliildren in the faith and 
practice of that church. Our subject is a stanch 
and sound Republican in iiis political viens; a man 
of n>ble bearing, high-minded and honorable and 
commands the respect and admiration of all who 
know him. 



ylLLIAM S. HARTWICK. a hard-working 
and skillful farmer of Bin) Township, is 
pleasantly located on section 19. He has 
one hundred and eighty-two acres of land which is 
under excellent tillage and is supplied with a full 
line of substantial farm buildings and such other 
improvements as betit the estate of a man of good 
judgment. A view of his pleasant homestead will 
lie found ou another page. He has always been 
engaged in agricultural pursuits and has been lo- 
cated on his present estate since February-, 1882. 
Prior to that time he lived in .Terse}' County, 
where he was born June 28, 1850. His educational 
opportunities, although limited to the district 
school, were good, and he grew to manhood in pos- 
session of a goodly amount of practical knowledge 
and information ou various topics. He left the 
parental home in his twenty- first year to establish 
a fireside of his own. 

The parents of Mr. Hartwick were James and 
Eliza (Skillman) Hartwick, natives of New Jersey. 
They were reared and married in their native 
State and came thence to Illinois many years ago. 
Their first home in the Prairie State was in Jersej- 
County, but they removed to Macoupin County 
and finally made their home in Chesterfield Town- 
ship. ]\Ir. Hartwick died in Jersej' County while 
absent from home on business, the date of his de- 
cease being December 28, 1883. He had attained 
to the good old age of seventy-two years. The 
mother who makes her home in Greene County is 
now (1891) eighty-one years obi. Williara S. is the 
sixth in a family of seven children. 

That interesting and momentous event — the 
marriage of William Hartwick and Mar}- M.Cox — 
occurred December 29, 1870, at the bride's home 



in Jersey County. She is a daughter of John and 
Rebecca (Sinclair) C-'X, now deceased, and her 
father was a farmer. She was born in Missouri 
March 12. 1852. To her and her husband two 
chil'iren have come, v/ho are named respectively 
Edwin and James. The}- .adopted a little girl. 
Mar}- E., when only seven months old and she is 
now a bright child of eight summers. Our sub- 
ject and his family are members of the Baptist 
Church in Bird Township. Mr. Hartwick exercises 
the right of suffrage in behalf of Democratic can- 
didates. He and his wife are held in high cstcerii, 
as people of intelligence and kindliness, and they 
have many warm friends. 

EV. GEORGE SANDERS. One by one ihe 
pioneers of this county are passing to their 

. \V final rest. Few now remain of those who 
*^@) opened the iialhway for advancing civiliza- 
tion, turned the first furrows in the primitive sod, 
and made an uncultivated section of country -'blos- 
som as the rose." There recently passed from the 
scenes of earth one of these honored [lioneers, whose 
name is Indissolubly associated with the progress 
of Macoupin County and whose memory will be 
cherished in the hearts of generations to come. We 
are pleased to present to our readers a brief biogra- 
phical review of the Rev. Mr. .Sanders, who died 
July 30, 1891. 

The last years of his life were passed retired in 
Bunker Hdl, wlnther he removed in 1882. His 
residence in the county dates from 1844. and he 
was therefore a witness of many changes in the ap- 
pearance of the country. Thriving towns now- oc- 
cupy the pleasant valleys, and where was once wild 
woodland may now be seen rich estates and com- 
fortable homes. Mr. Sanders was born In Devon- 
shire, England, eiglity miles north of London, 
April 21, 1805, and w.as one of nine children, whose 
parents, Edward and iVIary (Ford) Sanders, were 
born, reared, married and died in Enghun). The 
father was a miller by trade and followed that oe- 
enpation until his death, which occurred at the age 
of sixty }earsaiu! was caused by being thrown from 



PURTRAll A-ND liJOGRAPUlCAL RECORD. 



77;» 



a horse. His wife survived liim and died at llio age 
of Sfcventy-nvo years. Thej- were both members of 
the Church of England. 

In his native land. fJeorgc Sanders grew t'o man- 
liood and during his youth became connected witli 
the Queen's Palace, remaining in the direct employ 
of her Majesty for some sixteen years, during wiiich 
time he sewed in the Yeoman's Cavalry and fre- 
quentl}' came in contact with the Queen. He later 
engaged in the milling business which he followed 
until ]f41. when he determined to make a home in 
the 2sew World and set sail for America, taijing 
passage on a vessel commanded by Capt. Taylor. 
After a voyage of twenty -nine dnys he lauded in 
New York City, where for four years he was em- 
ployed in a potash manufactory. On the expira- 
tion of that time be came to Illinois and ever after 
ward made his home in Bunker Hill Township. 
He has led a bnsy and useful life and one which in 
many respects was worth)' of emulation. Wliile in 
England he was licensed to preach in 1834, in the 
local churches and after coming to the United 
.'states was again licensed on the 3d of August. 1841. 
He was a generous giver to the Methodist Church, 
the religion of his faith, and by example as well as 
precept led many to a knowledge of the truth. 
AVliile in London in 1886, he visited the headquar- 
ters of Gen. Booth, whom he heard preach and 
whom he regarded as one of the noblest and most 
consecrated men. 

In England. Rev. Mr. J^auders w;is joined in wed- 
lock with Miss Elizabeth Paw. who was born and 
reared in the same shire with her husband. To- 
gether they emigrated to America and her death oc- 
curre<l in Bunker Hill in 1852. at the age of fort) - 
two years. She was the mother of nine children,three 
of whom are now deceased — William. Maria and 
Marj- A. .all of whom were married and left families. 
Thomas, who wedded Sarah Nailer, is living in 
Bunker Hill: Edward, a prominent farmer of Litch- 
field, marriesl Louisa Carter; Sarah is the wife of 
Leon Wilder, who served throughout the late War 
and afterward became a policeman of Denver,Colo., 
where he died and was buried with many honors; 
Amelia, widow of Thomas Bird, is also living in 
Deliver; Stephen, who wedded Ida Brown, is en- 
gaged in gold mining in Colorado; Sophia is the 



widow of Dr. O. O. Slimson. a native of Vermont, 
who graduated from Ann Arbor I'uivei-sily and 
later from the Wisconsin Dental College. He was 
for years a leading dental surgeon of Bunker Hill, 
where he died in 1885. His remains.wcre interred 
with all the honoi-s of the Masonic lodge. He was 
also a member of the United Workmen Lodge of 
Bunker Hill. He had a large and lucrative prac- 
tice and won a host of friends whose warm symp.a- 
tliy was extended to his widow in her bereavement. 
The father spent the last two yeai-s of his life with 
his daughter. Mrs. Stimson, where he died, July 30, 
1891. 

Mr. .Sanders for manv years followed farming 
in this count)' and as the result of his industry, 
thrift and enterprise lie ncquired a handsome com- 
petence which enabled him to live ti retired life. 
Fair dealing characterized his entire business career 
and he lived a life which won him the warm resfard 
of all with whom he came in contact. 



■>N!^- 



AMES F. NIFONG. Among the influential 
and public spirited men residing in North 
Palmyra Township, we are pleased to call 
the attention of our readers to liie gentleman 
whose name appears at the head of this sketch. His 
father, Jacob Nifoug, was of .Southern birth, being 
born in either Virginia or North Carolina, while 
the mother. Letcy Simms. was a native of either 
Tennessee or Kentucky. Their marriage took place 
in Madison County. Mo., in October. 1825. and they 
emigrated thence to Illinois and settled upon section 
7. North Palmyra Township, in the year 1828, 
where Jacob Nifong died February 2. 1844. 

The mother of James Nifong was married a sec- 
tion time to James Patton, ol Sangamon County, 
111., where she died in 1856. The parents of our 
subject Had nine children, only three of whom lived 
to years of maturity. James was born in Madison 
County. Mo.. August 14. 1828. He grew to man- 
hood in North Palmyra Township, which has al- 
wa) s been his home with the exception of seven 
years, when he lived in Palmyra village, being en- 
gaged ill the mercantile business in company with 



rso 



rORTRAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



D. N. Solomon under tbe firm name of Solomon ife 
Nifong. Tliese two gentleman plaited the \ illago 
of Palmyra and gave il its name. 

Whi'ii Mr. Nifong was a young man be learned the 
wagon-maker's trade of his father and worked at it 
one year in Waveily. III. He also took up c-arpen 
try, although agriculture has been his chief pursuit 
through life. The first marriage of our subject oc- 
curred January 9. 1849. in South Palmyra Town- 
ship. He was then united with Miss Zilpha A. 
Solomon, a daughter of Henr^- and Elizabeth 
( Prowse) Solomon. This lady was born in Mor- 
gan County, III., October 28, 1829, and became the 
mother of nine children, three now deceased. The 
surviving ones are as follows: Jennie who is now 
the wife of John J. Wright, of Virden; Lewallyn 
J. who died when nearly twenty- -eight years old ; 
William A. married Ella Rhorer who is now de- 
ceased : Henry F. took to wife Ida JIalone; Allison 
II.. whose wife bore the maiden name of Mabel 
Baker; Leroy M., married Millie Fletcher and 
Chirence O., who is still at home. These children 
have all grown up to be an honor and delight to 
their father who finds in their beautiful affection 
and upright lives a cheer and comfort in his de 
dining daj-s. Their mother passed from earth iu 
P:',lm\-ra Township. September 1 1, 1886. 

The second marriage of our subject took place 
in Scottville Township, July 17, 1889, his bride 
being Lydia A. Coons, daughter of Joseph and 
Sophia (McCoUough) Coons, who was born in 
Scottville Township, Macoupin County, June 28, 
1850. Mr. Nifong is the owner of two hundred 
and forty rich and productive acres in North Pal- 
myra Township and upon this farm are to be found 
as comfortable and commodious buildings .as may 
be seen in the township. He owned at one time 
some eight hundred acres but has given away the 
mobl of his land to his children. His wealth has 
been aceunuilated through his own energy, enter- 
prise and industry, as he began life by working 
out l)y the month, part of the time for the wages 
of s6 and ?9 per month. His first farm was a rented 
one and his economy and industr3' have brought to 
him the fine property which he h.as owned. He 
was the first Township Clerk in North Palmyra 
Township after its organization and has acted as 



Trustee and School Treasurer. He is decidedly 
independent in his politics but is greatly- inelined 
to aid all efforts in the line of prohibition. The 
Church oi Christ is the religious body with which 
Mr. Nifong and his excellent wife are connected. 
Me takes a deep interest in the welfare of the farm- 
ing community and is a prominent member of the 
Grange, with which he h.is been connected for 
twenty years and to which lie looks for help for the 
farmers both socially and intellectually. 

S=T>REDEK1CK R. RIFFEY. The owner of the 
jl-H^ farm located on section 22, North Otter 
/l^ Townsliip. is the gentleman whose name 
ap]>ears above. He is a A'irgiiiian by birth and 
education. His father was James Riffey and prob- 
ably was born in Roanoke County, Va. His 
mother's maiden name was Anna Rhodes, |)robably 
a native of Augusta County, also Virginia. The 
father died in the county in which he w,as born, 
where they both made their home until the time 
of their death, although the mother passed aw.ay 
in Macoupin County, III., while on a visit to her 
daughter — Mrs. Elizabeth II. Brubaker. 

Our subject is one of eiijht childien, he being 
the fourth of the family. He was liorn in Roan- 
oke County, Va., October 8, 1849, where he re- 
mained until he had attained manhood. His mar- 
riage took place in the same county in which he 
was born and brought up and January 26, 18G9, 
he w.as united for better or worse to Miss Martha 
E. Swartz, who was also a native of Virginia, her 
birthplace being in Botetourt County, and her 
advent into the world being on September 21. 
1850. 

Mrs. Riffey's parents were Christian and Cather- 
ine (Click) Swartz. The motlier's decease occurred 
in Roanoke County, Va. Mr. and Mrs. Riffey had 
eight children — John W , Josiah C, James H., 
Rosa E., Frederick L., Gertie B., Melissa A. and 
Perley C. Gertie died in infancy. Mrs. Martha 
E. Riffey passed aw.ay from this life May 7, 1886, 
in North Otter Township and was laid away in 
God's acre, her spirit passing to the better world. 



POinilAir AND BIOGRAFIIJCAL RECORD. 



781 



lie was ngaiii iiiarriud in \Vaync Couiily, Oliio, 
April i:), \sm, to Miss Mary K. p:siieliiian, a 
(laugliter of .Jacob and Anna (iiarsiiman) Kslicl- 
inaii. Tlie f'H'incr was born in Pennsylvania and 
Uie luollier in Ohio. Mr. Eshelnian died in W.ayne 
County, Ohio. They had seven cliildien, of wJKjin 
Mrs. Giffe^' was the fourlh. She was born :n Wayne 
Coniily, Ohio, Mareh 1, ISoH. They have an in- 
fant nnnatned. 

He of whom we write has always been engaged 
in farming and agricullnral pursuits; he owns sev- 
enty-three acres of land and has very good im- 
provements on his farm. Mr. Kiffey is a .lackson- 
ian Deuiocrat in politics and b((th husband and 
wife are members of the Cerman Ba|)tist Church. 
They taUe a deep inlere.-t in the Sunday school 
work and indeed in all religious matters. 

-— ^ -^^ -^— 




ALMON TFTTLE HOl'SON, a pioneer 
dairyman of Illinois, residing on his well- 
appointed farm on section 34, Girard 
I'ownship, is dairying on alarge and lucra- 
tive business in his line. He is a brigiit, energetic 
and progressive man, who is well informed on all 
subjects of |)ublic import and general interest, 
keeps well abreast of the times, and is in all respects 
an honor to the citizenship of this county, wheie 
he has made his home for more than a quarter of 
a century. 

Mr. Ilopson was born in Salisbury Center, Her- 
kimer County, N.Y., November 17,1824. His father, 
James Hopson, was born in Wallingford, Conn., 
in 1778. The grandfather of our subject, Abrarus 
Hopson, was also a native of that New England 
State. He went from there to New York, and was 
one of the early settlers of Herkimer County, 
where he secured a ti'act of timber land on what is 
known as "Mar^- Johnson's Tract." A little inci- 
dent concerning that land may be related here. One 
time an Indian chief visited Governor Johnson at 
his home in Albany, and told that gentleman that 
he had had a dream. The Governor asked him 
what it was. The Chief replied that he had 
dreamed that the Governor was to give him a cer- 



tain fine horse with all its trappings that had 
caught the savage's fancy. After a few minutes 
thought the Governor, as if very reluctantlj-, said, 
"If you have had such a dream I must give you 
the horse, though I regret very much to do so." 
adding, "you must not dream any moi-e." On his 
next visit the Governor remarked to the Chief, "I 
have had a dream." The Indian askeil him what 
it was. He answered that it was to the pur|)ort that 
the Indian was to give liim all the land lying be- 
tween the two streams known as East and West 
Canada creeks. The Indian seemed amazed. Hut 
after thinking a few minutes said. "I must give vou 
the land, but don't dream any more." 

There were no railways or canals in New York 
when Abrarus Ilopson settled in Herkimer Count3', 
nor for several years afterward, and all produce 
had to be carried to Albany to market, a distance 
of si.vty nine miles. After many years of hard 
labor he cleared a good farm, but fiiiall}' lost it 
through a defective title. He, however, secured 
another tract close by, and resided tlicre(m until 
death closed his mortal career. 

The father of our subject learned tiie trades of 
a shoemaker and tanner in his youth, and carried 
them on in connection with farming a number of 
years. He then turned his attention to mercantile 
pursuits in Salisbury Center, and contributed to 
advance its business interests and material pros- 
perity, until his demise in 18C8. He married in 
early manhood, taking .as h.is wife Lucy Tuttle, a 
native of Wallingford, Conn. She died at Salis- 
bury Center in 1842, at the age of fifty-four years. 

Salmon T. Hopson was reared in his native town 
and was carefully trained in all that goes to make 
a good man and a loyal citizen. He was only six- 
teen years of age when he left his early home and 
went out into the world to seek fortune's favors, 
with no other capital than a sound physique, good 
principles, and a mind well balanced. He first 
went to Ohio, and was employed at the trade of a 
cooper in that State the two years ensuing. We 
ne.xt hear of him in Maryland, where he gave his 
time to teaching school until 1847. In that year 
he made his way to this county, and for two years 
rented a farm in Chesterfield Townshi|). From 
there he went to Bird Township, where he estab- 



782 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lisbefl a dai.v farm. There being no railways there 
for a time after he settled there, lie drew all his 
products to St. Louis lo market. Six years after 
locating in Bird Township, he removed to Jersey- 
ville, where he engaged in the mercantile busi- 
ness. 

Mr. Hopson was successful as a merchant, but 
he still retained his taste for the dairy business, 
and in 1862 he purchased the farm that he now 
owns and occupies in Girard Township. This wiis 
well adapted to dair3' purposes, and formerly well 
stocked witli good grades of sleek, well-kept cattle, 
his lierd being among the best dairy cows in this 
section. He carries ou an extensive and well reg- 
ulated business, shipping a large quantity of milk 
to St. Louis, where he has established a first-class 
retail trade, his shipping bills on the railway 
amounting to upward of $700 a year. In the fail 
of 1890. he shi|)ped his stock for the St. Louis 
trade to that city, wiiere he has built up a business 
computed to be worth $25,000. 

Mr. Hopson has been twice married. In 1 85.i 
he was wedded to Miss Susanna R. Cundell, a n.a- 
tive of this county, and a daughter of John R. and 
Mary A. Cundel', who were natives of England and 
early settlers of Macoupin County. Mrs. Hopson 
departed this life after a happy marriage of ten 
years duration, October 2, 1865, leaving thrive 
children — Mamie. John J. and Carrie. .Mr. Hop- 
son was married in October, 1866, to Klizabetli 
Vanarsdale, a native of Somerville. this county, 
and a daughter of William H. and Margaret 
G. (Carson) Vanarsdale. Seven children have 
blessed the felicitious union of our subject and 
his present wife, namel}- : Katie, Bartie, By- 
ron, Charlie, Cora, Herbie, and Lotta. Mr. Hop- 
sou's daughter Mamie, is the wife of Alvin Van- 
natta, of St. Louis; Carrie is the wife of James 
Rice, a merchant of Champaign County; and Katie 
married Daniel Bell, of .St. Louis. 

Our subject has always been a great reader and stu - 
dent of economic questions, and is widelj- anil prom- 
inently known as a leader in the movements that 
have resulted in the establishment of the Grange, 
of the Farmers' Alliance and Farmers' Mutual Ben- 
efit Association, being one of the principal organ- 
izers and lecturers of the various societies. He is 



a forcible and ready speaker, never at a loss for 
words, and seems to possess an unending fund of 
information on whatsoever topic is under discus- 
sion. As an instance of his wit and aptness in re- 
pl}', we will relate a little conversation that took 
place between him and Senator Palmer, while he 
w.as riding one day with that gentleman, during 
the hitler's campaig.i for the governorship. As is 
well known the General is as fond of a joke as any- 
body, and he asked Mr. Hopson to tell him hon- 
estly what proportion of water he put into his 
milk. Our subject replied that lie would tell him 
confidentially, that it was in the same proportion 
that he (the General) watered his speeches, ami 
tliat at times both were very thin, whereat the ex- 
governor was highly amused, although the joke 
had been turned hack on himself. 

Mr. Hopson was in early life a Whig, and cast 
his first vote for President for Gen. Scott. In 
1860 he gave strong support to Stephen A. Doug- 
las in his candidac}' for the Presidential chair, and 
since then has worked wilii the Democrats, being 
one of the most earnest and intelligent supporters 
of his party in this part of the State. As a lecturer 
and organizer of the various societies mentioned 
he has had opportunity for an extended acquaint- 
ance with public men, who recognize his worth and 
ability', and unite with his fellowtownsmen in ac- 
cording liim the respect due to his merits. 




EORGE B. WAY. The prosperous farmers 
., of Virden Township have been the prime 



factors in the development of that portion 
of Macoupin County. Their industry and enter- 
prise have added weightilj- to the commercial value 
of the landed property, not only their own but all 
in that section. Their persevering efforts to in- 
crease the market facilities of that portion of the 
county, have added greatly to the possibilities of 
success for their more struggling neighbors, and 
we can heartily congratulate such men as Mr. Way 
on having done good work not onl3' for himself 
but also for the county. 

The father of our subject was Uriah B. Way, 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



783 



who was born in Madison Countj', N. Y., and liis 
raotlier, a native of tlie same county, was Fanny 
McHride. Tliey married and settled in their na- 
tive home hut somewhat later removed to Genesee 
County in that Slate, which became the lastearthlj' 
home of the mother. After his bereavement the 
fatlier removed to Illinois, and in 1855 settled in 
Fullon County, but afterward made his honie in 
MeI)onou<(li County, where he died. 

The subject of this sketcli was the first born of 
his parents and is the eldest in tiieir family of five 
children, being born October 25. 1832, in Madison 
County, N. Y. Most of his earl}' j'ears were passed 
in his native Stale, and he was a young man before 
the family emigrated to the West. He came to 
Illinois with his father in 1855, and it was in Ful- 
ton County that he found the woman whom he 
made his wife. Her maiden name was Lavina 
Nelson and she was born in Ohio. 

After marriage the young couple removed to 
Jersey County and here Mr. ^Vay taught school 
for four winters, after which he engaged in farm- 
ing and continued his residence in that county 
until 1871 when he removed to Macoupin County, 
settling in Mrden Townsiiip, which has since been 
his happy home. Farming has been his chief bus- 
iness in life, and he now owns two hundred and 
forty acres of land upon which he had erected 
buildings of more than ordinary value and attrac- 
tiveness. Everything upon tiie farm shows the 
hsnd of a practical and systematic farmer and the 
prosperity of Mr. Way is the direct result of his 
own energy and enterprise. 

Two chililren blessed the union of George and 
Lavina Waj' to whom were given the names of 
William and Fannie. Their mother was taken 
away by death while the family home was in Jer- 
sey County, in 1861. Mr. Way's second marriage 
took place in that count}' in November, 186-3, his 
bride l)eing Miss Louisa A. Beeman. They are the 
parents of eiglit children, Georgeora, who is now 
the wife of Alvin Ferguson; Gloster. who raarricc! 
Miss Libb}- Arnold; Edgar; Eftie; Evart and Earl; 
Mary died when sixteen months old and I^hcl P. 
died at the age of one year. The mother of these 
children w.as called from this earthly life to her 
heavenly home in June, 1881. Mr. Way is a man 



who takes quite an active part in political affairs 
and is an earnest advocate of the doctrines and 
policy of the Republican party. 



♦^^ 



^ 




ILTON McCLL'RE, United States Com- 
missioner for the Soutliern District of Ill- 
inois, is a well known resident of Carlin- 
ville. He was but an infant when he came 
to this State with his parents and he has no recol- 
lection of other than his adopted home, with the 
interests of which he lias been prominently identi- 
fied for many years. As a farmer, business man 
ami official, he has acted well his part, and while 
advancing his private interests has been useful to 
society by setting a good example and faithfully 
discharging the <Iuties which devolved upon him. 
He is not at present actively engaged in any busi- 
ness but is looking after bis private interests and 
discharging the duties of his office. 

Although a native of Kentucky, Mr. McClure is 
descended from an old Virginia family and his 
ancestors were men of education and merit. His 
grandfather, the Rev. Allen McClure, united with 
the Presbyterian Church and wlien a young man 
became a minister in that denomination. He re- 
moved from his native State to Kentucky in an 
early day .and was one of the original members of 
the first .Synod of the Presbyterian Church organized 
in the Blue Grass State. As a pioneer preacher at 
Paris, Bourbon County, he did a noble work in that 
section. His son James, father of our subject, was 
born in Augusta Count}', Va.,and was quite young 
when the family removetl to Kentucky. He was 
educated for the ministr}- but did not choose to 
follow that profession, preferring a mercantile life. 
He was married in Jessamine County to Frances 
Dickerson, a native of that county and the daugh- 
ter of Martin and Rebecca Dickerson. Some years 
later he removed to Shelbyville, Tenn.. and en- 
gaged in mercantile pursuits there with branch 
stores in other places. He was unfortunate, lost his 
property, and about 1828 returned to Kentucky, 
remaning in Jessamine County until 1834. 

.Mr. McClure then came to this State, traveling 



7«4 



POKTRAIT AISD BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



via tlie Kiiiuii.k3 aiul Mississippi Rivers to Col- 
umbiana, Greene County. He made liis home in 
Carrolilon a year, then joined llie pioneers of this 
i^Dunty, entering Government land in Carlinville 
Township. He took up a claim of one hundred 
and twenty acres on which he built a double log 
house. Mis children improved the land and he re- 
sided upon it until after the death of his wife, 
which occurred in 1844. The same year he was 
appointed Clerk in the Land Oflicc at AVashington, 
D. C. by President Polk, was reappointed by 
President Taylor and continued in the office until 
his death, in 1849. In an early day he w.as Asses- 
sor of this county and in the discharge of his 
duties visited every famiiy, and in 1840 he took 
the count}' census. His family- consisted of six 
sons and six daughters. 

Milton McClure was born in Nicholnsville, Jess- 
amine County, Ky. in 1832. During his infancy 
his parents came hither and as soon as he was 
strong enough he began to ,'>ssist on the farm. He 
made the best of the limited opportunities offered 
for securing an education, attending school in the 
primitive school-house built of logs, witli puncheon 
floor and seats and heated by a fireplace. The 
first school he attended was taught by his father. 
Text-books were almost unknown nud the primer or 
spelling book was handed down in the family and 
made to do service for various members. Writing 
was done with a quill pen at a desk around the 
wall. When fourteen jears old ^-oung McClure 
entered school in Carlinville and after studying 
there two years became a student at Sluutleff Col- 
lege in Upper Alton. He carried on his work 
there three j-ears aad thus gained so much informa- 
tion that the faculty gave him a recommendation 
as a competent teacher. He did not, however, 
adopt the profession but became a clerk in the 
drug store of his brother-in-law, Dr. L. J. V.'oods, 
and when his clerical duties would permit, studied 
medicine. 

A year was thus spent and then Mr. McClure 
became a dry-goods clerk and continued to act in 
that capacity until 1856, when he was elected Sher- 
iff of this count}". He served two years, then he- 
came a merchant and a dealer in live stock. He 
was thus occupied until 1863 and from that time 



until 1889 carried on a drug business. He then 
sold out in order to enjoy more leisure. He has 
never lost his interest in agricultural affairs and 
now owns a valuable farm of four iuin<lred and 
eighty acres. He was appointed L'nited States 
Commissioner by President Johnson in I860 and 
has served continuousi}'. 

In 1854 Mr. McClure was married to Martha K. 
Xeale, a native of Springfield, this State, and a 
daughter of Gen. Thomas M. Neale. ^f r. and Mrs. 
McClure have two children — James A. and Harriet 
B. The latter married Tiionias Mellersh and their 
home is in San Francisco. Mr. McClure is a 
Democrat and in 1872 was a delegate to the Nation- 
al Democratic Convention at Baltimore. He has 
been a member of the village Board of Trustees 
anti was Justice of the Peace about twelve years. 
In f.ict he has held some office almost from his 
majority. In 1872 he assisted in organizing the 
Firet National Bank of Carlinville and was elected 
Vice-President and later President; in May. 1890, 
he aided in organizing the Carlinville National 
Bank and was elected Director. It will be seen 
that Mr. McClure is influential anil active in pro- 
moling the various interests of the community, 
and it is needless to say that he is regarded with re- 
spect and good will. In 1880 he was elected a 
member of the State Board of Equalization. 



RED G. STORZ, one of the retired merch- 
sy ants of Girard. is a good model of a truly 
/Is ^ self-made man who has by his unaided ef- 
forts gained a genuine success as a business man. 
This gentleman had few advantages or opportuni- 
ties for self-improvement in youth and but little 
capital with which to begin mercantile business, 
but bv push, pluck and perseverance he has gained 
a handsome property and a comfortable compet- 
ency upon which he can retire from the active pur ■ 
suits of life and enjoy the comforts of his beauti- 
ful home. 

Our subject was born in the village of Benningen 
in the province of Wurteinberg. Gepnany, his na- 
tal day being September 22, 1851. His father, 
Freiderick Storz, a native of the same province, 



POIITRAIT AND BlUliRAFHICAL RECORD. 



rso 



was a fiuraer and spent his entire life in liis native 
land, filing in 187."i. Tlic maiden name of the 
mother of our subject was Ann Marie Sehober. 
Her nativity was the same as the father's, and she 
preceded him to the other world, |)assing avvay in 
181)5. To tills worthy couple were horn six bright 
and promising children, all of whom they hroiight 
up and educated, making of them men and women 
worthy of t'.ieir excellent parentage. They are by 
name Freiderick, IMichael, Ann Marie, Kail, And- 
reas, and our subject. 

Fred (i. Storz is the only member of the family' 
who has ever made his home in Auieiica. Ills 
elementary education waj, carefully [iromoted and 
his school life lasted until he was ftuirteen years 
old. He then set himself to learning the trade of 
a baker at Liidwigsburg and after serving for three 
yeais, he then (as the law requires) pursued his 
trade for several years, carrying it on, however, in 
a number of different [jlaees. He worked for one 
year jit Heidelberg and then returiu'il to I.udwigs- 
burg and followed his trade until 1872. 

The passion for oniigr;ition h.ad now taken pos- 
session of the \'oung man and he decided to trans- 
fer his interests to the New World. He therefore 
l)oar(h'd the steamer •■Neckar" of the tTerman 
Lloyd Line, in .luiie, 1872, and landing in Balti- 
more, July G, at once came to Illinois, spending 
some time in Springfield. lie visited friends for a 
short lime and then being attracted to Virden, 
came here and carried on his trade for two years 
and then coming to Giraid carried on work here 
for about nine raoiilhs on another line, after which 
he decided to open up a bakery and a few months 
later took a partner and 0[)eped a restaurant in 
connection with the bakery. 

'ITiis partnership lasted for about five years at 
the end of which time Mr. Storz bought out the 
interest of the other man and continued in business 
until December, 1889. He then retired from act- 
ive work with tlie exception of looking after his 
ill vestments and his priv.ate business. He has ac- 
cumulated a handgcrae property including a beauti- 
ful residence which is built in a modern style of 
architecture, elegantly (inished and handsomely 
furnished. 

'1 he lady who presides with so much grace and 



dignity over this charming home bore the maiden 
name of Lena Schelb. She was born in Carlsriihe, 
the [irovince of Baden, Germany, and came to 
America when she was eight years of age. Her na- 
tal day was .lanuary G. 186(1, and she is a daughter 
of Wilhelm and Christiana Schelb. She became 
the wife of Mr. Storz, December 16,1879. Two 
children have come to share the affection and par- 
ental solicitude of this worthy couple: Albert W., 
born October 29, 1880, and Mabel C, January 6, 
1885. Mr. and Mrs. Storz arc earnest and active 
members of tiie Evangelical Lutheran Church and 
this gentleman is a prominent memoer of the 
Knights of Pythias and also of Loilge, No. 192, I. 
O. O. F. .atGir.aid. 



-?a^^ 




AMUEL r. SANNER is justly considered 
one of the best farmers in the county, and 
the passing stranger least acquainted witli 
the merits of farm lands, will decide that 
his pro()crty is one of the best in Bunker Hill 
Tt)wnsliip. His fann consists of one hundred and 
sixty acres on section 6, and eighty acres adjoining 
it. located on scctfon 1. Brighton Township. The 
land has been highly developed and Srst-class 
buildings have been put up, while the fences are 
neat and sulistantial, the orchards well trimmed 
and every portion of the place subject to careful 
and orderly control. The proi)erty was bought by 
Mr. Sanner in 1862, and luas been brought by him 
to its present condition. 

Mr. Sanner comes of the old Pennsylvania- 
Dutch stock that has done so much to advance the 
agricultural interests of the nation. His grand- 
father, Jacob iSanncr, married Sarah Hannah, and 
both died in Pennsi'lvania, where they had spent 
long and industrious lives. Grandfather Sanner 
was a soldier in the War of 1812. He and his 
wife belonged to the Presbyterian Church. Their 
son Samuel was born in Northumberland County, 
and grew to manhood there. He m.arried Barbara 
Paul, who was born in Virginia and was of C^erman 
ancestors. 

After the birth of three children Mr. find Mrs. 



786 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Sanner came lo this State, traveling overland and 
making their settlement in Madison County in 
1833. They secured land from the Government, 
and bravely took up the round of duties and pri- 
vations incidental to pioneer life. After some time 
they removed to Shelby County, settling on a farm 
in Penn Township, where the husband died at the 
ripe age of seventy-seven years. He was very 
prominent among the old settlers, was Justice of 
the Peace and held other offices, and was generally 
respected. He was a Republican from the organi- 
zation of the party. He belonged to the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and his widow is connected with 
that religious body. Altiiougb eighty-two years old, 
she is still quite active ; her home is now in Decatur. 

The family of the good couple just mentioned 
consisted of twelve children, seven of whom are 
now living, and all on farms but one. The son of 
whom we write was born in Moro Toivnsliip. Madi- 
son County, February 25, I83G, and grew up in 
that locality. He was married there to Margaret 
Calvin, a native of the same county, who was born 
in Omphghent Township November 13, 1837. Her 
l)arents, Philip and .lane (Clarke) Calvin, were born 
in Pennsylvania, and did no*, leave that State until 
they were grown. They were married in Law- 
renceburg, Ind., and soon afterward came to this 
State. They spent a few montlis in liureau 
County, then secured and improved a fine farm in 
Madison County. Mr. Calvin died when about 
sixty ye-irs old, and his widow lived to be four- 
score. Thej' were members of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church. 

Under the careful training of her parents Mrs. 
Sanner was fitted for the position slie was to hold 
as wife, mother and member of society. Her mar- 
riage to our subject has been blessed to them by 
the birth of nine children, and they have been 
called upon to part with a daughter and a son. 
Lucy died when sixteen, and Samuel C. when eight 
months old. The living members of the family 
arc: Frank, whos(^ home is at Lincoln 111.; Anna, 
wife of Hev. .1. G. Miller, a Cumberland Presby- 
terian minister in Sandy Lake, Pa.; and Sophie, 
Nellie, Harr^-, Otto and Julia, who arc yet at 
home. 

Mr. anil Mrs. Sanner are among the most prom- 



inent people in their part of the county. Both 
are genial, kind-hearted and generous, liberal to 
their neighbors, and open-hearted even to the pass- 
ing stranger. Their acquaintances have learned to 
love and respect them for their hospitality, tiuift 
and intelligence, and they exert a wide intluence 
throughout the community. Mr. Sanner votes a 
straight Republican ticket. 



^ 



E^ 



HENRY BAIKR. The name that heads 
this sketch is that of an extensive German- 
American farmer and stock-raiser, who is 
(^/y one of the large land owners and wealthy 
men of Dorchester Township. The place wliereon 
he lives is one of the finest farms in the southern 
part of this county, his homestead embracing four 
hundred and eight}- acres of fine land, 'most of 
which is under a high stale of cultivation, and 
all well slocked with a high grade of cattle and 
swine. 

Our subject has built upon his place a series of 
farm buildings that compare favorably with an}- in 
the county, and the farm as a whole is so thor- 
oughly well kept up as to excite the admiration 
and comment of all who see it. He is also the 
owner of other valuable property in the couniy, 
aggregating about sixteen hundred .acres, most of 
wbicii is in this township, but some being located 
in Gillespie Township. The greater part of his 
land is under the plow, or is devoted to stock- 
raising. AViien Mr. Bauer made his purciiase the 
major part of this land was raw prairie. He first 
began clearing the homestead in 1853. It was 
originallj^ perfect}}' unbroken and wild, the town- 
ship being very sparsely settled and surrounded 
with wild, unbroken land. It speaks well for the 
energy of the landowners, and also for the oppor- 
tunities to be found in the States that our subject 
came here a very poor man and has ama.ssed the 
fortune which be possesses to-diiy, by his own ef- 
forts alone and unaided. 

The original of our sketch first came to this State 
in 1848, and luns ever since lived in this county 
with the exception of a few months passed in 



PORTRAIT AND BIOCfRAPHICAL RECORD. 



787 



Madison County. He c.Tine hero directly from 
Gerrayny, Saxe- Altenburg lieing liis birili|)lace. 
His nat.ll day was November 28, 1825. IMi'. Bauer's 
parents were Charles V. and Maria (Gcering) 
Bauer, both natives of .S.ixc-Altenl)urg. Soon 
after the coming of our subject to this country, 
his parents followed him, and in a short time Ihey 
with their three living children settled in Miicou- 
pin County. The following year the father and 
mother both passed away, being victims of an epi- 
demic which prevailed at the time. The}' were re- 
spectively sixty and fifty years of age, and during 
their lives had been conscientious and consistent 
members of the Lutheran Church. Our subject 
and Mrs. Christina Huraann are the onlv members 
of the family of four children now living. 

The subject of this sketch grow to maidiood in 
his native land. He was the eldest of the children 
and had just reached his majority when he left 
Germany, sailing from Bremen in August, 1848. 
He came hither on a sailer, and after sixty-three 
•lays landed in New Orleans, and came thence up 
the river to St. Louis, Mo. From there ho wont to 
Madi.son County, and later came here. 

In Bunker Hill Township Mr. Bauer encountered 
his fate in the shape of a 3'oung lady, whoso na.ne 
was Anna Ehlers. She was born in Holstein, Ger- 
many, November H. 1833, and was the daughter 
of .loakim and Magdalena (Nicholas) Ehlei's, both 
natives of Holstein. She c:ime to this country 
with the family in 1851, leaving Hamburg in the 
fall, and reaching St. Louis, Mo., in .lanuriry. 18.52. 
They settled at Bunker Hill, and there the parents 
lived and died, both having attained an age of 
three-score years. They were members of the Lu- 
theran Church. Our subject's wife, Mrs. Bauer, is 
Dne of eight children, five of whom arc yet living. 
She was the eldest of her mother's children and 
fvas a young woman when they emigrated from 
Lheir native land to America 

Mr. and Mrs. Bauer are the parents of eight chil- 
iren, two of whom are deceased, Albert E. and 
Marie. The former died after his marri.age in 
[California, leaving a widow and two children. 
Marie died at the birth of her first child in Tipton, 
Mo., after her marriage with Esquire Redman, 
riie living children are Matilda. Henrv IL, Fiaiik- 



lin E., Otto F. and Bertha L. Matilda is the wife 
of Charles F. Weidner, a farmer in Brighton 
Townshii); Henry took to wife Frances Weidner; 
they are residing on a farm in Gillespie Township. 
The younger children are still attendants at school, 
being students in the State Iniversity at Cham- 
paign. Mr. Bauer has given his children all the 
educational advantages that money could procuie, 
a, id they have received the best finishing courses 
in St. Louis. 

Our subject and his wife were reared in the Lu- 
theran Church, but at present hold to no creed. 
The gentleman takes a lively interest in local |>oli- 
tics. He has been elected Supervisor, which posi- 
tion he has held for some years, and has also 
satisfactorily discharged the duties of several other 
offices. He casts his vote with the Republican 
party. Mr. Bauer is a fine illustration of the better 
German element, who come to this country to 
bnild up a fortune in agricultural pursuits. Both 
he and his wife are kind, hospitable and intelligent 
people, and their children are bright and highly 
educated. 



l^-* RS. ELIZABETH C. O'NEAL. The ex- 
cellent lady who forms the subject of this 




^ sketch is one of the most highly valued 
members of society in North Palmyra 
Township. She is a woman of more than ordi- 
nary e.xccutive ability and is successfully conduct- 
ing the affairs of lu-r f.nrm of three hundred and 
twenty acres, which is in a high state of cultiva- 
tion and carries upon it good improvements. Her 
father, Matthias Crum, and her mother, Margaret 
(Si)angler) Crum, were born in AMrginia and Ken- 
tucky respectively. After marriage they came to 
Illinois in an early day, and lived in Morgan 
County until their death. They liao fifteen chil- 
dren, of whom Mrs. O'Neal was one of the younger 
members, and they brought up these children to 
be industrious and economical and to do their 
duty as citizens and members of society. 

Elizabeth Crum was born in Clarke County. 
Ind., .January 13. 181.5. .She came to Morgan 



788 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



County, 111., in her girlhood an'I was there mar- i 
ried Septembers. 1836. to Lewis L. O'XeaL son 
of Lewis and N.incy O'Neal. Lewis L. was born 
in Bourbon County, Ivy., August 27, 1810. After I 
marriage the young eoui)le settled in Morgan 
County, which they made their home unlil the 
spring of 1837, when they came to North Palmyra 
Township and settled on section 34. where lie died 
March 23, 18,i4. 

Mrs. O'Neal is the mother of six cliildren: I 
Matthias, who died in North Palmyra Towiislii|) :it 
the age of forty-six years; ^arah. who is the 
wife of Robert Tucker: Mary M.. who is Ihc wife 
of John C. Gibbs, of whom the render will find a 
sketch in this Recoiu>: Jane E., who is now the 
wife of Willinm C. Terry, to whom she was united 
in marriage June 12. 1888. Florence and Lewis, , 
who died in infancy. Matthias was ni;iriied to 
Miss Emma R. Wiley and died August 22. 1S83, 
leaving two children — Lewis IL and Rollo M. 
Since the death of Mr. O'Neal his wiilow h:»s car- 
ried on the affairs of the homestead, and after edu- 
cating her children and starting them out. in llic 
world, she devoted her energies to conduetiiig the 
business of the farm, in which she h« been emi- 
nently successful. 



^^Nf^ 



'il7 ITCIAN C. M. CLOWER. The owner of 

the farm located. •' ection 33, Shipman 

^ Township, is he whose name is at the licad 



of this sketch, lie w.as born in New Jersey, De- 
cember 6, 1830. and when quite young he accom- 
panied his parents to Ohio, wliere lie lived until he 
was twenty years of age. Du.-ing this time he 
remained on a farm, receiving a practical training 
in agricultural [)ursiiits. His early opportunities 
in an educitional w.iy were those of country boys 
in Ohio, which has a reputation for its district 
schools. 

In 1850 Mr. C'lower came to Jersey County and 
lived there nearly three j-ears. Thence he removed 
to Sangamon County where lie sojourned unlil the 
spring of 1861, the date of his remov.il to Macou- 
pin County'. Settling in the township where he at 



present resides, he has .'•emained here almost con- 
tinuousU^ since the lime of bis advent. 

Our subject was married in Shipman Township. 
April 18, 1854, to Miss Ann Tompkins, who was a 
native of New Jersey. Mr. Clower and his amia- 
ble wife are the parents of seven children, who are: 
George, William. Eva, John, Edward, Annie and 
Edna. The eldest son was married early in life to 
Miss Fannie Ro.idy: William chose as his wife 
Ella Deahl; Eva is the wife of Charles Hills; John 
married Miss Phebe Hnckelbridge. Edward mar- 
ried Lillian Wilton, of Medorn. The children arc 
all bright and interesting, being potent factors in 
the township as men arid women of energy and 
intelligence. 

Oui subject has alw.ays followed the calling of 
agriculture having made a decided success therein. 
He has erected a good set of buildings on his fnrm 
and the improvements placed upon it speak well 
for the man. did we not know anything else iW his 
favor. He h.as now two hundred and forty acres. 
He has been elected to the ollice of School Trustee, 
wiiich position he has filled for some time to the 
s:ilisf:iclion of his constituents and the honor of the 
district. The platform of the Reiniblican p'lrty is 
the one ilint appeals most strenuoiish" to Jlr. 
('lower's sense of the intelligent government of a 
great land. Both he and his wife are members of 
the Hiptist Church, of which they ire generous 
supporters. 

The parents of Mr. Clower were William and Re- 
becca (Howell) Clower. natives of New Jersey. 
The father died April 4, 18;t|, having reached' the 
.advance<l age of cight^'-nine years. The mother 
died in Christian Count}-, thia Slate. Mrs. Lucian 
Clower's father was William Tompkins, a native 
of Morris Couiitv, N. J., and her paternal grand- 
father was Natl. miel Tompkins, also a native of 
New Jersey, who passed aivay from ihis life in 
Shipman County in May, 1860. Her mother was 
Rebecca Vaughn, born in Mercer County, N. J., 
January 1 4.1814, and the danghler of John \"auglin, 
who died in Shipman Township in February, 1861. 
Mrs. Clower belongs to a family the members of 
which lived to almost a patriarchal .ige. Her father 
died in Shipman Township, January 28. IS'.IO. Her 
mother otill survives at an advanced age. Mrs. 




RESIDENCE OF 1. N. JOHNSTON, 5EC.7.,NURTH OTTER TP,MAC0UP1N C0.,1lL. 




)is.Ji£jyG-4^(HC£.,<S£Q~2^ ,,,, . ..^^^;^jai.;-<i|-fa;jf,;i-fjff^' ;,-,;:,u^,.;.::--.-; , . 



RESIDENCE OF L. CM. GLOWER, 5EC. 33., 5H1PMAN TP., MACOUPIN CO., ILL. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



791 



Clowcr's ninternal grandmother was Nancy Garri- 
son, who was of Knglish ancestry and passed away 
from tliis life in the Stale of New .Icrsey. Her 
[jatornal grandmother was Nancy Bedford. Mr. 
Clowsr's maternal grandmotlier was Lear Swim. 

Elsewhere in this volume appears a view of the 
eozry rural abode where Mr. and Mrs. Clower are 
comfortably domiciled. 



\I]SAAC N. JOHNSTON. Tliroughoul all this 
section of Illinois, wo find many families who 
/1\ are of Southern birtli, but wlxjse ancestors in 
the last generation came nortli to And for their 
children better educational advantages, and to 
make their home in a free State, where they would 
not be under the blight of slavery. Isaac B. John- 
ston, the father of our subject, was born in Ken- 
tucky and came to Macoupin County about the 
year 1835 from Madison County, this Stale, where 
he had previously resided for a short time, lie 
settled in North Palmyra Township, where he met 
and married Elizabeth Berry, their wedding day 
being January 25, 1843. This lady, the raotlier of 
our subject, was the second wife of Isaac Johnston, 
his first wife being Elizalicth King, who had died 
in North Palmyra Townshi|), May 2, 1842. The 
family home remained in North Palmyra Town- 
slii|) until about the year 1851, when they removed 
to Noitli Otter Township, and settled on section 16, 
where the father died April 20, 1856. The mother 
.•jurvivi'd until December 31, 1887, when she was 
called to her lieavenly home at Edgar, Neb. 

Tlie union of this worthy couple was blest l)y 
the birth of eight children, of whom our subject is 
the eldest, and he was born in North Palmyra 
Townslii[), February 5, 1844. He spent his cliild- 
liood days in his native townshi|) uj) to the age of 
seven years, when his parents came to North Olter 
Township. Here he grew to manhood upon his 
father's farm, which is now owned by his brother- 
in-law, Willian) M. Dreiinan. 

When our country's flag was assailed, Mr. .lohn- 
ston was one of those who felt that he lind a per- 



sonal call to go to its defense. He thoroughly en- 
dorsed the Government in its efforts to put down 
the rebellion and to enforce the necessity for a 
union of States and gladly welcomed an opportunity 
of enforcing his belief upon the battlefield. He 
therefore enlisted August 10, 1862, in Company 
D., One Hundred Twenty-second Illinois Infantry 
and served faithfully until August 5, 1865, when 
he was discharged at Springfield. HI. He took 
part in the engagements at Parker's Cross Roads, 
Tupelo, Miss., the siege and capture of Ft. Blake- 
ley, Ala., and Nashville, Tcnn., December 16 and 
17, 1864. Upon the return of peace he came home 
to North Otter Township, and there resumed farm- 
ing, in which he has been engaged from thai day 
to this. His farm is a beautiful tract of one hund- 
red anil forty acres, richly cultivated; upon it have 
been placed excellent buildings and a pleasant 
home, a view of whi^h appears on another page. 

The marriage of Mr. Johnston to Miss Emily F. 
Chapman, a daughter of the late John Chapman of 
Tenn.. occurred October 17, 1867. The mother of 
Mrs. Johnston, Charily C. Richards, was a Virgin- 
ian by birth, and was united in marriage with'Mr. 
Chai)mnn in Tennessee. Thence they removed to 
this Slate in 1828, making their first home in 
(ireeue County. In March, 1830, they came to 
Macoupin County, n.n''i settled in North Olter 
Township, where they continued to live until the 
death of Mr. Chapman, which took place Dec- 
ember 26. 1890. His farm was known far and 
wide as Chapman's Point. Mis bereaved widow is 
still living and of her large family of fourteen 
children, Rlrs. Johnston was the twelfth. She 
was born in North Otter Township, December 22, 
1850. and was there reared to womanhood on her 
father's farm. 

Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are the parents of nine 
children who are named as follows: Eva, Elizabeth 
C, John B., Lewis !., Nathan, Jesse B., Charles 
F., Dan, and Archie. John and Lewis died in in- 
fancy. The most afilicting blow which has fallen 
upon this affectionate family was the sudden death 
I of Charles F., who was struck by lightning June 4, 
1890, while standing in the door of the barn, and 
was instantly killed. He was in the eleventh year 
of his age, a bright and promising lad, and one 



7 'J 2 



PORTKAl'i' A^'D JilOGRAi'UlCAL iiECURD. 



whoso affeetionnte qualities linrt endeared him 
greatly to all his friends. The bereaved parents 
feel keenly this loss and can never cease to mourn 
for the dear child who was taken from them so un- 
expectedly. Tnis affliction has rendeied them 
even more than before tenderly watchful over their 
children and solicitous to do all for them that par- 
ents can do for their dear ones. 

In the field of politics Mr. Johnston is an inter- 
ested though (juiet actor, lie is not an offlee-seeker 
but has accepted at the hands of his fellow-citizens 
the office of School Trustee. He fully endorses 
the doctrines of the Democratic i)arty and works 
for the success of that organization. He is a prom- 
inent member of the John IJaird Post, No. 285 G. 
A. R. of Virden. Mrs. Johnston is an active 
worker in religious matters and a conscientious 
member of the Baptist Church. A sister of Mr. 
Johnston is the wife of Mr. W. M. Drennan, of 
whom the reader may learn more in his sketch 
which appears in another part of lliis volume. 




H^LIAM N. FRY, who is engaged in gen- 
eral farming and stock-raising on section 
y/ 16, Brighton Township, has the honor of 
being a native citizen of this State. He w.as liorn 
in Godfrey, Madison County, near Monlicello 
Seminary, JIarch 16, 1844. His father, James 
Fry, a native of Kent, Kiigland, born of English 
parentage, '-ame to this country when a young 
man, landing in New York City, whence he made 
his way to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he began life as 
a day laborer. He had not j-et attained his maj- 
ority. Some years after reaching man's estate he 
wedded Mrs. Mary E. Raney, who was born near 
Lundy's Lane, Canada, her parents being also nat- 
ives of that country. There she was married the 
first time to Nelson Raney, who died Icavingason, 
Nelson, who is now a farmer of Northern Canada. 
Mrs. Raney afterward removed to Ohio, where she 
became the wife of James Fry, and soon afterwaid 
they emigrated to Illinois, settling near Godfrey. 
Some years later they came to Macoupin County, 
and Mr. Fry entered forty acres of Government 



land on section 16, Brighton Township, which now 
constitutes one half of our subject's farm. After- 
ward the father entered the other forty acres 
which William owns. It was on that farm where 
the parents died, Mr. Fry passing away July 3, 
1858, and his wife on the 24tli of November of the 
same year, aged respectively fifty-two and fifty- 
one years. Their children are William N. of this 
sketch; Martha R. who is now living in St. Louis; 
and Isaac J., who enlisted for the late war in 1861, 
and was killed by a gunsliot at the battle of Peach 
Tree Creek when about twenty-two years of age. 
His remains were interred in the National Ceme- 
tery at Chattanooga, Ga. 

In the usual manner of farmer lads William Fry 
was reared to manhood, aiding his father in the 
labors of the farm during the summer months and 
acquiring a practical English education at the pub- 
lic schools in ihe winter season. When only about 
seventeen years of age he offered his services to 
his country, enlisting on the 13th of August, 1861, 
as a member of Company F, Twenty -.Seventh Ill- 
inois Infantry under Col. N. B. Buford, now of 
Rock Island. Capt. Miles, of this ?ounty, com- 
manded the coiniiany, which was organized and 
equlpjied at Camp Butler, .Springfield, whence the 
troops were sent to Cairo, and the following spring 
to Missouri where was fought the battle of Belmont 
and later the campaign was continued for a while 
with a gunboat fleet. Later came the battle of 
Pittsburg Landing on tiie Mississippi River, aftcr- 
vAard the battle of Corinth and the battles of Nash- 
ville, Chickamauga, Murfreesboro and others. Mr. 
Fry participated in thirteen important engage- 
ments besides many skirmishes and was never off 
duty except for a few days onlj'. He escaped un- 
injnried but bore the usual hardships and priva- 
tions of army life. 

After the close of the war, Mr. Fry returned 
home and in Februar}', 1869, he led to the mar- 
riage altar Miss Maria Eddington, their union 
being celebrated in Woodburn. The lady was 
born in this county August 23, 1843, and is of 
English descent, her parents being natives of Som- 
ersetshire, whence they came to America in an 
early day. They took up their residence in Bunk- 
er Hill Township on a new farm which thej' deve- 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



793 



loped and improved. Tbc father died at the age 
of seventy-three and ills wife when sixty-one years 
of age. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fry have been born 
two children, sons, Herbert J. and Albert N., who 
are still at home. Tlie parents are members of the 
Methodist Church and in politics, Mr. Fry is a 
Republican as was his father. He is now the own- 
er of the old homestead upon which he has resiilcd 
since 1865, covering a period of tweatj'-six con 
seciitive years, l^pon it arc good buildings and 
many excellent improvements aiid the well tilled 
fields, so neat in appearance, indicate the thrift 
and enterprise of the owner. 



•-s-»- 



^->^^i^^^^)<^^'-^ 



'jw|OHN LANCASTER. The fruit belt of 
I Southern Illinois has encouraged many who 

dhave generally ensaged in ordinary farming 
I and stock-raising to make a specialty of both 
large and small fruits. This has been the case with 
the prosperous man whose name appears at the head 
of this paragraph. He has a large and select variety 
of fruit and is intelligent and successful in regard 
to its cultivation. He is also largely engaged in 
farming and stock-raising operations and buys a 
good deal of stock to feed. His fine farm on sec- 
tion 10, of Bunker Hill Township, comprises three 
hundred and fifteen .acres, all of which is highlj- 
improved and furnished with excellent farm build- 
ings. 

This property our subject has owned and oper- 
ated for som(! eight years past, and has been a 
successful farmer ever since he became of age. Ho 
makes a specialty of high-grade cattle, sheep and 
swine. Polled Angus cattle are his favorites and 
he is interested in a sheep ranch in Sutton County, 
Tex., where they keep, all the time, fully ten thou- 
sand mutton sheep which they feed upon some- 
thing like a liundred thousand acres of land. 

Mr. Lancaster is a thorough business man and 
one of the most energetic and enterprising citizens 
in this county. His home is in his native town- 
ship, and his birth occurred January 13, 1854. 
He is the youngest child of Francis Lancaster, 
whose biography will be found elsewhere in this 



volnme. The boy's early education was received 
in the common schools of the county and he studied 
the higher branches in tlie State Normal School at 
Normal, III. 

This young man was married in this township to 
Miss JImma Parmenter, a native of the same town- 
ship, being born here in August, 1852. Her par- 
ents, Charles and Mary (Barnes) Parmenter, were 
natives of New England, who came to Illinois at 
an early day. They settled on a farm in this 
township and improved it, and spent many years 
here. The mother died at this home in 1881, being 
then past seveuvy-one years of age. Mr. Parmenter 
is yet living with his son in Bunker Hill and is 
eighty-four years of age. Mrs. Lancaster is the 
youngest but one of seven children of hei' parental 
home. She was reared and entirely educated in 
Bunker Hill Township, and lived at home until her 
marriage June 23, 1875. 

Seven children came to bless the home of Mr. 
and Mrs. John Lancaster, and but two of them 
have been called away from ef.rtli. These two are 
Clara (4., and Arthur. Those who are now living 
are Ernest. Marian, Harry, Mira C, and Willie. 
These children are all being brought up in the 
faith and practice of the Christian religion as their 
parents are earnest and faithful members of the 
Congregational (,'iiurcli. They aie among the most 
progressive and intelligent people of the county 
and are active promoters of every movement which 
in their ju<1graent is calculated to improve the 
social and industrial conditions of the community. 
The platform of the Republican party embodies the 
political views with which Mr. Lancaster is in 
heart}' accord. 



ylLLIAM STORY. It is with ever in- 
creasing interest, as the years go by, 
,_, , that we trace the story of the early set- 
tlers of the Prairie State and more and more we 
feel that to visit the home of one of those pioneers 
is a pilgrimage to a shrine which well repays us 
for the effort involved. Among those who are 
thus worthy of our interest and attention is the 



794 



PORTRAIT AM) 1510GRAPH1CAL UKCORi). 



mother of our suliject. Her maiden name was 
Harriet Hetiiek. and slie was born in Fayette 
County. Ohio. April 7. 1811. a dausjliter of Andrew 
and Mary Hettick. In those earlj- days when she 
first came to Illinois manufactured goods were al- 
most unknown among the farmers an<l this worthy 
woman used to card, spin and weave, wool, tlax and 
cotton for the homespun clothes in which she ar- 
rayed both herself and her children. .'>he is still 
living and enjoys a fair degree of health and is in 
full possession of her mental faculties. She is one 
of the very ohlest settlers of Macoupin County, 
now living, and is well known throughout the 
con nl}- and highly- respected. 

The subject of tliis sketch was born in Barr 
Township, this counts, Ma3- G, 1842. His father 
who also bore the name of William Story was a na- 
tive of Alabama as was the grandfather, James 
Stor\-. Tlie latter removed from Alabama to Ten- 
nessee and after a few years' residence there came 
to Illinois, and settled upon a farm in Morgan 
Cou-.ity. He resided there uulil his death. 

The father of our subject was five years old when 
his parents removed to Tennessee ami he came 
from there to Illinois with tliem when they made 
that journey. They traveled by team and brought 
with them all their eartlily possessions. His mar- 
riage- in 1834 gave hini the brave and wurthv help- 
mate of whom we have already spoken. He 
entered a tract of farming land in IJarr Township 
and there built the log house in which the}' made 
their happy home and where the subject of this 
notice was born. 

This worthy pioneer rived boards to cover the 
roof of his house and split lumber for the floor, 
building the chimney of sticks and mud. At that 
time deer and other kinds of game abounded and 
the prairies of Illinois were indeed a wilderness, 
although a fair and fertile one. The hardships of 
pioneer life were cheerfully undergone by this esti- 
mable and brave couple. They lived at this old 
homestead until 1845 at which time tliej- sold it 
and bought the place where the family now resides 
and here the father died, February 15. 1366 in the 
fifty-fifth year of his age. 

William Story was reared upon the farm and at- 
tended the pioneer schools which were tauglit in 



the log sclioolhouse which was no more elegant in 
its construction than the homes of its patrons. It 
had a stick and mud chimney, slab benches without 
backs, and a notable Lack of desks. The marriage 
of the j"oung man took place August 15, 1872, 
his bride being Kmnia Frances Anderson. She was 
born in Morgan County, 111., and was a daughter 
of John and Melvina Anderson. She passed away 
from earth April 25, 1887. leaving four children, 
Ed war 1, Kvert, Hattie and Jessie. 



EXRY MORRI.SON. wiio follows general 
farming on sectior, 12. Ililyard Townsliip, 
was born in County Dcrry, Ireland, on the 
7th of June. 1808. and is of Scotch-Irish 
descent. The f:!niil\ have for several generations 
been farmers. an<l the father of our subject also 
eng.aged in that jtursuit. His parents were mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian Church and si)ent their 
entire lives in llie land t)f their nativity. 

Our subject is tlie eldest son of the family and 
in the usual mann-jr of farmer lads he was reared 
to manhood, while in the common schools his edu- 
cation was acquired. After he had attained to 
years of maturity he chose as a companion and 
helpmate on life's journey Miss Martha Taylor, 
who was born and reai'cd in the same county as 
her husband, and like him is of Scotch Irish line- 
age, her people also being Protestants. She is a 
ilaughter of Joseph and Margaret (Mclntire) Tay- 
lor, who lived and died on the old homestead in 
the Emerald Isle wlien well advanced in years. In 
their family were five children, two sons and three 
daughters, of whom the sons and one daughter are 
}-et living in Ireland, while the two other daugh- 
ters came to this countrj' — Mrs. Morrison, who is 
second in order of birth; and one-who died in Illi- 
nois. 

Accompanied by his family. Ilenrj- Morrison 
bade good-by to his old home and took passage on 
a sailing-vessel in 1845. which after six weeks and 
three days dropped anchor in the harbor of New 
York. They spent one year in the Empire State 
ami then came on to Illliuois. since which time 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



797 



they have resided on the farm which is still their 
h(jmo. Two cliildii'ii were lioni unto them in 
tlieir native land and the family circle has been 
increased by the birth of six in this country. 
George is represented elsewhere in thi.s vdlunie; 
Jos<'iih aids in the operation of the home farm, and 
is a wide-awake and enterprisins' young farmer of 
sterling worth; Henry, who wedded Hester Cline, 
is living on a farm in Hilyard Township; Mar- 
garet is the wife of James Howard, who is en- 
gaged in farming in St. Clair County, Rio.; Ellen 
wedded George Calloway, who is engasjed in agri- 
cultural pursuits in Hilyard Township; Rebecca 
is at home; Robert married Jane Donahue ami is 
living on a farm in Hilyard Township; and Daniel 
died at the age of six years. The p:ironts of this 
family are membeis of the Presbyterian Church 
and in the social world they hold ao enviable 
position, their friends throughout the '■oranuinity 
being many. 

In connection with his brother James, Henry 
Morrison owns about three hundred acres of 
liiiijily improved, land and his son Joseph owns a 
valuable quarter-section in another part of the 
township. The greater part of this is all under 
cultivaiion, and upon section 12 Mr. Morrison has 
resided for some foriy-three years. At that time 
he arrived in the count3' and has since made his 
home on what is now so well known as the IMor 
rison F'arm. !t is one of the largest farms in the 
community and its highly cultivated and improved 
condition indicates the care of a manager who fully 
understands his business and numbers among his 
characteristics thrift and enterprise. 



; •■^05>t — -a- 



i.^ 



^:r^" 



l.-iOs^ 



/OSEPHB. LISTON, a well-known and es 
teemed resident of the city of Carlinville, 
is a native-born citizen of this county, and 
is prominently identified with its principal 
interests and is an extensive farmer and raiser of fine 
stock, especially horses, and a manufacturer of 



brick and tile. He is a son of Joseph Listen, a 
pioneer of this section of the State, and was born 
on his father's farm on section 30, near Palmyra, 
August 19, 1838. 

The father of our subject was a native of Ken- 
tucky, the place of his birth in Marion County, and 
the date thereof September 25, 1803. Ke was a 
son of George Liston. who was born in Virginia and 
early became a pioneer of Rlarion County, Ky. 
He bought a tract of land in the primeval forests 
of that section, and made his home there until he 
died iu 180G. His wife and one child died within 
six weeks of his demise. 15y that sad event two 
children were left orphans. The daughter, Polly, 
niarrii d G( orge McCune, and they settled in Pope 
Count}', Ark., where both died. 

The father of our subject was reared by liis ma- 
ternal uncle in Marion Con.nty until he was thir- 
teen 3'ears old, and was then apprenticed to learn 
the trade of saddle-maker, serving an apprentice 
ship of seven years and nine months, and receiving 
his board and clothes. He followed that trade in 
dilfercnt i)laces in Kentucky until 1835, when he 
came to Illinois with his wife and two children. 
Tlu'V made their way over land to Louisville, where 
liiev embarked on a steamer for Alton. The fam- 
ily reided wiih his brother-in-law a few monli'S, 
and during the summer he entered one hundred 
and sixty acres of land, one hundred and twenty of 
whicli was on section 30, of what is now North 
Palmyia Townshi)), and the remainder on section 
5, of South Pabnyra Township. He was at that 
time the possessor of $270 in C'lsh, his entire cap- 
ital, but he was energetic and industrious, and in 
course of years developed a fine farm. He first 
erected a log cabin on section 30, riving the boards 
to cover the roof and splitting puncheon to make the 
floor, and putting up a mud and stick chimne}'. 

He lived to see the country grow from a wilder- 
ness with but few scattered habitations to a popu- 
lous and thriving county, where the fine tc.nvnships 
of Palmyra, (iirard and \'ii(k'n now stand; it was 
then open prairie, over which wild game loamed and 
deer were to be seen in large droves. He helped to 
bring the wonderful change about, and at his death 



798 



FOKTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



January, 1877, left behind him a wortliy reputa- 
tion as a pioneer, and as an honored citizen. Tiie 
maiden name of bis wife was Martlia Bland, and 
she was born in Marion County, Ky., February 17, 
1807. Her father was a native of Virginia, and a 
pioneer of Marion County, where he spent his last 
years. The mother of our subject died one year 
before her husband, January 25, 1876. They iiad 
a family of seven children, named as follows — 
George B., Sarah A., John T.. Joseph B., Susan M., 
William T. and Albert M. Joseph and Albert are 
the only survivors, the latter now owning and oc- 
cupying the old homestead. 

As his boyhood was passed on a farm our sub- 
ject early gained a knowledge of agriculture. He 
was given the benefit of a liberal education, the pre- 
liminaries of which he gained in the pioneer schools 
of this county. He subsequently pursued a good 
course of study at the University at Virginia. Cass 
Count}', and later taught two terms in his home dis- 
trict. When twenty-one years of age he was ap- 
pointed Deputy Sheriff, and served nearly three 
years. He then farmed four years. But his record 
as Deputy Sheriff was before the public, and he had 
shown himself to be so capable an official in that 
capacity, that in 1866 his fellow-citizens wisely 
selected him to fill the responsible otBce of Sheriff of 
the County. He removed to Carlinville to assume 
the duties of his position, and has since made his 
home here. 

Mr. Listen still retains his interest in agricultu- 
ral pursuits, and owns several hundred acres of laud 
in this county, which is as fine farming land as any 
in the State of Illinois. In 1883 Mr. Liston and 
Mr. Zachariah Harris entered into a partnership for 
the purpose of manufacturing tile and brick in this 
count}'. They are still carrying on the business, 
and have won a high reputation for the superiority 
of their manufacture, as well as a large trade. 

The marriage of Mr. Liston to Miss Lucretia 
Dick took place November 7, 1867. Mrs. Liston 
is a native of Sangamon County, this State, and a 
daughter of Daniel and Susan Dick. Our subject 
and his amiable wife are people of high standing in 
the community, and their charming home is the seat 
of a pleasant hospitality which is cordially ex- 
tended to all that cross their threshold by the 



kindly hostess and genial host. Fraternall}% Mr. 
Liston is connected with Mt. Nebo Lodge, No. 76, 
A. F. & A. M.; Macoupin Chapter, No. 187. R. A. 
M.; Carlinville Council, No. 69, R. A S. M. and 
with Belvidere Coramandery. No. 2, K. T., of Al- 
ton. A lithographic portrait of Mr. Liston accom- 
panies this sketch. 




^., UGUST SIEVERS, one of the leading and 
33!Oi influential citizens of Staunton, who for 
many years was prominently connected 
with its business interests, but is now liv- 
ing a retired life, came to Illinois from New York, 
whither he had arrived from Germany, his native 
land. He w.as born September 22. 1823, in the 
province of Brunswick, and is a son of August 
Sievers, Sr.. a small German farmer who grew 
to mauhooil in his native land, and married Will- 
helmina Beinling. Two of their children came 
to America in 1849, and the following year wiili 
the others members of the family they crossed the 
Atlantic and came on lo Illinois. In the Empire 
State they were joint-d by our subject and Henry, 
and in Olive Township, Madison County, the fa- 
ther secured iiis first eighty acres of land. The 
mother was not long pcrmitteil to enjoy her new 
home, her death occurring in 1851, after which Mr. 
Sievers m.ade his home with his children. He died 
near Staunton in 1881, at the age of eighty years, 
and both he and his wife were members of the 
German Lutheran Church. 

The subject of this sketch is the eldest of six 
children. In the Fatherland the days of his bo}"- 
hood and youth were passed, and lie learned the 
trade of a mecl'.aoic. Believing that he could bet- 
ter his financial condition by so doing, he emigrated 
to the United States when twenty- six 3'ears of age. 
In the autumn of 1819, accompanied by his brother 
Henry, be took passage on a sailing-vessel at Breni- 
men, and after sixty days speni upon the bosom of 
the Atlantic, set foot on American soil. Going to 
New Jerse}-, the brothers secured positions as farm 



PORTRAIT AUD BIOGRAFHICAL RECORD. 



799 



laborers, working thus until the arrival of their par- 
ents in this country. Tliey tlien came to Illinois. 
August Sievers liegan his life in the West as a farmer 
in 1867. purchased a tract of land in Staunton 
Township which he incre.ssed in extent until it now 
comprises two hundred and sixtj'-five acres. It is a 
valuable tract under a liigh state of cultivation and 
well improved and in addition he owns one hundred 
acres of timber land. He resided thereon for a 
number of years and by industry and close atten- 
tion to his business acquired a good capitxil, becom- 
ing one of the successful and substantial farmers of 
the comnuinity. There being evidences of coal 
upon his land in 1876 he sunk a shaft, the fii'st in 
that locality. As a partner in this enterprise, he 
was associated with his brother-in-law. Fred Maxe. 
and the^' operated the mine on a small scale until 
1880. when in connection with Mr. Voge, Mr. Sie- 
vers sank a shaft, now known as No. 6, near the 
depot. At that time it had an output of twenty 
eai-s per day. In 1S82, they sold to the Elsworlh 
Coal Company who worked it until ISSS. when it 
became the proi)erty of the Consolidated Coal Com- 
pany. It now yields an average of sixty car loads 
daih\ and is the best mine in this part of the .State 
on the Wabash line. In the meantime Mr. Sievers 
embarked in gener.il merchandising, built up an 
excellent trade which forced iiim to largely in- 
crease his stock, and in 1886 he erected a 6ne store 
building. Two years later he sold out to his son, 
who had been associated with him for some lime, 
and A. G. .Schnaare, since which lime he has lived 
a retired life. 

As a companion on life's journey. Mr. Sievers 
chose Miss Louisa Miller, and their marriage w.as 
celebrated in Madison Countv. 111. The lady was 
born in the same locality as her husband in 1832. 
and alone she crossed the water to America in 18.53. 
Her patents lived and died in German}-, her father 
passing away in middle life, but her mother reached 
an advanced age. Mrs. Sievers has proved a true 
helpm.ate to her husband, and his success in l>fe is 
due in no small degree to her able assistance and 
encouragement. Into them has been born one son, 
August H., who is one of the leading and wide- 
awake business men of Staunton. He was for two 
j-ears chief clerk of shaft No. 6, an<l later was as- 



sociated in business with his uncle, R. Swenker. 
This partneisiiip existed for al)out three years, 
when he became connected with the firm of Jones. 
Newman it Co.. and to their business he devoted 
his energies until wiih his father ho aided in estab- 
lishing one of the leading business houses in this 
place. The building which was erected in 1886, is 
situated on East Main Street, is two stories high 
with a basement and the dimensions are 48x60 feet. 
It is arranged as a double store, being divided into 
two rooms of equal size, one of which is occupied 
with groceries, the other being well filled with a 
good line of furnishing goods, boots and shoes and 
dr}' goods. When the father retired, Uie son 
formed a partnership with Mr. Schnaare. .and lie 
has a reputation of being one of the wide-awake 
and leading young business men of the place. He 
married Minnie Voge, and they reside in Staunton, 
where they arc widelj- and favorable known. In 
social circles they figure prominently, and their 
friends are many. 

August Sievers, Sr.. and his estimable wife are 
likc'.vise held in high regard for their sterling 
worth. Their upright, lives have won theoi the 
cc>nfidence anil good-will of all. and none are more 
\\orth3' of a representation in this volume. 




-^^iVt^^^<^ 



i>TLLIA5I NIEMEYER. In Mt. Olive there 
I'eside a few men who have been the found- 
Y''}fi ers and builders of that thriving, enterpris- 
ing town and one of these is the subject of our 
sketch, who is a member of the well-known firm of 
Keiser-Nieme^-er Mercantile Co. He is by birth 
a German, a native of Holzfeld. Prussia, where he 
was born July 5, 1845. He comes of a long line 
of German ancestry and for four generations the 
family have occupied the homestead on which he 
first saw the light of day. The great-grandfather 
was a soldier in the Thirtj- Years' War. The grand- 
father. Jurgen Niemeyer. spent his entire life in 
Holzfeld as a farmer, dying at a ripe old .age. He 
married a lady of that country and they are now 
sleeping side by side in the cemetery near their old 
honie. They were followers of the faith advocated 



800 



I'ORTKAIT AND BIOGRArHlCAL RECORD 



by Slnrtin Lutlicr. Tlio f:\tlior of mir subject, F. ' 
Williiuii NiomeyiM-. was rcaiTil as a farmer and 
sui'coi'ileil to llie ownership of the obi liomeslead, 
ii|)on wbieli be died at the age of forty-seven ytars. 
lie married Miss V. M. Moddowai;. who also came 
of a good tierman faii:ily and died iu her native 
province at the age of thirty-eight. In polities 
liie Nieineyers were always with the Conservative 
party, being l(>j'al to the crown, and were members 
of the Lutheran Church. In their family were five 
children of wlioin our suiiject is the eldest one liv- 
ing. He was also the first to come to America, nor 
did any others of the family cross the water 
until he returned on a visit to his old home in 
1883, when he brought b'.ck with him liis brother 
and sister, August ami Minnie, who have since 
lived in Mt. Olive antl are \-ct single. Another 
brother, Henry, is married and lives in the FaLlier- 
land. Tlie eldest son, also William, died in infancy. 

When he had almost arrived at years of matur- 
ity, William Niemeyer bad-j adieu to family and 
friends ami upon the sailing vessel ••St^'Ua," crossed 
the Atlantic, reaching New York after a voyage of 
fifty-six days. He then came to .St. Louis wliere 
he arrived without means. As he bad to have 
money to provide for his support he could not bo 
very choice as to the occupation in which he en- 
gageil, and acceptetl a position as teamster in .St. 
Louis. It was a low and rough class of people 
who were engage*! in that work and he said it was 
one of lb; hardest experiences ot his life. He had 
\.o bear the jeers and seoflfs of a class who 'o-d.ay 
Would gladly do him honor. However. Ihi's work 
atloided hiui a means of sustenance and he labored 
on for a year that he might there get a start in 
life. On leaving St. Louis he came to >It. Olivt 
and worked upon the farm of John C. Nieman, 
proving himself a. worthy and valuable employe. 
He remained in that service for three yeai-s and 
founii in his employer a benefactor. 

In the meantime, between Mr. Niemeyer and 
.Mr. Nieman's daughter ,*>ophia there sprang up an 
attachment, and on the 2;»th of April, 1861', their 
union of hearts was consummated by the union of 
hands. They have since lived and laboretl to- 
gether in perfect unil3- and are now enjoying a 
home which is a model of Iteautv and comfort. 



This palatial residence w.<>s designed by a St. Louis 
architect and is built in the most modern style, being 
supplied wiih hot and cold water throughout, heated 
by furnace and supplied with everything which will 
add to tlie pleasure and happiness of the inmates. 
The home liiis also been brighlene*! by the presence 
of their three interesting and intelligent children, 
Edward, Emil and .luliet. They also lost one 
child. William, who died in infancy. Mrs. Nie- 
meyer presides over her home with a grace and 
dignity which indicate a true lady, and her hosi)i- 
t;»lily is extended to very many friends. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Niemeyer are cimsistent members 
ami active workers in the Lutheran Church and 
their social sUUiis is high. 

When our subject left the employ of his father- 
in-law he became a clerk in the establishment of 
which he is now one of the proprietors. He has 
been connected with the firm since 1873 and is re- 
garded as one of the leading business men of Mt. 
Olive. The firm controls several hnmired thousand 
dollars worth of business annually and represent.s 
by far the largest portion of the entire business 
interests of the town. They also have many other 
inieresls elsewhere in the county and Slate and for 
push ami enterprise they cannot be surpassed. 
Every branch of business is represented by them 
with the exce|>tion of drugs and lumber, and all 
this is the outgrowth of a small general store. 
Almost everything which Mr. Niemeyer has deter- 
mined to turn to account as a money making ven- 
ture has proved successful and he has worked his 
w!»y upward from an humble position to one of 
wealth. His good judgment has scved him instead 
of capital with which to begin life a')d with his 
profit* he has made judicious investments in real 
estate, having If.rge landed property in Emmott 
County, Iowa, and in Arkansas. Studying the 
wants of his customers and earnestly desiring to 
please his patrons he has by fair dealings and gen- 
ial manner built up his fine trade. A warm hearte<L 
generous man, he gives liberally of his means to 
all worthy interests, especially those calculated to 
promote the general welfare, and to the needy his 
aid is alw.ays cheerfully extended. By nature he 
is jovial an<l genial, full of life and merriment and 
is therefore a most pleasant companion. Few if 



PORTRAIT AND liJOGRAl'IllCAL Kl-XOUl). 



801 



iiiiy in tlie county can nnmber more friftiids lliaii 
Mr. Nieincyf'i'. In politics lie is a stanch Re|)ul)- 
lic:ui lint his husiness haa so engrossed his attention 
Uial he has never f(jiiMil time lo devote to political 
affairs. 




:^. 



MONT.lOV IU)RSEY, a retired farmer 
residinij; in linnker Hill, deserves represen- 
'^'^J tation in this volume from the fact ihat he 
is one of tiie leading citizens of the county and 
also because he is a r(|iresenlative of one of the 
honored pioneer families. His father, Elias Dursey, 
was liorn in Maryland as were also liis grand par- 
(^nts. ICdward Dorsey. father of Klias, die(l when the 
son was quite young and the mother afterward re- 
moved to Kentucky, where she became the wife c>f 
.John Williamson. SIk; made her home in Jefferson 
County, that State uuiil her death. Klias Dorsey, 
when quite young accompanied his widowed 
inotlier to Kentucky, settling upon a farm, where 
he made his home until after Mrs. Dorsey's second 
marriage, when at the age of seventeen years he 
enlisted in the War of 1812, under Col. Richard 
Kooket, serving throughout the struggle. lie with 
his regiment marched to New Orleans but arrived 
at that place just after Gen. .Jackson had come off 
conqueror in the ''tearless baUle. " When the war 
was over he returned with his Colonel to Shelby 
County. K3'.. and married tin; daugliter of his com- 
manding .fficer. Miss Martha R. Booker, who was 
boi-n and reared in that county. Her parent's were 
l)oth natives of Virginia, whence in an early day, 
tliey emigrated to Kentucky, where they spent the 
remainder of their lives. The Colonel was a brave 
man who faithfully served his country well. 

After llieii- marriage Elias Dorsey and his wife 
took up their residence on a farm in .lefTerson 
County, Ivy., but the lady died about 183.5. Her 
husband was again married, his second union being 
with Mrs. Sally Williamson, a native of )$altiinore, 
Md., and the widow of Commodore Williamson, of 
the Fniteil Stales Nav^'. Mr. Dorsey also survived 
his second wife and in 1866 came to Illinois, mak- 
ing his home with his daughter, Mrs. Edward Win- 
chester, of lUinker Hill, until his death, which 



occurred March 2, 1872, attlie age of seventy-six 
years. He was a hard working man and by his in- 
dustry and perse ver.an(;e became quite wealthy, 
owning at one time s('Veral thousand acres of land, 
the greater part of which he bequeathed to his chil- 
dren before his death. Ilis honesty ami integrity 
was proverbial anil the greatest conlidence was 
manifested in Mr. Dorsey by all who knew him. 
Ilis life is a grand example of what can be accom- 
plished through honest industry, perseverance and 
gooil management. ll(! was outspoken in defense 
of th(; right; neither fear nor favor could kce.p him 
silent, lie was devoted to his country and its 
cause' and on one occasion when being asked why 
he dill not accept a Government contract offered 
him he replied in his usual emphatic manner that if 
he should do so and act honestly as a patriot the 
profits would be too small for the trouble and he 
did not intend to defraud his country. This s|)eecli 
serves as an index to his whole life. In politics he 
was a .Jackson Democrat. He was identified with 
no religious organization but believed in doing 
right for right's sake. One of nature's noblemen, 
no death in the commurity has been more sincerely 
mourned. 

W. Montjoy Doisey, wliose name heads this 
sketch, was born on the old homestead in .Jefferson 
County, Ky., October 11, 1823, and is the sixth 
in tlie family of thirteen children, numbering nine 
sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to ma- 
ture years, while eleven were married and six are 
jet living. (Jur subject was reared in the usual 
manne; of fanner lads and attained his majority in 
his native count}'. He was yet a single man when 
lie. came to Uunker IIill,.an(L married Mi.ss Hen- 
rietta C. Green, who was born in Sing Sing, West- 
chester County, N. Y., August 4, 1828. Her par- 
ents, Capt. Stephen and Letilia (<^uick) Green, 
were also natives of Westcliester County and be- 
longed to families of good standing in the Empire 
State. Samuel Green, the father of the Captain, 
was a relative of Gen. Green, of Revolutionarj- 
faine and the family was connected with the Society 
of P'riends. The Quick family is of French origin. 
Samuel Green and his wife both lived to a very ad- 
vanced age, the former being quite old at the time 
of his death and the latter was in her nincl\ -ninth 



802 



PORTRAIT AND UIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



year. They died in the countj' of their nativity, 
where they had lived during the Revolutionary 
War. and tiicir old home is still standing. The 
families on both sides are very arlsloeralie in the 
true meaning of the word, their members being 
people of pure character and tempoiate habits, 
many of whom attained to positions of distinction. 
Stephen Green was one of a large familj' and in 
Westchester County, N. Y., was reared to manhood 
upon a farm. lie followed the sea for many years 
and arose to the rank of Captain of a coasting ves- 
sel plying around the Atlantic Coast. On account 
of ill-health he was at length forced to abandon 
that pursuit and in 1836 emigrated with his family 
to Illinois, settling at what is now Shipman, but 
then not a building stood upon the site of the 
town. Cajjt. Green's home was one of the first 
white settlements made in that section .'■.nd all 
around him stretche<l miles of unbroken prairie. 
He entered his land from the Government, began 
to make improvements and developed a good farm 
upon which he made his home until his death, 
which occurred March 10, 18.54. The county 
lost one of its Itest citizens who was revered for 
his uprightness and his sterling worth. He took 
no active part in jiublic life and though often so- 
licited by the Wliig party to become a candidate 
for positions of honor and trust, he nlw.ays declined, 
preferring to devote his entire attention to his busi- 
ness interests and the enjoyment of his home life. 
The death of his wife occurred in Shipman a few 
years prior to hisdecease, she being lifty-four years 
of age when called to her final rest. 

Unto Captain and JVIrs. Green were born thirteen 
children, of whom seven, tiiree sons and four 
daughters are yet living, the eldest being elght}'- 
four years of age. The family possess an unusual 
amount of vitality and are noted for longevity. 
Mrs. Dorsey was carefully reared by her worthy 
parents and is a refined and accomplished lad^', 
jtossessed of many virtues and tine wonianU- quali- 
ties. She retains all the aristocratic characteristics 
of her people and like them is reserved and justly 
proud of her family record. Uy her marriage five 
children have been born but only two are now liv- 
ing. Lucy, the elder, is the wife of .Joseph S. 
Hayes, a resident farmer of Dorchester Townshli); 



and Howell M., who wedded Cluurtttia Stookey, 
resides in Gillespie, being also a farmer by occupa 
tion. The childien now deceased are Robert 
Hornsby. William Booker and Frances Cordelia. 
Mr. Dorse}', his wife and daughters are members of 
the E|)iscoiial Church and in politics he is a stanch 
Democrat. 

Our subject is one of the large landowners in 
Macoupin County, his possessions .aggregating 
more than one thousand acres. He has won the 
greater part of his fortune since coming to this 
county in 1847. He first settled in Gillespie 
Township, living for a time with his brother an<l 
then removed to his own lands, which were en- 
tirely des'ituie of improvement when he became 
the owner. He was an enterprising and successful 
farmer and as his financial resources were in- 
creased he judiciously increased the amount of his 
acreage. He continued to reside on his farm in 
Gillespie Township until March, 1867, when he re- 
move<I to Hunker Hill, where he has since made his 
home. There is little of the land of which he is now 
proprietor but what is under cultivation, l3"ing in 
Dorchester, Staunton and Gillespie Townships, the 
most being in Gillespie Township, about two miles 
from the vill.age of that name. Few men are more 
widely known than Mr. Dorsey and none more fa- 
vorably so. His long residence in thiscommnnilj-, 
covering a period of forty-four years, numbers 
hiui ;nnong the early settlers. 



\f)ACOB D. WAGNER, who resides on sec- 
tion 4, Gillespie Township, is one of the 
oldest native born citizens of Illinois. He 
(^^' was born v.ithin two and a half miles of Up- 
per Alton, in Madison County. October 2!l, 1814. 
and is a son of Peter Wagner, a native of Virginia, 
who there grew to manhood. For two and a half 
years he served in the War of 1812. .and after he 
had fought through many hotlj- contested battles 
he was honorably discharged, having never re- 
ceived a wound. When still a single man became 
to Iliinois but afterward returned to his old home 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



803 



ami inari'ie.l !i N'irginian lady, Miss Klizabelli Deck. 
Their wcdiliiifi' tour consisU'il of a trip to Illinois 
i:i 1813, and tliev iicgan llieir domestic life near 
Alton, lielween the forks of the Wood River, 
where Mr. Wagner secured from the Spanish claim 
one hundred and sixty acies of land. On that 
farm our subject was born and the family resided 
until he was twenty years of afje, when in 1834, 
parents and children came to Macoupin Coiintv', 
where the father enlereil one hundred and sixty 
acres of land, eighty of wiiich was prairie and 
eighty a limbei' traci. This farm was situated not 
far from Prairie View, and there the parents spent 
the remainder of their lives, Mr. Wagner d^'ing at 
the age of sixty-three years, his wife in the fifty- 
fourth year of her age. Tiiey liad lived to see this 
section of this countr\' improved and developed to 
a great extent. When they first came to Macoupin 
County, but two settlements h.ad been made on the 
prairie for miles around them, those being the 
homes of John llilyard an(i .lames CJray. Mr. and 
Mrs. Wagner were people of worth and ability, 
highly respected by all who knew them and wlmi 
called to ihcir final rest many warm friends 
mourned their death. 

The subject of this sketch is the eldest of tliir- 
teei> children, ten of whom grow to mature years, 
while five are yet living, three being residents of 
this county. .lacob was icared amid the wild scenes 
of frontier life and the occupation at aIiIcIi he la- 
bored (luring his boyhood he has followed through 
his mature years. The first land whicli he owned 
consisted of an eighty-acre tract, which he entered 
from the (iovernmcnt in llilyard Township, near 
I'lainview. He furtlier completed his arrangements 
for a home by his marriage with Miss Lucinda Mc- 
Donald, the wedding Inking place in the vicinity 
of his childhood home. The lady was born in 
White County, Tenn., in 181G, and is a grand- 
daughler of .kilin McDonald, who came to this 
country from Scotland as a soldier in the British 
Army during ttie Hevolutiouary War. lie never 
returned to his native land, iiut made a settlement 
in this country and died, it is thought, in Tennes- 
see. David McDonald, father of Mrs. Wagner, 
lived in Tennessee for many years and finally came . 
to Illinois, settling in Madison County during its 



pioneer days. Subsequcntl3' he came to Macoupin 
County and afterward he and his wife removed to 
Dent County, Mo., where they both passed away 
when well advanced in years. The UiOther of Mrs. 
Wagner, was in her maidenhood Miss Jane Miller, 
of Tennessee. 

Our subject and his wife began their domestic 
life upon a farm in Mil^-ard Township, but after 
the bir'.h of their first child they removed to Jef- 
ferson County, where he purchased forty acres of 
new land an<i began the development of the farm. 
They had lived at that place nine years when the 
death of Mrs. Wagner occurred, at the age of thir- 
ty-three. She was .a member of the Christian 
Church, a most excellent lady, and at her death 
left live children, all of whom are yet living — 
Clarinda, wife of Ash Neily, of Carlinvillc Town- 
ship; Kli/.abeth, wife of Daniel Adams, a resident 
farmer of Colorado; Mary A., wife of William F. 
Lilly, who is engaged in farming at Harvell, Mont- 
gomery County, III.; William, who wedded Miss 
Mary Gillespie, and is living in Raymond, III.; 
John, who married Rosa Smith, and is a farmer of 
(i illespie Townslii|i Ten days after the death of 
his liist wife Mr. Wagner left Jefferson County and 
returned to Macoupin County, where he has since 
resided. He was again married in (iillespie Town- 
ship, his second union being with Mrs. Gincy tlud- 
dlestun, nee Uamey, wIk) was born in Craig County, 
Ky., September 20, 1817, and is a daughter of John 
and Sarah (Maitin) Rimey. In their native Slate, 
Kentucky, they were reared and married and re- 
sided upon a faini until Mr. Ramey's death at the 
age of fifty years. His widow afterward came to Il- 
linois, settling in Gillesiiic Township, Macoupin 
County, where she died in her seventy-ninth year. 
Slie and her husband were members of the old 
school l{a|)list Church. Gincy Ramey was eigh- 
teen years of age when shy came with her mother 
to Illinois and a few years later she became the 
wife of Joseph Huddlestun, who died in Gillespie 
Township in the prime of life, leaving five chil- 
dren, all of whom are now deceased except Newton, 
who resides in Raymond, III., upon a farm. He 
married Lucy Duluirst. 

Mr. Wagner has resided upon his present farm 
since the day on which President Lincoln w^as a 



S04 



POitTKAlT ASD BJOGKArHlCAL RECORD. 



second time inaugurated. He owns one iiundred 
and sixty-five .icrcs of arable land in his iionie 
faim and eighty acres on section 7, of the same 
townshij). Everything- about tlic place is ke[>t in 
neat order and there are good buildings, am ply 
suHicient for the shelter of his stock. He has led 
a bus}' and useful life and as a result has acquired 
a comfortable competence. Since casting his first 
Presidential volo for VanBuren, he has supported 
the Democratic part}'. He and his wife occupy a 
warni place in the hearts of many of the people 
who reside in this coniniunity and the high es- 
teem which is accorded them is but, their just due. 



'-^i 



ifc- 



^- 



Ji-^ ENRY MILLER. One is almost led to won- 

'»' der at times if the agricultural district of 

Germany is not nearly de|iopulated for so 

(^) macy of its representatives have emigrated 
to this land and here made striking successes in their 
chosen calling. Henry Miller is one of many who 
has found Central Illinois a profitable place in 
which to cast his lines and has here made a home 
upon section 3, of Mt. Olive Township, at which 
place he lias lived for a great many years. 

Mr. Miller has a fine farm which comprises one 
Iiundred :ind sixtj- acres of land a good |)art of 
which is under cultivation. Besides this he has' 
two hundred and seventy-eight acres of land in 
Montgomery Coiiuty. His efforts in an agricul- 
tural direction have been crowned with success, and 
he hassuceedcd in amassing more than a compentcy. 
He is a native of Hanover, Germany, being there 
born Jan uaiy 16, 1813. He is proud of the f.act 
that he is of good paroiitage. his father and 
mother being worthy representatives of the best 
middle class of German people: tlie\- lived and died 
in Hanover. 

' Olir subject's enrl\- training was in the direction 
of farni labor, as his father was a farmer and n.at- 
urally he assumed the duties in boyhood at his 
home. Later he became a laborer on a farm and 
when about twenty eight years old determined to 
st.aYlout in life for himself. He set out for Amer- 
ica on a sailiiiur-vessel that left Bremen and Lindeil 



in Baltimore after a vo}'age of several weeks. From 
his first kinding place he went to Louisville. Ky.. 
where he remained for three years after which he 
went South and spent one winter in New Orleans 
and ileniphis. Tenn. Thence he went to St. Louis, 
aud after a few days slaj- at this last mentioned 
place he came to Macoupin County, and li;(S since 
made this his hone. 

Mr. Miller was married in Mt. Olive Town- 
ship, to Miss Henrietta Stabel. who. like himself, 
was of (Tcrinan birth and parentage, having coiiie 
to this country at the early age of seventeen years 
with a neighbor of her parents. Her parents witli 
all their children, excepting herself, lived and died 
in German)-. She was a true and noble wife help- 
ing her husband both malerially and spiritually to 
make a good home. She is now fift3'-four years of 
age being born April 11, 1837. Both Mr. aud Mrs 
Miller .ire members of the Lutheran Church. The)' 
are t'le parents of thirteen children, ten sons and 
three daughters, who in order of birth are as fol- 
lows: Mary, Henry. Anna, Charles, William, Fred, 
August, John, Hermao, Louis, Edward, Frank and 
Henrietta. Of these the eldest daughter is the vvife 
of Fred Mouuke.a farmer in Montgomery County. 
Ilenry was un'ted in marriage to Jliss Lena Abe- 
leng, the}' arc farmers ii: Montgomeiy Count}'; 
Anna is the wife of Thomas Ewich and resides in 
Mt. Olive; Charles took to wife Miss Doia 
Scwiieitfeger and li"es on a farm in this township. 
The remaining children all reside at home. 

^, ONRAD E. HENSEN of the firm of Hensen 
Bros., a well-known resident of A'irden. was 

ir born near Hamburg. Germany. April 3, 186;'). 
He is a sou of Frederick and Lena (Westfall) Hen- 
sen, who were both natives of the same locality. 
The father of our subject learned the trade of a 
cabinet-maker, which he followed in his native land 
until 18C8, and then with his family emigrated to ■ 
America and made his new home in Genesee. Henry 
County, III. There he followed his trade untiF 
1888 and then went to Litchfield, and worked in 
the ear shops for one year. He now makes his home 
with the sou whose name heads this sketch. 




PORTRAIT A>'D BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



803 



The jwrenls of our subject reare<1 four children. 
Henry. Augnsia. Conrad E. and Julia. Conr:i>l w.is 
but three years old when he ca:ne to Amerit-i »"iih 
his parents. He reeeired his education in the pub- 
lie schools of Geceseo. When he was a lad of fif- 
teen years lie beg.^n work in a cresmery. finding 
work there a portion of each year for four years. 
The remainder of his time he found employment in 
dressinsr poultry for the mro-ket. 

For three winters this youag man was thus em- 
ployed at MatiooD. Coles County, from there going 
to Chicago, leaving the latter place in 1887, to en- 
gage in the business for himself in Virden, buying 
eggs and shipping poultry. He forme<l a [jartner- 
sliip with Lis brother Henry, uniler the firm name 
of Hensen Bros. With true German frugality and 
caution, they commence*! their business in a small 
way. but have increased it from jear to year and 
now have branch establishments at Litchfield. Car- 
linville. Palmyra and Carroll ton and carry on a 
business of over ?2o0.000 a year. In 1889 they 
erected a. brick building in Virden. two stories in ! 
height and 34x70 feet in dimensions. 

The marriage of Mr. Hensen, April 10, 1889, was 
an event of great interest in his life. His bride I 
bore the maiden name of Margaret Gal>el. She 
was born in l>orchester. Macoupin County. 111., 
and is a lady of worth and intelligence who is a fit 
companion for this enterprising and upright citi- 
zen. One child has crowned this union, little 
Cliarlic, who is tlie darling of the home. 



DATHAXIEL CARRICO. one of the lead- 
ing citizens of Honey Point Township, may 
justly be classed among ihe most eater- 
prising and successful farmeisof Macoupin Count}", 
his fine farm bearing witness to his thrift, ability 
and skillful management. He is now the owner 
of six hundred and seventy-five acres of well-im- 
proved land, with substantial buildings and all the 
modern machinery in use on a model farm, and. 
in fact, everything conducive to the comfort and 
convenience of the enlightened farmer. 

A native of Illinois. Mr. Carrico was born nenr 



Kaue. in that part of Greene now included in 
Jersey County. September 9. 1833, and is the son 
of Nathaniel Cavrico. a Kentuckian by birth. The 
father of the latter. Dennis Carrico, was born in 
Chelsea County, Md.. and was of early Fri-nch an- 
cestry. In 1633 three broihers Ciue to America 
as members of Lord Baltimore's colony-, and one 
of these was the great-great-grandfather of our 
subject. 

Dtnnis Carrico lived 4n his native Maryland 
until he attained manhoo<i. and became a wheel- 
wright bj- trade. While still 3-onng he went to 
Pennsylvania, where he married a Miss Clark. 
From the Keystone .State he went to Kentucky, 
where he remaine<I a few jears. and his next move 
was to -St. Louis County. Mo. At that lime there were 
but few while people living west of the Mississippi 
and St. Louis was but a trading pos'. He reside<l 
there some ye^rs. and then came to Illinois in 
Territorial days, and became .one of the early pio- 
neers of Greene County. He made a claim, and 
when the land came into the market entered it 
from the Government and first erected a set of 
log buildings. In those da\s there was quite a 
demand for spinning wheels,- and he followed bis 
trade a part of the time, making those useful arti- 
cles, and the remainder devoting himself to farm- 
ing. He finally erected a frame house on his 
homestead, which is still standin.2^. His farm was 
Iocate<l eight miles west of K-ane. and there his 
death took place in 185 1 . 

Xatlriniel Carrico. Sr.. was but a small boy 
when his |'>arenis went to Missouri, and in that 
State he was reared. He came to Illinois when a 
y<>ung man and entere<I several tracts of Govern- 
ment land in Jersey County, and built on the tract 
near Kane. There he made his home the re- 
mainder of his life, which was brought to a close 
when scarcely past its priice. his death oc-curring 
November 7. 1833. His wife, whose maiden name 
was Mary Brown, a native of St. Louis County. Mo., 
was again marrietl, her second husband being 
James Cooper. She was the mother of four chil- 
dren by her first marriage and eight by her sec- 
ond union. Her last days were passe<l with her 
children and she died in March. 1885. at an ad- 
vanced age. Her father, Griffith Brown. wss a South- 



806 



PORTRAIT A^D TJOGRAPHICAL RFX'OBD. 



erner. boru either in Sioutb Carolina or Georgm. 
He marriefl Sally Foster, and after that event 
came North and located In Missouri at a rery early 
day of its settlement. The removal was made 
with packhorses, the family taking with toem all 
their earthly eflfects. Mr. Brown improved a farm 
a few miles north of St. Louis, and there dwelt 
nntil death called him hence. 

As we have seen, our subject is a descendant of 
the early pioneer stock of this State, and he grew 
up in his native county and under pioneer influ- 
ences to a stalwart, self-reliant, energetic manhood, 
rie continued to live in Jersey County until 18.52. 
in the meantime (1850) visiting this county and 
entering two nundred acres of Government land 
on sections I and 12. Honey Point Township. In 
1852 he went to Iowa and resided there with an 
nncle until 1854, when he came to Honey Point 
Township, and since that time has been a value<l 
resident of this part of the county, active in de- 
veloping its agriculture and a potent factor in its 
prosperity. In the management of his affairs he 
has displayetl more than ordinary acumen and 
business ability, and has gathered together a valu- 
able property, the possession of which entitles him 
to a place among the most extensive landholders 
of the township. He has a clear, vigorous mind 
of his own. and exercises his right to maintain his 
own opinions on subjects in which he is intorrsteil, 
and thus we find him a strong suppvtcr of the 
policy of the Republican party. 

In 1 856 Mr. Carrico was married to Miss Jane 
Mitchell, a native of Brushy Mound Township, 
and a daughter of Elijah and Jane (M<K>re) Mitch- 
ell. After a happy wedded life of more than 
twenty j-ears Mrs. Carrico died in 1879. The fol- 
lowing are the names of the children born of that 
marriage: Mary Elizabeili. the wife of George 
W. Drake; Nacy A., fleceased: Margaret J.; Na- 
thaniel and LaurA. both deceased: John G.. Lula, 
Jessie S., deceased; George B.. Martha, Nora; and 
Phcebe M., decease<I. The union of Mr. Carrico 
and his present amiable wife was celebrated in 
1886, and the bride on this interesting occasion 
was Mrs. Virginia B. (Decker) Williams. By her 
first marriage Mrs. Carrico became the mother of 
two children — Marv K. G. and Albert G. G. 



Three children have been bom to her and Mr. Car- 
rico, .tnd they have been named Virginia B.. Dot- 
tie and Frances A. The various members of the 
family are highly esteeme<l and are well known 
both in the business and social world. 



-^^ 



^ 



ON. CHARLES A. WALKER, of Carlin- 
vllle. is a distinguished member of the bar 
of Macoupin County. He was born in 
Tennessee, four miles from Nashville. Aa- 
gust 21, 1826. His father, .\braiiam S.,was a native 
of the same State &nd was a son of Charles Walker, 
who was bom in Rowan County, N. C in I 765. of 
Scotch parentage, Charles Walker, the grandfather 
of our subject, removed to Logan County. Ky., in 
the early days of its settlement, and from there be 
sul>sequcntly went to Tennessee, of which he was 
one of the original settlers. While a resident of 
Logan County. Ky.. he married Matilda -Stephens, 
whose father, Abram. was bom in England in 1870, 
and c-ame to America soon after the Revolution. 
He at first settled in Virginia, whence he went to 
Kentucky, and from tuere remove<I to Davidson 
County, Tenn.. dying there at a ripe old age in 1815. 
Their son Abraham S.. the father of es-.*^nalor 
Walker, was a gunsmith by trade. He removed 
from Nashville, Tenn., to Illinois in 1828. accom- 
panied by his wife and ihiee children. His wife, 
whose maiden name was Rosina Phelps, was born 
on the shores of Albemarle Sound, N. C, Jan- 
uary. 2. 1899. She was a daughter of Joseph 
Phelps who was a native of North Carolina and 
was of Welsh descent She died at Carlinville, 
February 1 2. 1 875. having attained a venerable 
age. Four children, Caroline. Charles A.. Tennes- 
see and James L..were bom to them, the last named 
die<l in his boyhood, in August. 1851. Abraham 
S. Walker located in Madison County, where his 
father-in-law. Joseph Phelps, had enteretl a tract 
of Government land where he resided until 1830, 
when he came to Carlinville. which was then but a 
small village of four or five buildings, of which 
one was a small frame house, the others beinsr of 
logs. The only store in the place was owne<i by 



PORTRAIT A>'D BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sni 



Wr. Pl:iat who carried a small stock ol: geaeral 
mercuan<iise in the frame building. The surround- 
in» coantry was for many years sparsely ijettled 
and the inhabitants had but little comm^unicatioo 
with the outside world, as there were no railw.iys 
and for some lime only a weekly mail. All kinds 
of same were plentiful and often furnished a wel- 
come addition to the s<:>metimes scant fare of the 
pioneer. 

The father of our subject bought a tract of land 
at Carlinville on the south side of the public s<juaro. 
He erected a log house for a dwelling on the soath- 
east corner of the 3<iuare. and another building of 
logs for a gunsmith and blacksmith shop. He 
carried on the smithy until 1836. and then went 
into the mercantile business, buying his goods at 
.St. Louis and transporting them with teams, taking 
ttve days to make the round trip. Mr. Walker 
continued La business here until 1868, dying in 
March. 187.3. at the age of seventy-four. 

Iiarles A. Walker, the subject of this sketch, 
was two years old when his parents brought him 
to their new home in Illinois. He grew with the 
growth of the country, witnessing its entire devel- 
opment from a wilderness. He attended tlie pio- 
neer schools, one of which was taught in the oI<l 
Coart House which was built of logs. He has in 
his possession the record of the school for the win- 
ter of 18-15—46. The entire number of scholars en- 
rolled in Ca.'linville at that time was forty-two. 
John Frow was the teacher. After leaving the 
public schools our subject was a student at Shurt- 
leff College. Upper Alton, nntil the gold fever of 
California broke out, when, becoming irabuod with 
the popular excitement of the day and being 
fitte<l by a vigorous constitution to enjoy an over- 
land trip through a wild and unexplored country, 
he on the loth of March, 1849, in company with 
Charles Palmer, brother of Senator Palmer, and 
John Keller slarteil for the distant Eldorado. 

Traveling with three yoke of oxen attached to 
a wagon, the little psirty crossed the Mississippi 
River at .St. Louis, and passing through the State 
of Missouri, crossed the Missouri River at Intle- 
pendence. They spent a few days there and then 
went up the north bank of the river to St. Joseph. 
At that time there were no white settlers except sol- 



diers and traders at a Government post between 
Missouri and SacraraenCo City, aside from the mis- 
sionaries, soldiers aad Mormons at Salt Lake City. 
Deer, antelope and elk were plenty, and he ds 
of buffaloes were encountered on the plains and 
even wild horses were occasionally seen. Mr. Walker 
and his companions were one hundred days in 
journeying from. St. .loseph to Sacramento. The 
firsS winter of his stay on the Pacific Slope he en- 
gaged in mining near Placer vi lie, and .tfter that in 
packing provisions from .Marysville to Feather 
River. 

In 1851 our subject returned to Illinois by wav 
of the Isthmus, ami engaged in clerking for his 
father nntil his marriage. After that event he cs- 
tiiblished himself in business on his own account. 
In 1856 he turned his attention to the study of law 
in the office of Messrs. Gilbert A Rinaker, was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1858, and since that time has 
been in active practice at Carlinville. He has 
made for himself a most enviable reconl as an ad- 
vocate and stands to-day among the leading mem- 
bers of the profession. He is distinguished by 
strong common sense, a keen insight into all legal 
questions with which he has to deal, and a clear, 
practical style of presenting his eases that makes 
him jxtpular with judge snd jury. Mr. Walker is 
pre-eminently adroit in elucidating testimony from 
witnesses and in dealing with juries and men gen- 
erally; he has unusual discernment as to the value 
of evidence and an intuitive knowledge of human 
nature. He is happy in bis domestic relations, .as 
by his m.irriage, November 16, 1852, to Miss Per- 
melia A. Dick, a native of Sangamon Couiity. III., 
an<l a daughter of Daniel and Susan Dick, he se- 
cured one of life's inestimable blessings, a good 
wife. Two ciiililren have been born to them — 
Lolah and Mae. 

Our subject's position, not only as one of the 
leading lawyers of the county but .is a gentleman 
of culture and broad mind, liberal in his views, of 
generous, genial nature, has made him very influ- 
ential in the civic life of this part of the State. 
In the various high official positions that he hss 
held he has displayed that true and disinteretesd 
public spirit that seeks the highest goo<l of the com- 
munity, and his name is indissolublv liiik<>d with 



808 



FORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



much that lias pronvoted the best interests of the 
city and county. In the Court House agitation Mr. 
Walker, by his outspoken views and prominent 
position became a leader in the opposition to the 
creating of a debt which would weigh the countj^ 
down. In educational matters he has always taken 
a deep interest, and as I'resident of the Board of 
Education, has been potent in instituting many 
needed reforms in the local schools. He was au- 
thor of the Compulsory Eilucation Bill and was 
instrumental in securing its passage when it be- 
came a law in tlie session of 1882-83. 

VV^hen Mr. Walker entered the arena of polities 
be voted with the Wiiig party but in 1854 he be- 
came a Democrat and has ever since been an able 
f.dvocate of the tenets of that party. He has served 
as Mayor of Carlinville, admiuistering the affairs 
of the city with ability and public spirit. In tiie 
year 1862 he was elected to the State Legislature 
as Representative of his district, and in 1880 his 
fellow-citizens sent hira to the State Senate. Sound 
statesmanship, devoiion to the interests of liis con- 
stituents, and an unswerving adlierence to tlie high- 
est principles of honor and honesty marked his 
career as a legislator. 



:.^.A.^.. 



ENJAMIN A. BECKNER. Virginia has 
A for years boasted of being the birthplace (jf 
some of our most prominent men and in- 
deed it is no small honor to have given to 
the world such men as Washington, Jefferson, 
Adams, C'la3' and Lee. Tliere is always a satisfac- 
tion in associating one's self, even in a remote way 
with those who have accomplished so much in mak- 
ing our country one of the grandest that time has 
ever known. Our subject, vviio resides on section 
14, North Otter Township, is a native of Virginia. 
His father, .John Beckncr, was also there born and 
his mother, Elizabeth (Cook) Beckner, was also a 
native of the old Colonial State. There they were 
married and settled in Botetourt County, where 
the father died. The mother followed him not 




many 5-ears after, passing away in Roanoke County, 
same State. The grandparents of our subject were 
John and Christena Beckner, natives of Virginia 
and Pennsylvania. 

The parents of our subject had ten children, be of 
whom we write being the eighth. He was born 
July 22, U*34, in the same county in which his 
parents were married. Here he remained until be 
reached manhood, enjoying the educational advan- 
tages for which his native State has always been 
noted. In 1859 he came to Clarke County, Ohio, 
there living for five years, during which time he 
worked energetically and amassed a verj' comforta- 
ble little competency'. In 1864 he removed to 
Macoupin Count}' and settled in North Otter 
Township where he has ever since been a resident. 
He has always been a farmer and has so intelli- 
gei.tly conducted his work .as to make the most of 
liis chosen calling. 

Mr. Beckner settled on his present faruj in 1868- 
69 and here he has since resided. He owns one 
hundred and sixty acres of land and has thereon 
erected a number of buildings that supply the de- 
mand for storage room for his productions. He, 
himself, has a comfortable dwelling that is as in- 
viting inside as well as out as taste and relinement 
can make it. He was married in his native State. 
His bride, whose maiden name was Magdalene 
Brubaker, was a native of Virginia. She bore him 
one child, Elizabeth, and passed aw.ay in North 
Otter Township in October, 1859. He contracted 
a second marriage, his cnoice being Miss Catherine 
Brubaker, a sister of his first wife. Their marriage 
took place in North Otter Township, June, 1865; 
like her sister, she was a native of Virginia, there 
born June 7, 1846. Mr. Beckner and his present 
wife are the parents of eleven children, eight of 
whom are still living. The latter ar(? Mar\', Laura, 
Susan, A' via, Ida, Harve^', Asa and Bertha. 

Our subject has shown his fitness for |)ublic posi- 
tion by efHciently discharging the duties of the 
office to which he h.as been elected b', the people, 
of School Director. Mr. and Mrs. Beckner are 
active members of the German Baptist Church. 
The father of Mrs. Beckner was Joel Brubaker, who 
was a native of Virginia. The lady's mother was 
Elizabeth (Fisher) Brubaker, a native of Franklin 




RESIDENCE OF FRANK GEH RIG , SEC. 21.,N1 LWOOD TR.MACOUPl N CO.JLL, 




RESIDENCE OF B. A. BECKN ER , SEC. 1-4^ NORTH OTTER TP., MACOUPIN CO., ILL. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



811 



County, Va. They settled at an eailj' day in that 
State, the father died in Roanolve Count}', and the 
mother in Macoupin County, 111. 

Elsewhere in this volume appears a view of the 
i-omfortalile abode of Mr. Beckner. 

^ ^ — li^'/K^^s — sa ^ 

T^RANK GEHRIG. There is prol)al)ly no 
^ more pleasant farm in Nilwood Township 
than that which is owned and occupied by 
Mr. Gehrig, and a view of which accoinpanies 
this sketch. Altliough the acreage is not large, 
yet every rod of ground is made productive, or 
set apnrc for some useful purpose. A native of 
(iermanv, Mr. Gehrig vvas born February 2, 
1839, and there passed the days of his boyhood 
and youth. Wlien lie arrived nl manhood he de- 
termined to seek a home across the broad waters 
of the ocean and accordingly, in the fall of 1864, 
he emigrated to .\racrica, coming directly to Car- 
linville, where he arrived February 10, 1865. 
Since that lime he has resided continuously in this 
county and has been closely connected with its 
later growth and progress. 

Mr. Gehrig was first manicd in Carlinville, 
his wife being Miss Emma Michnesser, who was 
also a native of (jlermany. She did not long glad- 
den the home of her husband as she passed from 
earth June 11, 1886, in Nilwood Township. Mr. 
Gehrig afterward married again, the ladj' of his 
choice beirig Miss Mina Threde, who was, like 
himself, a native of the Fjilherhuid. Their n.ar- 
riage was celebrated October 5. 1887, in Alton, 
this State, and unto them two children have been 
born — Dora and Frank. 

About 1874 Mr. (Gehrig located upon the estate 
which is still his home, and which includes eighty- 
six and one-half acres. Considerable money has 
been invested in the improvement of the farm 
and by hard work ftlr. Gehrig has tiansformed it 
into a productive space, in which the choicest 
grains and vegetables maj- be found. Agriculture 
h.as always been the chosen occui)ation of Mr. 
Gehiig, and he thoroughly understands the best 
methods of farming, having been reared on a farm 



in German^', and having always followed this vo- 
cation. Directly after coming to this county he 
rented a farm in Brushy Mound Township, and 
after residing there five j-ears settled on section 
21, Nilwood Township. 

To his chosen calling in life Mr. Gehrig gives 
his undivided attention and makes a specialty of 
stock-raising, which he finds very profitable. lie 
has contributed greatly to the improvement of his 
farm since he purchased it. The buildings are in 
excellent condition and are admir.ably adapted to 
their various purposes. Both Mr. Gehrig and his 
estimable wife are members of the German Cath- 
olic Church. The father of our subject, Frank 
Gehrig, died while with his son in Carlinville, 
this State; the mother, Katherine Gehrig, passed 
away in German}'. We maj- well be proud of hav- 
ing so intelligent a German-American citizen in 
our midst, and like many of his countrj'men, he 
has aided largely in the development of American 
soil; like them also he is warm-hearted, generous 
and sociable. 

\f/EREMIAH CONVERSE, one of the most 
liberal and public-spirited citizens of Barr 
Township, resides on section 20, where his 
beautiful farm and excellent farm build- 
ings altiact the vye of every pasfer-b\-. His father 
was Alfreil Converse who was born in Connecticut 
and his mother, Betsey Corey, a Ncv.' Jersey wom- 
an. They came from ^'ellnont to Greene County, 
111 , in 1844 and made that their permanent homo. 
Our sulijictjiad his birth in Addison County, N. 
Y., Maich 21, 1822, and there he grew to manhood 
and resideii until he decided lo emigrate to Illi- 
nois, which was in 1844. Two years later ho went 
back to the <7icen Mountain State to wed Miss 
Lovina Corey, who was born in Addison County, 
June 2, 1827. The marriage took place, Septem- 
ber 13. '846, and the young couple immediately 
came West and made their home in Greene County. 
After a long residence in that county, Mr. and 
Mrs. Converse thought best to remove to Macou- 
|iin Count}', and moved upon a farm in l>arr 



812 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Township. Here they have successfully carried on 
^ beir agricultural pursuits and are the owners of 
two hundred and twenty acres of fertile and pro- 
ductive land. 

Six children iiave brightened tliis home, namely : 
Ira who married Erama D. Spain; Helen, tiic wife 
of David Stout; Lucia, the wife of Eiisiia Stout; 
Laura, Mrs. Henry Gary; Fred W., and Rufus E. 
who married Lucy Hicks. While living in Greene 
County, Mr. Converse made substantial improve- 
ments upon iiis farm tliere and put it in first c-hiss 
condition. His political views have led liim to 
afliliate with the Republican party and lie has been 
Higiiway Commissioner, an office wiiicli he has 
filled with credit to himself and great proiit tti llie 
community. It is to such men as this, who by their 
broad understanding of public necessities, unseltisii 
devotion to public interest and strict integrity, 
have proved their fitness for public office, lliat 
any cgmmunity owes much of its prosperity and 
pi ogress. 



fL^ ENRY J. PRANGE, a successful and well- 
to-do farmer of Cahokia Township, who 
resides on section 23, owns tliere an excellent 
farm of two hundred au'l thirty-eight acres, 
and upon them he has good farm buildings. Be- 
sides this tract he owns one hundred and sixty 
acres on section 34, and it is all well improved 
.and rich prairie land. He has resided in this town- 
ship since 1877, and on this farm the past nine 
years. Formerly he had lived in Mt. Olive Town- 
ship, this county, and was there reared and educa- 
ted to the business of a farmer. 

Our subject was born in Prussia, Germany, Au- 
gust 23, 1852, and is the second son of Henry 
Prange, who became one of the earliest (ierraan 
settlers of Mt. Olive Township. For further inter- 
esting minutia in regard to this worthy family, we 
refer the reader to the biographical sketch of tiie 
father which is found on another page of this 
Record. Our subject was only one year old when 
his parents came to the United States in 1853. The 
family voyaged in a sailing vessel and landing in 
New Orleans, journeyed North and settled in Ma- 



coupin County, which has been their permanent 
homo from that day to this. 

Henry was married in Cahokia Township, this 
county, March G, 1878, to Wilhelmina Eickmeyer, 
who was born in St. Louis, Mo., December 21, 1859. 
She was eighteen months old when her parents, 
William and Wilhelmina (Kruse) Eickmeyer, re- 
moved from St. Louis to Cahokia Township, and 
settled upon the farm where they are yet living. 
This venerable couple are still living, and stand 
high as good citizens of this county. They were 
born in Prussia, Germany, and were there reared 
and married. Two children were born unto tliera, 
and one was taken from them b}' death before they 
came to this country. They, as well as their daugh- 
ter, Mrs. Prange, are faithful and devoted members 
of the Lutheran Church. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Prange have been born six 
children, all of whom are living at home witli their 
faithful and devoted parents. They are as follows: 
Anna W., Lydia W., Mary W., Minnie S.. John H. 
and William H. This family stands high in the 
community, the father being one of the most prom- 
inent among the German-American citizens of the 
county. His neighbors have twice given to him 
the position of Township Collector, which he has 
filled with credit to himself and profit to his neigh- 
bors. 



^J,OBERT TUCKER, who resides on section 
27, North Palmyra Township, is a promi- 
nent and successful farmer and tile manu- 
facturer. Like many other residents of 
this count}', he is of Southern lineage. His father, 
Rol)ert Tucker, was a Mrginian r.nd his mother, 
Margaret Ellis, having been born in Kentucky. 
Their first Illinois home was in Morgan County, to 
which they came from Kentucky, and after having 
lived tliere about a year emigrated to Missouri, 
where Robert Tucker, Sr., died in Clay County. 
The fainil}' then returned to Kentucky and settled 
ill Marion County. The widow afterward married 
William Powers and settled in Casey County, 
Ky., where that gentleman died. Being a second 
time left a widow this lady returned to Illinois and 




PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



813 



settled in Mjicoujiin County, during tbe last part of 
tlie deende of the '60s. Her life ended in Scolt- 
ville Township, in August, 1878. Three sons and 
one dtiughter blessed her first marriaoe of whom 
Robert wms the youngest. 

The subject of this brief review was born in 
Clay County, Mo., March 14, 1835, and lived with 
his grandfather, Isaac KIlis, until lie was about 
nineteen years old. In 1854 he came to Macoupin 
County and hired out to tiie late Isoni Dalton, in 
a brick factory, and remained with him for six 
months. For another eighteen months he was en- 
gaged in farm work and then decided to begin 
independently for himself. He rented land for 
two years in North Paltnyia Township, and in this 
way prepared for future prosperity. 

Mrs. Elizabeth O'Neal, of whom our readers 
will find a sketch upon another page of this vol- 
ume, made a wedding for her daughter Sarah at 
her home in North Palmyra Township, June 13, 
1858. This daughter was then wedded to the sub 
ject of this sketcli. Mrs. Tucker was born in 
North Palmyra Township, April 14, 1840, and 
there she had grown to a beautiful and attractive 
3onng woinanhoo<l. Mrs. O'Neol made the young 
couple welcome to reside upon her farm for three 
or four years, after which they settled on section 
27, of Palmyra Township, where Mr. Tucker has 
since been a resident. In the spring of 1879 he 
built the tile works on his farm and has since car- 
ried them on in connection with his culture of one 
hundred and sixty-six broad and rich acres. He 
uas erected a pleasant home and has made good 
improvements upon his land. 

Mr. and Mrs. Tucker are the parents of four 
children: Elizabeth A., Lewis L., Grant U.. Olis 
C. The eldest son died when seven months old. 
Mr. and Mrs. Tucker have trained their children 
acco''tling to the doctrines and duties of the Chris- 
tian religion, and are themselves active members 
of the Baptist Church, and much of the prosperity 
which these young people are meeting in life may 
well be ascribed to the judicious instruction and 
education which was given them by their parents. 
Mrs. Tucker is a woman of unusual ability and 
character and makes her mark in the commnnity 
where she resides. Mr. Tucker has well lillcil tlu; 



position of School Director and while in that office 
materially advanced the interest of education. The 
l>olitical doctrines which he endorses are those of 
i.he Republican party. Mrs. Tucker is a sister of 
.Mrs. .1. P. Gibbs, whose husband is elsewhere re- 
corded in this vuluma. Their |)leasant home is 
the scene of frequent and happy social reunions 
and their hospitality is well-known throughout the 
township. 



-►i-^-i-^^^i-M- 



^^^EORGE W. JOHN, a respected citizen of 
ij (=1 Palmyra, is not at present engaged in any 
^M active business enterprise. He has in for- 
mer years been connected with mercantile and man- 
ufacturing affairs and he has also had some interest 
among the agriculturists of this section, as the 
owner of a good piece of outlying land. He is 
classed among the intelligent, law-abiding and use- 
ful members of the commnnity, and is known to 
possess the true public spirit, which is manifested 
in his connection with those projects which tend 
to develoi) the material and civil resources of the 
country. 

The John family was established in America in 
Colonial times by Owen John, a native of Wales. 
He set ui) his home in Chester County, Pa., which 
was the birthplace of the succeeding generations 
until the time of our subject. The second of the 
family in the direct line was William, the next 
Owen and the next Evan. The last named was a 
natural mechanic and worked at cabinetniakingand 
shoemaking. In 1838 he removed to this .State, 
traveling with a te::m to AVheeling, W. Va., and 
there embarking on a river boat and via the Ohio 
and Mississippi, reached Alton. Upon disembark- 
ing, he resumed the journey with his team, Spring- 
field being his objective point. That now thriving 
city was then but a village and the surrounding 
country was sparsely settled. 

After si)ending six months there Mr. John re- 
moved to Auburn, where he opened a cabinet-shop 
and followed the trade until 1816. That year he 
br>ught a home on Hart's Prairie, Morgan County, 
:ind lived there until 1858, in the meantime work- 



814 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



in<? in a macliinc sliop al Waller's Mills. His next 
removal was to Palrayia, iliis county, where he 
l)ouglit a lot and built a iiouso. After living in 
the village a few years lie bought huid a short dis- 
tance south of town and resided there until after 
the death of his wife, from which time he made his 
home with his children. The maiden name of his 
wife was Angcline Mercer and she was a native of 
Maryland. The family included six children, one 
son and Bve (laughters and four of the household 
band are now living. 

The subject of this notice was boni in Maryland, 
May 7, 183.S. He was five years old when he came 
to this Slate and he has a vivid recollection of the 
incidents of the journey and of pioneer life here af. 
a time when deer and wolves were plenty in Ma- 
coupin County. He maile his home with his par- 
ents until he was twenty-six years old, although iie 
had been doing for himself some time before he es- 
tablished a home elsewhere. In 1854 lie built a 
sawmill in Morgan County and operated it until 
18.')8, then removed the plant to Palmy I'a and car- 
ried on the same work here until 18G1. At that 
time he decided to make a change of occu|)ation, 
and selling the mi'l he took u[) a mercantile life. 
He carried on business two years, then sold out and 
bought an interest in the flouring-niill. To the 
operation of this he devoted his attention twenty 
years and when that period had elapsed disposed of 
his interest and entered upon a life of leisure. He 
still owns a good farm two miles north of the vil- 
lage, that he bought some years since. 

M''. .lohn was married first in ISoS) to Cynthia 
K. King. That lady was born in North Palmyra 
Township and was a daughter of .Toseph King. 
She died in 18C2. leaving two daughters, Nettie 
and Cvnthia E. The second maiiiage of Mr. John 
was solemnized in IcSGG and his l)ride was Mrs. 
Elizabeth M. Hodges m-i' Rice, ^he was a daugh- 
ter of William and Elizabeth Rice and widow of 
Samuel Hodges. Her union with our subject re 
suited in the birth of four children, two of whom 
survive, namely: Myrtle and Charlie. The mother 
of these children died in 1879 and in 1881 Mr. 
John was raarrieil to Rachel 1). Yoakley. This 
lady is a native of Tennessee and a daughter of E. 
B. and Eliza Yoakle^'. She is :i member in good 



standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church and 
Mr. John is also identified with that religious body. 
He is a member of the Republican party and is al- 
ways to be found at the polls exercising the right 
of suffrage, as he thinks every loyal citizen should. 



^|]OHN MONTGOMERY, a retired farmer 
I living in Brighton, has resided in Illinois 
since her territorial days and has therefore 
been an eyewitness of her entire growth as 
a State. With the history of two of her counties, 
Madison and Macoupin, he has been prominently 
connected and this volunu: would be incomplete if 
his life-record was omitted. He has seen the broad 
prairies of the Slate transformed into excellent 
homes and farms, towns and villages spring up, 
countless industriPt, and manufactories introduced, 
while miles upon miles of railroad have been built, 
l)enetrating every nook and corner of this vast 
State. 

Mr. Montgomery has lived in this county for 
fifty-two years. He was born in Madison County, 
six miles from Alion, February 7. 1817, and be- 
longs to an old family that had come to Illinois in 
the early [)ait (,f the [iresent century and located 
on territorial land. His father, William Montgom- 
ery, was a native of Virginia but was reared in 
Kentucky and when a young man sought a home 
in Madison County, 111. Responding to the coun- 
try's call for troops, he served throughout the en- 
tire War of 1812, and for his meritorious service 
was made Ca|>tain of his company. When the war 
was over he returned to his old home where he 
lived until his death which occurred at the age of 
sixty five years. The land which he entered from 
the (Tovernment is still in the possession of the 
family, being now the property of his son, Hamp- 
ton. William Montgomery was married in Madi- 
son County to Miss Sallie Ratten, a native of 
Virginia. Her father emigrated with his family- 
from Viicinia to Illinois and became the first white 
settler on what has since been known as Ratten 
Prairie, where he lived and died. He was a prom- 
inent citizen and pioneer. The death of Mrs. 




6 E0R6 E W. AD AMS. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



.S17 



Montgomorv occurrtd some six ^cars prior to licr 
lnish;iii(rs decease. Siic was lo him t\ true lielp- 
inate and a most estimable lady. Our sulijeet vv.ns 
the second in order of birth in their family of 
twelve children, seven of whom are yei: living'. 

John Montgomerj' remained under the parental 
roof until twenty -three years of age, being reare<l 
among the wild scenes of pioneer life and then 
came to this coiinly, where he began work on a 
new farm. He has been twice married, his first 
union being with Miss Mercy Love, a native of 
Cape Cod, Mass., who with her parents came to 
Illinois during her childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Love 
were prominent people of this community and here 
spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Mont- 
gomery was also a lady of many excellencies of 
character and her death, which occurred at the age 
of forty years, was mourned by many friends out- 
side of her immediate family. By that union have 
been born four cliildren — Thomas, who wedded 
Abigail Kbbermm, is living in Ft. Collins, Colo., 
where he formerly occupied tlio position of County 
Clerk; Miranfla is the wife of Abraham Wood, and 
their home is in Woodhurn, III.; John P., who 
wedded Lena Sanns, is living on his father's farm ; 
and May is the wife of Dr. Frank Stiibblefield. 

Mr. Montgomery was again (parried in this 
county, his second union being with Mrs. Elizabeth 
Jackson, who was born in Wayne County, Ind., 
.September 7, 1833, and is a daughter of Andrew 
and Susanna Johnson, the former a native of Indi- 
ana and the latter of SontI: Carolina. They were 
married in the Hoosier State, where they resided 
until 1865, when they came to Illinois, locating in 
Macoupin County. Hero both died when well 
advanced in years. When Elizabeth Johnson was 
a young maiden she went to Arkansas, where she 
met and married Peter Jackson, who died in that 
Stale at the age of f(trty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. 
Montgomery have a i)leasant home in Brighton, 
where they expect to spend the remainder of their 
days. They are members of the Methodist Church, 
in the work of which they take an active interest 
and by all who know them they are held in high 
esteem. In politics, Mr. Montgomery is a Demo- 
crat. He made farming his life-oecu|iation and in 
this county cleared ami imi)r<)ved land, developing 



it into an excellent fai-m. As ihe result of his in- 
dustry, perseverance and good management he 
acquired a handsome propeity and in his declining 
years he is now living a retired life, enjoying the 
fruits of his former toil. 



K^- 



-^ 




C-*-^ 



GEORGE W. ADAMS. The name of this 
gentleman was for many years a familiar 
one among the people (if Macoupin County, 
where he entered upon and finished a most worthy 
career. His portrait presented on the opiiosito 
page repiesents a citizen widely known and honored 
wherever known. Not only was lie a witness 
of the development, of M.nconpin Count}- from a 
comparatively unimportant portion of the State 
to its present position among the foremost coun- 
ties, but he aided in its progress and his histor}' is 
closely interwoven with that of the county. His 
life was a busy oni-; realizing that we are not liei'c 
ni'Mcly to " kill time" he aimed to till his life with 
useful deeds. It may tridy be said of him that he 
was one of those 

" Who comprehend their trust and to the same 
Keep faithfid with a singleness of aim; 

And therefore do not stoop or lie in wait 
For wealth or honor or for worldly state; 

Whom they must follow, on whose head must fall. 
Like showers of manna, if they come at all." 

The jrirent:;! histor}' of Mr. Adams is fully 
given in the biographical sketch of his brother, 
(iiles M., elsewhere in this volume. We will 
merely relate the most important events in his lite 
and those inciilents which most powerfully affected 
his destiny. Prior to his demise he was a farmer 
of Brushy Mound Town-ship, and occupied one of 
the Oldest homesteads of the county. He was the 
son of William C. and Margaret (Ward) Adams, 
who came to Illinois in 1828, becoming pioneers in 
what was at that time a wilderness, where wild 
animals and Inc^ians roamed unmolested. There 
were neither railways nor free schools, and farming 
was conducted after the most primitive style. In 
that sparsely settled section the father made a 
settlement near Dorchester and afterward improved 
a farm in what is now Brushy Mound Township. 



818 



rOKTRAlT AMD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



In llie log cabin wliicii was the pio.ieer home of 
his parents, in Brusiiy Mound Township, George 
W. Arhims was born November 12, 1847. He was 
renreil to a stalwart manhood in iiis native phice 
and gleaned a common-school education in the 
schools of Ills boyhood. His attention was mainly 
given to agricultural pursuits and having a predi- 
lection for rural labors he D!i*,urall_v chose farming 
as his life vocation. When quite young he was 
ori)haned by the death of liis father, after which 
iie continued l>> reside with his mother on the home 
farm. This place was his home during his entire 
life with the exception of four years passed in 
Alontgomcry County. 

In his wife Mr. Adams found a true helpmate, 
one who doubled his joys and divided his sorrows. 
She bore the maiden name of Mary E. Dowdall, 
and was horn in Greene County, this State, to John 
S. and Ellen (Witt) Dowdrdl. The marriage of 
our subject and his estimable wife was celebrated 
August 13, 1868, and four children born of the 
union are living at present, Laura E.. Margaret E., 
Cora B. and George W. Four children are deceased. 
Politically' Mr. Adams was a stanch upholder of the 
Democratic party. His death occurred May 18, 
1891, when only in the prime of a useful life. As 
a husband, he was tender and devoted; as a father 
he reared his children to nobl3'act their part in the 
battle of life; as a citizen, he was upright and 
patriotic. Although his large circle of acquaint- 
ances deeply mourn his untimely demise, thej' 
realize that he has left behind him that which can- 
not fade away — the exam|)le of an honorable life. 



•«*o-^JA><A^..o*o.. 



Vi?OHN CHURCHILL KING, a prominent 
farmer of Palmyra, was born on a farm on 
section 32, of North Palmyra 'I'ownship, 
November 14, 1837. His father, Joseph 
King was born in Todd County, Ky., as was 
also his grandfather. Joseph King was reared in 
Kentucky and after his marriage came from there 
to Illinois in 1835, accompanied by his wife and 
two chililrcn. Tliey ni.ade the entire journey over- 
land with ox-teams, bringing with tUem all their 



earthly possessions. His financial circumstances 
were vcr3' limited and although most of the land 
in the count}' was for sale at 5=1.25 per acre he 
could not pui'chase. He rented land for a time 
and then soon as he had the means, he entered 
forty acres of timber and orush land upon section 
32, of North Palmyra Township and built a log 
cabin on the place. He with his own hands rived 
the boards for the roof and chinked the cracks 
with chips and clay. At that time there were no 
railroads through this region and for a number of 
years, Alton and St. Louis were the nearest mar- 
kets and the people lived altogether on the product 
of the farm. .Somewhat later Mr. King purchased 
more land and finally had one hunilred and sixty 
acres of arable land all under a high state of culti- 
vation. 

The maiden name of the uiolher of our subject 
was Abigail D. Floyd. She was born in Virginia, 
a daughter of Charles and Mary Floyd. During 
the early j'ears of her pioneer life she carded, 
spun, wove and made the garments with wliich she 
clothed herself and the children, for homespun 
was not only the fashion but a necessity of those 
days. After the death of her husband she resided 
-with her daughter, Mrs. George A. Norvel, and 
died at her home. She reared six children, Chai'los 
F., Mary A., James T., Cynthia E., John C. and 
Lucinda J. 

John King attended the pioneer schools in a log 
school-house. In building this house one log was 
left out on one side the full length of the building 
to admit light. Along under this primitive win- 
dow, boles were bored and pins inserted in them, 
and upon them laid a board, which served as a 
desk for the larger scholars. The seats were made 
by spilling logs and hewing one side smooth. 
There were no backs to these seats and the heat of 
the fireplace served in lieu of stove or furnace. 
He commenced to assist his father on the farm as 
soon as he was large enough to lie of use and 
resided with his parents until he reached his ma- 
jority. He then worked out for others for a year 
and afterward took charge of his father's farm for 
two years. 

The young man was now given thirty acres of 
good land by his father, and he removed the log 



I'OliTRAlT AND IDOGKAPHICAL RECORD. 



819 



house whicli Lis fatlier had buill U) its present 
location upon this fanii and tliere comraen'ied 
houseJieepiiij;. Aftei' four years he sold this 
properly and liought sixty acres in the same town- 
ship and also a residence in the village of Palmyra. 
After living there one year he sold the properly 
and bought eighty acres in South Palmyra Town- 
ship and made his hoaie there until 1875. lie 
again sold his property and purchased one hundred 
and sixty acres adjoining the village. He has 
made an addition to llie village for which he platted 
some forty acres, much of which he has disposed 
of for residence lots and he is still carrying on the 
farm with the remainder of the land. In 1890 he 
platted an addition of four acres to Oak Hill 
Cemetery. 

The marriage of John Clinrchill King to Sarah 
Elizabeth John was solemnized November 15, 18G0. 
This lady was born in Sangamon Count}' where 
her parents resided. Her father, Evan John, was a 
native of Chester County, Pa. He was a son of 
Owen John who, as well as his grandfather William, 
was a native of Ihe same county. The great-great- 
grandfather of Mrs. King was also Owen John and 
a native of Wales, who came to America in the 
Colonial days and made his home upon a farm in 
that county. William John the great-grandfather 
of Mrs. King married Rachel Rodgers. Ills son 
Owen was married in Chester County and there 
spent the remainder of his days, and the father of 
Mrs. King went to Maryland when a _voung man 
and there married Angeline Mercer. She was born 
in Cecil County. Md. and was a daughter of George 
W. and Sarah (Everson) Mercer. In 1840 he came 
to Illinois and made his residence for awhile in 
Springfield, anil afterward removed to Auburn, 
Sangamon County where he followed his trade of 
a cabinel-niaker. 

The father of Mrs. King lived in Auburn until 
1846, and then removed to Morgan County and 
settled on Hart's Prairie buying land and engaging 
in farming, while at the same time he worked at 
his trade. He resided there until 1858 and they 
removed to Palmyi'a and bought a home, and later 
bought land half a mile south of the village where 
they resided until the death of his wife and then 
made his home with his children until his own 



death which took place, February 22, 1889. He 
had been bereaved of his wife some eight years 
previous she passing away in July, 1881. 

Mr. and Mrs. King have two children, both sons, 
Joseph E. and Lewis M. 31r. King is a member 
of the Palmyra Lodge No. 348 I. O. O. F. He is 
a man who is intelligent and wide awake to all 
matters of public interest and he casts his vote and 
influence with the Republican part}-. His intelli- 
gence and natural aliility make him a leader amijng 
his townsmen and he has been placed upon the X'ill- 
age Board. His family stands well in social circles 
and is respected and beloved for its intelligence 
and hosi)itality. 



-l<s^^» 



♦ ^o 



(^ felLLIAM CARLING,8r. Many of the most 
\rJ// prominent citizens of Macoupin County 
W^i ■i»'1 ^he most thorough and energetic 
farmers ami business men are to be found among 
our Hritish American citizens and among them we 
are pleased to call the attention of our readers to 
William Carling, who was born in Newcastle, 
Northumberland County, England, on New Year's 
Day, 1824. His father, Peter Carling, was born in 
Dublin, Ireland, and there received his early train- 
ing and education, but afterward went to England 
and was there married in Northumberland County. 
He was a sailmaker and followed his trade in tliat 
country for several years. 

The father of our subject chose for his wife 
C.'itherine Duncan, who was born in Kirkendlighl, 
Scotland, and died in Northumberland County, 
having become the njother of three children, John, 
William (our subject) and James. This son, Will- 
iam, had been reared in his native county and at 
twelve years of age had been apprenticed to a 
tailor, with whom he remained for fifteen months, 
and then traveled for a time and afterwanl engaged 
in milling. He made his first visit to America in 
1848 and remained here for eighteen months, after 
which he returned to England and resided there 
until 1853. 

The subject of this sketch again decided to try 
his fortune in the New World, and with his wife 



820 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and two cliiUlriMi set sail in tiic fall of 1853 from | 
Liveri)Ooi, making his ocean voyage in a sailing 
vessel named "Tiie Philadelphia." They landed 
in tlie cily for which their vessel was named afier 
seven weeks and three days si)ent upon the briny 
deep. They located near Akron, Suniniil County, 
Ohio, where they engaged in mining and re- 
mained until 1857. when they came to Illinois and 
made their home in Belleville. Here they rinnained 
for three months only and then went to Alton and 
after eight months they came to this county and 
settled o» the farm where he now resides. 

The emigrant was now i)rei)ared to purchase a 
home and in 1863 bought a tract of land com|iosed 
of two hundred and twenty acres, one hundred and 
sixty of which was improved and the rest in pas- 
ture hind. He had been married in 1848 in the old 
home across the sea. His bride boie the maiden 
name of Klizabeth Moulter. She was born in 
County Durham, England, and was a daughter of 
William and Elizabeth (Chambers) Monitor, the 
former being a native of Scotland and the latter of 
County Durham. England. Mrs. Elizabeth Carling 
died May 4, 1890. 

The second wife of our subject was Mrs. Sarah 
(Dixon) Fay and she is a native of County Durham, 
England. Mrs. Carting's grandfather, Ralph ; 
Di.xon, was a blacksmith by trade and spent his 
entire life in his native land. Her father, Robert 
Dixon, followed mining in his native land until 
1833, and then came to America and located at 
Pittsburg, Pa., where three years later his wife and 
three children joined him. In 1837 (he family re- 
moved to Ohio, where they resided until 1857, 
after which they spent one year in St. Louis. In 
1858 Mr. Dixon removed to Point Precinct, Cal- 
houn County, and purchased eighty acres of land 
in the forks of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. 
Here he died February 14, 1859. The maiden 
name of Mrs. Dixon was Margaret Hay. She was 
born in County Durham and is a daughter of 
Thomas and Sarah (Turner) Hay. She still resides 
on her home farm in Calhoun County. 

Mrs. Carling was eight years old when she came 
with her mother to America. They jcurneyed on 
the sailing vessel "^Shakespeare" and landed in New 
York after what was considcreil a short voy.age of 



twenty-seven days. This lady was first married in 
Armstrong, Pa., in 1851. being then united to Mr. 
William Fay. They lived in Pennsylvania until 
1857 and then after a year's residence in St. 
Louis, bought a farm in Point Precinct, which Mrs. 
Carling still owns. Mr. Fay eng.aged in agricul- 
tural pursuits and rcsi<led in Calhoun County until 
his dealli, which took place on Christmas Day, 
1884. 

Mr. Carling has three children living, namely: 
William, -lohn and .Sarah Ellen. Mrs. Carling has 
eight children: Robcrl, James. Elizabeth J., Mar- 
garet A., John F., George Edward, Nettie and 
Nellie, the two last named being twins. Mr. Car- 
ling has been a life-long Democrat, but was strenu- 
ously opposed to slavery, iind although surrounded 
by many who sympathized with t!ie |)ro-sIavery 
element, cast his vote in our national crisis for 
Abraham Lincoln and Gen. Grant. He has served 
for eight years as Justice of the Peace and for six 
years has represented his town (>n the County' 
Boaid of Supervisors. This in a few words gives 
a sketch of the life of one of the worthy citizens 
of Scottville Township. 



^^^f^ 



R. BUDD. He of whom we write is a suc- 
cessful druggist of Bunker Hill where he 
has been doing a large and paying business 
for a good many years, located on the' 
southwest corner of Washington and Warren 
Streets, known as the "old drug store." It was 
originally establisheil by John A. Delano in 1852. 
He and his heirs were succeeded by H. R. Budd in 
May, 1890, who still continue to keep the large 
trade of the house that is well known as the prin- 
cipal drug store in the city. Mr. Budd had form- 
erly been a member of the firm of Budd Bros., 
druggists, of this place since 1874, and this part- 
nership existed until 1879, when the company dis- 
solved and the subject of this sketch became the 
head of the busines where he now is. It is a thor- 
oughly well-equipped store with a main floor, second 
story and basement. 

.Mr. Budd has a thorough knowlcilge of his busi- 



POUTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



821 



ncss, having grown up in it. He has lived all his 
life in this county, witii the exccittion of four 
}-cars wiiich he spent in Englanil whei'e he was in 
school. He was born in the western part of tliis 
county, September 16, 18.53. He lived with his 
parents until he was nearly of age when he em- 
barked in business for himself and has since made 
a decided success of commercial life. He may 
truly be called a self-made man. 

At an earlj- age Mr. Budd was united in mar- 
riage to Miss limily C. Payne. She was born in 
Macoupin County, and belonged to a family who 
liad lived in the county for many \ ears, and her 
parents are still residents of Bunker Hill. Mrs. 
Budd was carefully reared while at home anil edu- 
cated in the pulilic schools of the county. Slie is 
an intelligent and charming woman, holding a 
prominent place in the society of the town and 
proving an elHcient hcliiinate in all her husband's 
undertakings. 

Mrs. Budd is a consistent member of the Con- 
gregational Church in which she is known in all 
good words and works. ]\Ir. Budd is present Mas- 
ter of Blue Lodge, No. 1.51, F. & A. M. of Bunker 
Hill. He takes an active part in all municipal 
matters, is public spirited in the extreme, one who 
is in need of a helping hand or kindly word never 
appealing to his generous heart in vain. In politics 
Mr. Budil is a radical Democrat, the |)rinciples of 
tiiat party agreeing more with liis ide.as of personal 
riifhts. 



^1' LBKRT S.\WTELL is classed among the 
(^JLJl intelligent young farmers, natives of tliis 
Ifc county, wiio are now matei-ialiy assisting 
in carrying on its great agricultural inter- 
ests. For some years he has had charge of the 
home farm in Chesterfield Township, upon which 
he was born February 13, 18G1. He is a son of 
Thomas Sawtell who was horn in Somersetshire, 
England. He in turn was a son of .James Sawtell, 
who is supposed to have been a life-long resident 
of that English shire. 

The father of our sutijeet was reared and married 
in his native land, and made his home there until 




1853. In that year he emigrated to this country 
with ids wife and the child that iiad been born to 
them in their old home. The little family set sail 
from Liverpool and landed at New York after a 
long ocean voyage, and the fatlier first rented land 
in Morgan Courty, this State. Two years later he 
came to Chesterfield Township and bought one 
hundred and twenty acres of land, on which stood 
a log house and stable and a few acres were under 
cultivation. He energetically set about making 
further improvements, and in due time developed 
a fine farm, which he increased in size uniil at the 
time of his deatli he owned tiiree hundred and 
twenty acres of choice land, all l)'ing in a bodj'. 
His demise in April, 1877 removed a good citizen 
from the township wliere he had done valuable 
work in opening up the agrieidtural resources of 
this section. lie was blessed with a faithful help- 
mate, who was born in the same shire as himself, 
her maiden nami being Elizabeth Atyeo. The3' 
reared six children — .Tames, William, Charles, 
Albert, Eliza .1. and Francis. 

lie of whom tliese lines are written |)assed his 
childhood in the home of his birth, and as he grew 
to man's estate received a good, practical training 
in agriculture that has been of benefit to him since 
he began life as an independent farmer. For some 
years he has had ihe management of the old home- 
stead, and is conducting his farming operations 
witli tlie thrift, prudence and foresight that insure 
pr(>fit. 

The marriage of our subject with Miss Cora 
May Corgan was duly celebrated in May, 1888. 
Mrs. Sawtell was born near Tamaroa, Perry County, 
Hi., and is a daughter of Milton and Cordelia 
(Marshall) Corgan. Ilcr father is also a native of 
this State, and is a son of William and Mary Cor- 
gan. He is a prosperous farmer of Perry County. 
Mrs. Sawtell's mother is a native of Connecticut 
and a daughter of John and Margaret Marshall. 
Mr. and Mrs. Sawtell's married life has been hal- 
lowed to them by the birth of twin cliildren, whom 
they have named Frank and Fanny. 

Mr. Sawtell is a young Uian of good personal 
habits and his life is guiiled by those principles of 
honor and iionesty that maik a true man. His 
political sentiments coincide with the tenets pro- 



S22 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



niul^ated by tlie Republican party. Both he and 
his amiable wife halt! a high place among tlie 
Christian members of their community as consist- 
ent members of the Congregational Church. 



■^t?k*-5>ta{!» 



'^»«^"<S5e-^ 



tOSKPH W. HARSIIBARGER, one of the 
Southern born citizens of Girard Township, 
had his nativity one mile from Daylon, 
Rocidngliam County, Va., June 4, 1827. 
His father, John J. Harshbarger was a Pennsyl- 
vanian by birth and the grandfather of our sub- 
ject, Henry Harshbarger was formerly a resident 
of Pennsylvania and moved from there to Rocking- 
ham County, Va., where he bought a farm and made 
his home until 1851. He then sold out and moved 
to Montgomery County, Ohio, where he bought a 
farm and resided until his death. 

The father of our subject was reared in ^'irginia 
and there learned from his father the trade of a wag- 
onmaker,pnd followed it in connection with farming. 
After marriage he bought a farm two and one-half 
miles south of Dayton, Rockingham County, and 
resided there for several years. This he sold after 
some time and bought another farm near Cross 
Keys in the same county and still continued at his 
trade and farming. He resided in that neighbor- 
hood until his death. 

Margaret Early was the maiden name of the lady 
who liecame the mother of our subject. Her na- 
tive home was Rockingham County, Va., and she 
was the daughter of Jacob and Magdalinc (Wen- 
ger) Early, who were natives of the Keysione State. 
She died on the home farm at Cross Keys some 
years before her husband's demise. Their son 
Joseph received his trainir.g in farm work from 
his father and resided with him until he had reached 
his majority, after which he bought a fine tract of 
two hundred and forty acres of land in Augusta 
County, Va. In this purchase he was joined by 
his brother-in-law, George Hollar, and they farmed 
together for ten years. One roof sheltered both 
families and during that lime fifteen cliildren 
gathered in the double household. Joseph Hars- 
barger then sold out his interest and returned to 



Rockingham County where he bought land one 
mile cast of Dayton and resided on that farm all 
through the period of the War of the Rebellion. 

The district where our subject lived during the 
years of the Civil War was run over by both arm- 
ies. North and South, and was considered a b.ase 
of supplies for both. They subsisted on that part 
of the State and anything that was eatable was 
quickly seized b}' them ami what thej' could not 
carr}- away they frequently destroyed. He and his 
family endured great hardships all through 'hose 
days and were subject to frequent raids upon their 
pro)3erty. Iii 1864 he took his family to Dayton, 
Ohio, as he was given free transportation by tiie 
Government. There they remained for one year 
and when they returned to their old home found 
it a sad and desolate place. The buildings, includ- 
ing a handsome brick house that had cost $1,500 
were heaps of ashes. All his stock had been stolen 
and everything about the place destroyed. With 
undaunted courage he went to work and rebuilt 
and stocked his farm, and resided thereuntil 1870, 
when he sold out his property and came to Ma- 
coupin County, 111. Here he rented a farm for a 
year and then bought the property on which he 
now resides on section 19, Girard Township. Here 
he now has a prosperous and attractive farm and 
cariies on general farming. 

It was Januarj- 25, 1849, when Catherine Hory 
became the wife of Joseph W. Harshbarger. This 
lad}', like himself was a ^'irginian by birth and had 
her nativity near Dayton. Rockingham Count}'. 
She was the daughter of Michael and Sarah Flory 
and died December 11, 1873, leaving her husband 
and seven children to mourn her loss. Her children 
bear the names of Sarah, P3lizabeth, Mary A.. Re- 
becca B., Amanda C, Isaac J. and Abraham S. 

The second marriage of our subject took place 
November 2.3, 1884, and he was then united with 
Mrs. Barbara (Bnibaker) Frantz, who was born in 
Clark Count}', Ohio, October 14, 1841, and v/ns a 
daughter of Jonathan and Barbara Brubaker of 
whom the reader will learn more at length in the 
sketch of Jonathan Brubaker which appears in this 
Record. 

She was married in her naiive county January 30, 
1859, to Michael Frantz who was born in Ohio and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



823 



was the son of Michael and Susannah(Neher)Franlz. 
In 1869 he came to Illinois and settled in the east- 
ern part of Girard Township, where he bought a 
farm and made a home. Afterward he sold this 
and bought eighty acres on section 19, which was 
his home until May "i-i, 1877, when he vvas called 
hence. By this first marriage Mrs. Harslibarger had 
six children — Jonathan, Martha, Susan. Jacob, 
Peter and Ezra. Both our subject and his vvife are 
earnest and active members of the German Baptist 
Ciuireli, in the communion of which they find true 
fellowship and abundant opportunity for useful- 
ness. 



S«*— *v- 



<»^ RASMUS A. C. TEANEY, a well-known 
|i^ citizen of Bsrr Township, and a son of 
/T;^ Francis C. and Mary (Huff) Teaney, resides 
on section 32. His parents were both Virginians 
l)y birth, and came to Greene County, this Stale, 
in 1833, and there the mother died. The father 
some years later passed away while at the residence 
of his son in this county. 

Our subject is one of a large family of children. 
His native place is Augusta County, Va., where he 
was born March 19,1821. As he came to Gieene 
Count}-, 111., with his parents when a boy, he grew 
to manhood here and chose his bride from among 
tiie girls of Greene Count}-. He was ufliled in 
marri.age on March 8. 1848, with Miss Rebecca 
Sloughtcr, who became the mother of six children, 
namely: John F., who married and resides in Ar 
kansas; Henry; Susan, the wife of Washington 
Bailey; Alblna, tiie wife of F. E. B'iU; Rebecca, 
the wife of Thomas Morris; and Melvina, who 
(lied in childhood. The mother of these chil- 
dren passed away from earth in Barr Townshi[) in 
1 862. 

The second marriage of our subject occurred on 
August 28, 1862. when he was united with Mrs. 
Sarah J. Baikley, of Greene County. She was 
born in Washington County, Tenn., and her 
maiden name was Wattenbarger, and at the time 
of hur marriage with Mr. Teaney she was the 
widow of John Barkley, who died in Fayette, 
Greene County, 111. By her marriage with that 



gentleman she had three children, of whom George 
Barkley. who married Mattie Stulls, is the only 
surviv-or. By her marriage with Mr. Teaney she 
became the mother of eight children, namely: 
Erasmus V., who married Miss Carrie Cole; Laura 
B.. the wife of Howard Glass; Osoar, Edward, 
William, Viola and Ethel, besides one child who 
died in infancy. 

Mr. Teaney always exhibits a lively interest in po- 
litical and social movements. He is a member of 
the Grange and an active promoter of whatever he 
judges best to develop the neighborly and economic 
interests of the farming community. His political 
views bring him into sympathy with the Demo- 
cratic part}'. He has followed farming through 
life, and has erected upon ids land an excellent set 
of barns and outbuildings, besides an attractive 
and commodious home. His one hundred and 
thirtj--three acres is probably as good land as can 
be found in the county, and its prosperous condition 
speaks well for the man who has cultivated it for 
years. 



HARLES- W. TIETSORT, cashier of the 
Medora Bank, of which he was one of the 
i^f' founders, is a whole-souled, generous spir- 
ited man, of broad views, of spotless character and 
high repute, who is an honor to the citizenship of 
this town, with whose financial interests he is so 
closely identified, and whoso welfare, materially, 
educationally and morally, he has endeavored in 
every way possible to promote, whether in his 
capacity as a business man, as a civic ollicial or .as 
a private citizen. 

Mr. Tietsort is a descendant of one of the eaily 
pioneer families of Michigan, and is a native of 
that part of the country, born at Cassopolis, Cass 
County, December 17, 1837. His father, Abram 
Tietsort, was born in Butler County, Ohio, July 16, 
1802. a son of Abram H. Tietsort, an early settler 
of that region. Tiie latter was born in Kentucky, 
February 6, 1777, and he in turn was a son of 
Peter Tietsort, who was born in New Jersey, in 
1744. The great-great-grandparents of our subject 
were natives of Holland, who came to America 




«24 



I'OIM'RAIT AMU IJKXiRAPlilCAL RKCORU. 



eaily in Col'Uiial Ujik'j •■iimI sfUloil in New Jersey. 
Peter Tielsort ;in(l his brotiior William were among 
the early settlers of Kentucky in the flays when 
that State was a tenitory. They resideii tlierc a 
few years, but the hulians iiceoming troublesome, 
lliey removc(3 to lluller County, Ohio, and were 
pioneers there. I'eler I'ietsort died in that county 
in 1831 in the home of his brother William. 

The grandfather of our subject married Mar- 
garet l$anta, who vvas born .laiiiinry (i, 1785. He 
removed to the Territory of .Michigan and was a 
pioneer farmer of Cass County. He improved a 
farm on the shore of Stone J^ake, and there his life 
w.as brought to a close February 1, 1847. Ilis wife 
survived him until September 8, 18r)4. when she 
too passed away. 

The father of our subject was married in Butler 
County, Ohio, March 24, 182G, to Rachel Thomp- 
son. She is a native of Ohio, born .July 17, 1807, 
and is still living at a venerable .Tge. making her 
home with her eldest daughter in Orleans County, 
N. Y. About 1828 the parents of our subject re- 
moved to the forest wilds of the Territory of 
Michigan, becoming pioneers of Cass County. Mr. 
Tietsorl entered a tract of Government land, a part 
of which is now included within the corporate 
limits of Cassopolis, and he w:is prominent in 
founding the village, as when it was plat'.cd he 
donated a half of the (aiblic square, and laid out a 
part of the village, the site being then heavily 
wooded. He pursued his trade as a cabinet maker 
there the remainder of his life, which was termin- 
ated by his death May 31, 1842. The following is 
the record of his cliildren: John, born in Ohio, 
November 27, 1827, is a resident of Cassopolis; 
Julia Ann, wife of John Gates, of Orleans County, 
N. v., was the first white child born at Cassopolis, 
July 3, 1833 the date of her birth, and she was for 
several years a teacher at Albion College; Perry 
A., born September 10, 1832, is a resident of De- 
troit, Mich.; Ira, born September 16. 1835, is also 
a resident of Detroit; and Charles W. is ihe subject 
of this biography. 

Charles Tietsort was in his fifth year when his 
father died, and he was soon after adopted by a 
distant relative, Peter Tietsort, with whom he came 
to Illinois in 18aG, where he lived for a time on a 



farm. He received a practical public school edu- 
cation, and at the age of eighteen commenced clerk- 
ing in a store at Fidelity. lie was thus emokned 
until 1867, when he forme<l a partnership with his 
father-in-law, William T. Whitfield, and opened a 
general store at Fidelity. In 1869 he sold out his 
interest in that establishment, and going to Jersey- 
ville, was in the grain business there two years. In 
1871 he went to Tecumseh, Neb. and opened a res- 
taurant and confectionery store, which he managed 
until 1873. Returning then to Jersey ville, he ac- 
cepted a position as clerk in the First National 
Bank in that city. He continued to act in that 
capacity and as book keeper until 1877. In that 
year he and his brother-in-law, S. H. Bowman, and 
F^lias Cockrell established a bank at Medora, oi)en- 
ing it for business the 1st d.ay March. The bank 
was re organized in 1879, and Mr. Tielsort vvas 
elected cashier, an office which he still holds. The 
affairs of the bank are ably administered, and it is 
recognized as one of the leading institutions of the 
kind in this |)art of the State, its credit standing at 
the highest point in monetary' circles, and it has 
undoubtedly contributed greatly to place the pros- 
perity of this county on a solid financial basis. 

Mr. Tietsort has been twice married. July 23, 
1862, he was wedded to Miss Emily Jane Whit- 
field, a (Liughtcr of Wilson T. and Jane (Kuhn) 
Whitfi<'ld. She was a native of Preble County, 
Ohio, born August 11, 1843, and she died Febru- 
ary' 24, 1865, leaving one son, Charles Henry, who 
was born October 12, 1863. The second marriage 
of our subject, which look place January 14, 18G9, 
was with Miss Cornelia Frances Bowman. She w.as 
born Januaiy 19, 1845, and is a daughter of 
Charles H. and Mary (Hooper) P.owman. Her 
union with our subject has brought them one son. 
Waller Bowman, who was born October 8, 1879. 
Mr. and Mrs. Tietsort also have an adopted daugh- 
ter, Kale Davis, who was born December 26, 1859, 
and whom tliey took to their home and hearts in 
July, lS7i), and have reared her as tenderly and 
carefully as if she were of their own blood. 

Mr. Tietsort h.as always exerted a wholesome 
influence on the life of the ecmirnunity since he be- 
came a resident of Medora, and his name is associ- 
ated not only with its material progress, but also 




GILES M. ADAMS. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



827 



with all things that have tended lo its moral elev- 
ation. He and his wife are among the leading 
members of the Presliyterian Cliurch. Polilicalli', 
he is a Prohibitionist. Socially, he is a member of 
Fidelity Lodge, No. 152, A. F. & A. M. ; of Kem- 
per Lodge, No. 696, 1. O. O. F., and of Medora Kn- 
cami)ment. He has held various public otiiccs. 
For tiiirteen years he has been Notary Public. He 
has faithfully served the interests of Medora as a 
member of the village Board of Trustees, an<l as 
one of the Board of Education. 




ILE.S M. ADAMS. The recollections of 
few pioneers extend further back than those 
of this gentleman, who lnjlds an honorable 
l)lacc among thf farmers of Brushy Mound Town- 
ship and occupies one of the oldest homesteads of 
the county. His portrait presented on the op- 
posite page i-ppresesents the Ihieamenls of one 
whom all delight to honor and whose long life of 
usefulness well entitles him to the respect not only 
of his contemporaries in the settlement of the 
county, but of the younger generation who are en- 
J03'ing the fruits of his labors. 

In the early part of this century there resided 
in the State of Virginia a gentleman bearing the 
name of Daniel A<lams. He removed from that, 
his native State, to Kentucky and bought a large 
tract of land at Poplar Cave. Unfortunately he 
lost his land through a defective title, and after- 
ward removed to Tennessee where it is supposed 
the remainder of his days were passed. His son, 
William C, the faiher of our subject, was boin 
January 1^', 1K03, either in Virginia or Kentucky. 
He accompanied his father in his removal to Ten- 
nessee and was there married to Margaret Ward, 
n native of Alabama. 

In 1828 the father of our subject emigrated to 
Illinois with his wife and the children who had 
been born to them in Tennessee, making the journey- 
Northward with teams. He first stopped in Madi- 
son County for a time, but in 1830 came to this 
county. At that time there was but few white set- 
tlers here, and deer, wolves and other kinds of wild 



animals were very numerous. He entered Gov- 
ernment land near Dorchester, and for nearly live 
years lived in the log house that he built there. 
At the expiration of thit time he sold his place, 
and coming to what is now Brushy Mound Town- 
ship, entered Government land, whicli forms the 
homestead now occupied by his son, (jur subject. 
There were no railways here for some time after- 
ward, and Alton was the nearest market, the coun- 
try being still only partly settled and in a wild 
condition; as there were no mills in this county 
the father had to go either to Alton or Edwards- 
ville to get his grain ground. His farm work was 
done by oxen, and he was compelled to uso prim- 
itive farming machinery extant in that day. When 
he was scarcely past the prime of life he departed 
from the scenes of his lal)ors, dying January 29, 
18.54, and thus a useful and respected i)ioneer was 
taken away from the community. His widowsur- 
vived him many years, her dcatii occurring July 
17, 1883, on the homo farm. She was the mother 
of twelve children — Giles M., Mo^es H., Sally 
Eveline, John J.. Nancy, Jesse B., Elizabetii, Dan- 
iel E.. Eliza J., James, George W., and Francis M. 
Giles M. Adams, whose portrait is [jresentcd on 
another page, was born in Knos County, Tenn., 
jMay 9, 182.5. He was about three yeais old v/hen 
the family came to this State ami remembers well 
the incidents of pioneer life here. Schools were 
not free in his early boyhood, but were conducted 
on the subscription pl:in, each family paying tui- 
tion according to tiie number of children they 
sent. Tlie si'hoolhousc that our suliject attended 
was a log building and the seats vvere slab benches 
without backs or desks and supported l>y wooden 
pins. Mr. Adams was never separated from his 
.parents until their death and he now owns and oc- 
cupies the old homestead; having never married 
he made his home with his brother George until 
the death of the latter. He is a good, practical 
farmer, carries on his agricultural operations so as 
to make money, and is one of the solid men of the 
township, where he is held in universal respect for 
his many sterling qualities. In his political views 
he is a sound Democrat. 

The brother of our subject, George W., departed 
tliis life May 18, 1891. He was born in the pioneer 



828 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



n 



borne of his parents in Brushy Mound Township, 
Novcmher 12, 1817. He was reared ami eduealed 
iu his native township and in due lime became an 
excellent farmer, who carried on his operations suc- 
cessfully. He was quite young when his father 
died and continueri to live with liis mother on the 
home farm. With the exception of four years 
spent in Montgomery Couniy he was a continuous 
resident of this county until his death. His wife, 
with whom he was united in marriage August 13, 
1868, bore the maiden name of Mary E. Dowdall, 
and was a native of this Slate, born in Greene 
County, to John S. and Ellen (Witt) Dowdall. 
Mr. and Mrs. Adams had eight children, four of 
whom are now living — Laura E., Margaret E., 
Cora B. and George W. George W. Adams was a 
stanch upholder of the Dcmoeralie party. He was 
a good citizen, a kind husband and father, and his 
neighbors always found him heli)ful and obliging. 



^^ 



FRANCIS M. ADAMS is one of the oldest 
native born citizens of Gillespie Township, 
!l\ his birth having occurred July I, 183;!, on 

section 20, Gillespie Township — the farm which 
he still makes his home. He is a representative of 
one of the most honored pioneer families of the 
community, his father. Giles M. Adams, having 
here located in 1829. He belongs to an old Vir- 
ginian family. His grandparents, Daniel and Sarah 
(Stallion) Adams, were natives of the Old Domin- 
ion, from whence they removed with their family 
to Overton County, Ky., and thence to Ten- 
nessee. Subsequently the grandparents came to 
Illinois after their son Giles had here located and 
spent a number of years in Macouiiin Comty. 
Their last days were s[)ent in Bond Count}', where 
they died at an advanced age. By trade, Daniel 
Adams was a blaelismitli and followed that occupa- 
tion in c^onnection wiih fanning. 

The father of our subject was born in N'irginia, 
and when young removed with his parents to Ken- 
tucky and Tennessee. He was living in the latter 
State when he attained his majority and not long 
afterward he was united in marriage with Miss 



Elizabeth Taylor, a native of North Carolina, and 
a tlaughter of William Taylor, one of the heroes 
of the Revolutionary War. They came to Illinois 
in 1829, and located upon the farm of our subject 
when Macoupin County was yet in its infancy. 
The}' bore the usual experiences ar.d hardshii)s of 
pioneer life, and with the early history of ihe com- 
munity were [)roniinently connected. Mr. Adams 
secured some of his land from the (iovernment 
and the okl home was the scene of action during 
the greater part of his life. When he was well 
advanced in years be went to live with his son, 
William W. in Montgomery County, where he 
<lied at the .age of sixty-eight. His wife survived 
him S(jme lime passing away at the age of three- 
score years and ten. 

Our subject was the third child and second son 
of their five children. His entire life has been 
passed upon one farm. Under the sheltering 
roof of liie old home, or in wandering through the 
woods or over the prairies his boyiiood days were 
passed. Later, when he had gained suflScient 
strength, he was put to work at farm labor and 
the furrows upon many a broad acre were Hrst 
turned by him. His education was acquired in the 
subscriplinn schools, for public schools had not 
been established at that early day. He was united 
in marrinj^e with Miss Elizabeth K. Grimes, who 
was born in this couniy in February, 1840, and is 
a daughter of William and Nancy (Wagner) 
Grimes, natives of Maryland, who, when young, 
came to Illinois where they were married. For 
some years Mr. Grimes followed the trade of a 
blacksmith, Ijut later gave his attention to farming. 
He is now living a retired life in Christian County, 
at the age of seventy years. He is numbered 
among the pioneers of Macon pin County, and was 
one of its respected citizens. His wife died in the 
prime of life. Mrs. Adams is the eldest of their 
three children, all of whom arc yet living. 

By the union of our subject and his worthy wife 
were born six children, but four died in infanc}'. 
Mary S. is now the wife of Philip Teter, a resident 
of Gillespie Townshi|); and Nancy X. is attending 
school. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are well-known peo- 
ple of this community and are held iu universal 
esteem. In i)o!itics he is an advocate of Demo- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



829 



cratic principles but votes independently of party 
ties. He was the second Supervisor of Gillespie 
township, and has served as .lustice of the Peace 
and Road Commissioner, filling ali the offices in an 
efticiont manner, which has won him the commen- 
dation of all (concerned. He is a member of Lodge 
No. 4312, Farmers' ]Mutual Benefit Association, 
and, on joining its organization, w.as elected its first 
Vice President. In his business career, Mr. Adams 
has prospered and is now the owner of a valuable 
farm of four hundred and sixty-four acres, of 
which two hundred and sixty .acres are under a 
liii;h slate of cultivation. 



^?LVAn C. MOFFKTT of section .3, North 
( @/LII [ Palmyra Township, is an native and 

/// fii energetic young man of INLacoupin County. 
1^ His father the late Chauncy W. Moffett, 

M. I), was born in New York in 1820. His parents 
moved from New Yoik to Columbiana County, Ohio 
when the Doctor was a little fellow of four years 
and in the Buckeye .State he grew to manhood. He 
came to Illinois during the '40s and at Jackson- 
ville, 111., in the month of August, 184!) he was 
united in marriage to Miss Amelia K. Vaneil who 
w.as born in North Palmyra Township, M.ij' 31, 
1828. This lady is the daughter of Edmund C. and 
Mary (Byars) ^^ancil. 

Mr. Vaneil was born in Logan County, Ky., May 
S, 17 90, and there he passed the early part of his 
life but at the age of sixteen years came to Marion 
County, III., where he grew to manhood. He was 
married in Jackson Count}' 111., August 15, 1824, 
to Miss Mary Byars, who was born in Kentucky, 
i'V'bruary 7, 1804, and had removed wilh her par- 
ents when she was four years old to Jackson County 
III., and who came with them in the fall of 1827 to 
Macoupin County. They lived iinr'h of Virdcn 
for a while ;\nd in 1828 they settled in North Pal- 
myra Township where he has since been a resident 
and is one of the oldest settlers in the county. His 
wife died May 25, 1890, at the advanced age of 
eighty -six years. 

After ihe marriage of Dr. Moffett and his wife 



the\' lived for one year in Sangamon County 
and then removed to Christian County where lie 
followed his profession for a year, after which on 
account of ill health, they removed to Texas and 
remained until the close of the war, in which Dr. 
Moffett was an active participant. They afterward 
lived in Arkansas for some two years, and then re- 
turned to Illinois and settled in North Palmyra 
Township. While on a visit to Tex.as to settle up 
his business affairs. Dr. Moffett v,'.as stricken down 
and died. 

Mrs. Moffett is the mother of eight children six 
of whom are living, namely: Chauncy W. ; Portia, 
the wife of Hiram Gilkerson; Ocea E.;HoseaO., 
Alvus H. and Alvah C. One son Lot d'cd in in- 
fancy and a daughter Aletha at the age of twenty 
years. The fine farm of two hundred and sixty 
acres with good buildings and first-class improve- 
ments is operated by our subject in company with 
his brother Hosea O. and their attention is devoted 
Largely to the raising of stock in which the}' are re- 
markably successful. 



--^9— 



i^>i<^i 



"\y] OHN SCHWAB. The original of this sketch 
engages in general farming, having located 
on a fine tract of land on sections 29 and 30, 
of l?righton Township. His farm comprises 
two hundred ami fifty-nineacres of improved land, 
and like most of his fellow countrj-men his prud- 
ence and economy in the man.agement of his agri- 
cultural affairs have resulted in the amassing of more 
than a competency. 

Mr. Schwab has lived in this township and 
county since 1853, having come hither while yet a 
young man with but a few dollars in his pocket. 
He is a native of Switzerland, and his birthplace 
is the Canton Baren, being born in .I.inuary, 1825. 
He is proud of the fact that ho comes of un old 
Swiss family, and one whose history is closely iden- 
tified with that of one of the most stirring epochs 
in the history of the old Republic. He is the only 
member of his family who left home for the Cnitetl 
.States. 

Mr. Schwab early learned the Irade of a butcher 



sso 



PORl'RAIT A2«D BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ia Germany which he foUoweii for several j-ears. 
After a short slay in Germany he relumed home 
and ihec sei out for Ihis c\>unlry. taking passajie al 
Havre De Gras, France. He took j^assajre in Octo- 
ber, l^il. on a sailer for the ciiy of New York. He 
immetliately jvr^>ceetied after landing, lo Ohio, and 
thence went to Afissouri. Later he proceetled to 
Alton, and them-e to this township and county. 

The subject of this biographical notice was mar- 
ried in this county to Miss EiiEstbeih Sawarwin. 
She was a native of Germany and came of German 
parents who lived and died in their native country. 
She came witlj two sisters to thelniteri States when 
about twenty-four years old. leaving Antwerp in 
1S5S. and arriving in New Orleans, where they 
stayed for a short time coming thence to Alton .tnd 
aflerwanl to Macoupin County. Mrs. Schwab is 
a worthy represenlal've of the feminine sex. She 
has been a hard working woman and has greatly 
aided her husband in his efforts iu accumulating a 
competency. Seven children have come lo brigUlcn 
their hearthstone and be a hope of tlieir (tarents. 
They are: Fretl,.K>hn. William. George, Lizzie. Reka 
and Auna .1. Of these Freii weildod Carrie Han- 
noid. and at present is a resident of Alton. John 
is a butcher engaged in the shop of Phil Laueli of 
Brighton; William remains at home assisting wiili 
the farm duties: Geor^ is now at Alton; Lizzie is 
the wife of Philip Hermes, now a farmer in Madi- 
son County; Rcka contracte«l herself to Adolph 
(jchualtet^, a farmer who lives in this township; 
Auna J. is still at home, and on her depends much 
of the brighmess of the home fircle. Mr. and Mrs. 
Schwab al:eud the Presbyterian Church. The gen- 
tleman is a voter with the IVmocrstJc i«arty taking 
a lively interest in both loc."»l and national |»olilics. 



u: 



-KYK G. SCHMIDT, a f.vmer and stock- 
raiser living on section 24. Gillespie Town- 
ship, is numitered among the earl^* settlers 
of the county, d.aling his residence from 1851. 
He is of German birth, having lx»n b<irn iu old 
Friesland, in the provim-e of Hanover, in ISSI. 
His parents were farming jieople of that locality. 



I where they spent their entire lives. The fath«»r, 
Carl Schmidt, died about the age of fifty years 
and three months, and his wife, whose maiden 
was Weptke Weyne, was only thirty -six years of 
age at the time of her de*ih. In their family are 
five children, four sons and a daughter, all of 

J whom are yet living and tune nisidents of this 
country. 
"Our subject, the second iu order of birth, w.is 

' the first to brave the dangers of an oceiui voyage. 
He left the land of his nativity on the ITili I'f 
September, !$ol. sculing from Kremen and landing 

' at New Orleans after a long voyage of eight weeks 
and two days. Eleven days more elaj^setl and he 
then arrive^i iu Alton. III., where he made his 
home until the following spring, when he came to 
M.acoupin County. .\ short time aflerwanl. Mr. 
Scluni.lt leil to the m.arriage altar Miss .\ntke 

. Schoen. who was born in the same locality as her 
husKard. Her p-sreuls livetl and died in ihe prov- 
ince of Hanover, were farming pt?t>ple, and in i^e- 

' ligious belief were Lutherans. Accompanie*) by a 
younger sister. Mrs. Schmidt csossed the Atlantic 
in iJsJS. coming by way of the New^ llrleans vfc 

I Alton route to Macoupin County. IIL. where two 
of her bn.>llu»rs had located some lime previous. 
Willi them she remaineil until her marri.^ge, when 

I she took her place as mistress of hex husliand's 
home. They liveii for a time ujion a farm in Gil- 
lespie Township, and in 1801 removc^l to their pres- 

; sent home on section 24. where a highly cultivated 
tract of land, comprising one hundred and sixty 

, acres, ivjys a golden tribute to ihe care o( the 

I owner. Nearly all of the improvements seen 
thereon are the work of Mr. Schmidt's hands, and 
his succes* in life is due entirely to his own efforts 
and tlie able assistance of her with whom he has 
now traveleil life's journey for more than a ihini 
of a century. Mr. Schmidt is number^l .anioug 
the leading and influential citizens of his town- 
ship, who has ever l>orn hts i«rt in the uubuilding 
and advancement of the community's interests. As 
every true .\merican citizen should do, he exercises 
his right of franchise, and in ^xMilical seuiio'ent is 
a IVmocraU IVnh he and his wife arc uionilvrs of 

\ the Lutheran Church of Gillespie. 

; Unto Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt have been boru five 



rORTHAIT AND BIOtUlAPHICAL KhXOKIV 



vS3l 



cliiUlion. and llio family ciix>lo >oi niuains iin- 
bioken. Cliarlos who married Wolka Mooruianii is 
lunv ong.iiri'd in tin- enuHMT bnsiiu\<# in Oillospio; 
l>onj;uiiiii, who was joinod in wedlock wiili Orctka 
Mennan, eariies on llio grocerv trade in Venice, 
lil.; .lolin, a resilient farmer of iJillespie Town- 
--liip. wiHlded Alke Seinnidt; Fred is enijaired in 
farming in eonneelion with his lirollier .lohn; and 
.lessie, who conipletos this family, is at ht>;ne. Tlie 
Sehmidt hoiisehohi is noted for it^ hc>spit,ality an^, 
it is one of the worthy German families in this 
part of the •'ounty. In 18f*S ilie father rctnined 
t<.> liermany, where \k- spent some weeks in visitiii;;- 
boyhood seones and in renewing ohi acquainl!>nees. 
He has. however, no desire to ajjain live in that 
country, having found a pleiisant home in Amer- 
ica, where his business career has been blesscl with 
prosperity, he beii>g now the lovner of four bun- 
divvi acres of land. 



v^^ AMTSDN i;iv(.>VKS, a retired farmer now 
^^^ living in Carlinville. probably has as much 
\J_^i personal knowledge of the progress of this 
county as .tny man now living within its 
bounds, lie came here more than half a century 
ago. when it was sparsely sett!e(i and much of the 
land was still owned by the Government, and Car- 
linville was a hamlet with its houses mosUy of 
logs. There were no railroads in the county. au<l 
Alton and St. Louis were the nearest markets and 
dei>its; for supplies. Deer and wolves rosimed at 
will over the unsettled districts and frequently 
came very near the scattered f .rmhouses. Long 
years of earnest And well-directed efforts sei'ured to 
Mr. Groves a goodly amount of property, and 
since 18SS he h.is beeo living in Carlinville, enjoy- 
ing the ease and comfort that are so fitting for 
those of advancing years. 

The paixMiis of our subject were Solomon and 
Elizalx'th ^Dukes) Groves, who for some years 
made their houie on a farm in Muhlenbei-g County. 
Ky. The father die«1 there about l!S2l and the 
uiolher some years later, she having made a second 



marriage, wedding Gcoigc t.aics. The son Samp- 
son was born in Muhlenberg County. April 2,'), 
181,"). and remained with his mother <lnring her 
lifetime, lie was about ten years old when she 
was Uiken away and he was then bound out to a 
cabinetmaker living in Christian County, lie was 
not well treated and his spirit rebelled and when 
about a twelvemonth had passed he ran away. His 
master soon found him and took him back, but he 
watched an opportunity and a few weeks later 
again left, this time making bis w.-ry back to his 
r.jitive county, where be found a safe harbor with 
his brother Jacob. In 1835 he accompanied a 
colony to this State, the comiiany including his 
brother Jaitib and the Harnetts. 

Young Groves spent the winter in Sangamon 
County and in the spring of 1836 came to this 
county, lie worked at the tr.ade of a carpenter in 
!>nd about Carlinville until the next year, when he 
i-elurned to Kentucky on a visit. He made the 
round trip on horseback, spending a few weeks 
amid the sceiios of his boyhood and yontb, and 
then, returning hither, he again took up his trade 
and followed it until 1843. That year he entered 
n tr.act of Government land on section 3, Honej' 
Point Township, and still later look up eighty 
acres adjoining. His firet improvement w.as the 
clearing of a space on which to build a log house 
anil after beginning housekeeping therein he con- 
tinueil nis work on the projwrty, bringing it under 
subjection and placing ii[K>n it a good set of build- 
ings. He lived on the farm until 1869. then made 
Carlinville his home seven years and a half, after 
which he returned to the faim. He made his jier- 
manent removal at the time before mentioned, and 
is now occupying a pleasant town house. 

An event of much interest to Mr. Groves and to 
Miss Catherine Armstrong look place June 20, 
1844. it being their union in the matrimonial lie. 
The biide was born in Botetourt Coun'y, Va.. Jan- 
uary !4. 1825. Her father. Watson Armstrong, 
was a native of Virginia and a farmer by occupa- 
tion. He came to this State in 1830. accompanied 
by his wife and three children, traveling with 
teams and camping on the way. He seitle<1 in 
S!»ngamon County near Auburn and died there. 
The mother of Mrs. Groves bore the maiden name 



832 



PORTliAlT AND lilOGKAl'HlCAL RKCOllU. 



of Ann Wineraan. She loo was born in Virginia 
and ber parents were Frederiuk and Catherine 
■Winemaii. Frederick Wineman is believed to 
have been born in rennsylvaiiia us lie went from 
that State to Virginia. After the decease of Mr. 
Armstrong his widow married Jolin Hutton and 
they came to liiis count}- about 1838, settling at 
Shaw's Point. Soon afterward Mr. Ilullon left 
home and was never again heard from. Hio widow 
entered Government land and provided a home 
for her children. Shemariicd a third time, wed- 
ding Cephas Gillette, !>nd went to Springlield, 
where she spent her last years. 

Mrs. Groves was carefully reared and given in- 
struction in the don)estic aits thai were formerly 
considered necessary, as the manner of life differed 
materially from that of to day. She knew well 
how to card, spin ami weave, and during the early 
years of her married life clothed her family in , 
homespun made by her own hands. She is an ex- 
cellent housekeeper and has been a wise and affect- 
ionate mother as well as a com|ianion in whom her 
husband could safely trust for encouragement and 
sympathy. The family is made up of si.v sons and 
daughters, all living but the second, Emily, who 
died at the early age of tweiuy-two years. The 
survivors arc Ellis J., Ann E)., George Watson, 
Sampson S. and Fred Grant. IJotli Mr. and Mrs. 
Groves belong to the Christian Church and they 
are conscientious and earnest in their efforts to 
live aright. 

WilLLIAM M. DRENNAN. An honorable 
record is a suitable subject for gratification, 
and a man does well to call to mind those 
facts in his history to which his posterity may look 
with pride. One who has begun life with no means 
and by his industry and perseverance, with no aid 
except that given b}' a frugal and affectionate wife, 
has attained a handsome competency and provided 
for his children the advantages which every father 
should aim to give them, may well feel pride in his 
record. Such a man is William M. Drennan, wno 
resides ou section 21, North Otter Township. 



The late Joseph Di'ennan, the father of our sub- 
ject, was born in Kentucky, in 1814, and his wife, 
Elizabeth Witlirow, was born in Sangamon County, 
this State, in 1823. In that county was their early 
married home, but in 1849 they removed to Macou- 
pin County, and settled in what is now North Otter 
Township. There they made their home for some 
years, but in 1860 the mother was taken away from 
her hap|)y household by the hand of death, while 
the father died in 1872. 

This estimable couple had seven children, of 
whom our worthy subject is the eldest. Llis native 
home was in Sangamon County, this State, where he 
was born November 4, 1842, and he was thus some 
seven years old when his parents removed to North 
Otter Township, where he received his education 
an<l his thorough and systematic training upon the 
farm. Before he had reached his majority the War 
of the Rebellion had bn ken out, and though only 
a 1)03' he felt that he must heli) the cause of the 
Union and defend the honor of the old flag, and 
with tiic consent of his loyal and self sacrilicing 
parents he left his home and joined the arm}'. 

Our young hero enlisted August 14. 18t)2, in 
Company B, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois 
Infantry, his term of service extending over three 
years. The following conflicts vvere the most im- 
portant in which he took part: Jackson, (Miss.) 
Nashville, Tenn., Brandon, Miss., Guntown and Tu- 
pelo. He did brave duty in all his army exper- 
iences and was mustered out of the service at 
Springfield, 111., and returned to his old home in 
North Otter Township, which has with this excep- 
tion, been his home since 184'.). 

Mr. Drennan has throughout life followed agri- 
cultural pursuits and upon his fine farm of two hun- 
dred and forty valuable acres he has erected .as 
comfortable and convenient a set of farm buildings 
as can bo found within many miles. He was mar- 
ried in North Otter Township, April 24, 1866, to 
Miss M. L. Johnstdn, one of the daughters of Isaac 
B. and Elizabeth (Berr}') Johnston. This worthy 
couple were born in Muhlenberg County, Ky., but 
did not meet until they were living in Mticoupin 
County, where Mr. Johnston made Miss Berry his 
second wife. They were married in Illinois and 
settled in North Palmyra Township, until their 



PORTKAir A.ND BJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



833 



removal in i 851. to North Otter Ton-nshi p. where 
the father died April 20. 1856. The mother sur- 
vived him some Ihirtj- -one years and (lied in Edgar. 
Xel).. in 1887. By tiiis marriage Mr. Johnston had 
six children, of whom Mrs. IJrennan is the second 
in order of birth. She was horn in JCortii Palmyra 
Township. March 20. 1845. 

Three iiright and sprightly children came to bless 
the home of Mr. and Mrs. Drennan, and they bear 
tlic names of William O.. Elizabeth E. and Cor.-* E. 
In the spring of 1890 Mr. Drennan was elected 
.Supervisor of North Otter Township, and has been 
Treasurer of the Board of Highw.ay Commissioners 
for several years and for twelve j-ears has been a 
member of this board. He is prominent in educa- 
tional movements and wiiile upon the Beard of 
School Directors was effieienl in maintaining a high 
standard for the school. He has ever taken an 
active part in political movements and is often 
chosen as a delegate to the ('ounty Conventions of 
the Democratic party, and during the summer of 
1888 he was a delegate from Macoupin County, to 
the State Democratic Convention, which was held 
at Springfield, and which norainaied Gen. John M. 
Palmer for Governor. Mrs. Hrennan has carefully 
trained her children, not on\y in the practical 
duties of life but also in religious matters, and she 
is united with them in the communion of the Meth- 
odist Church. 

The boyhood of our subject was one that was full 
of stru2Sfles. for his parents, like many at that early 
dav. were very poor. W-hsn a boy of seventeen 
■years he was thrown upon his own resources, and 
up to the time when he enlisted in the army he had 
been working upon a farm for wages. The winter 
previous to his enlistment he worked for his hoard 
and attended school, and the first winter after his 
return from the army he again worked for his board. 
In the spring of 1866 he rented of Mathew With- 
row a farm in North Otter Township, and two years 
later bought ten acres of brush land in the same 
township. Here he lived for a year, after which he 
built a cabin, and as he had come into possession 
of a small tract of land he removed bis cabin to the 
spot where his beautiful home now stands. As fast 
as he was able he added to his little estate by pur- 
chase until now he owns a fine farm of two hundred 



and foity acres, upon which he has first-class im- 
provements and a pleasant, attractive and conven- 
ient home. The beautiful surroundings of this home 
.ind the spirit of hospitality and true friendliness 
which pervades its moral atmosphere makes it a 
favorite resort fur the neighbors, who so highly 
esteem this gentleman for his good qualities and 
who honor him for his past record of early devo- 
tion to his country. Mr. Drennan "has in his pos- 
session the first gun that came into .Sangamon 
County. It was carried by his grandfather. 



^1= 



^^ 




ILLIAM CHIS.M IS a worthy represent- 
ative of the successful farmers and stock- 
raisers of Western Mound Township, who 
are so intimately associated with its material pros- 
perity. He is a native of this county, Chesterfield 
Township is his birthplace and August 20. 1847, 
the date of his birth. He is descended from one of 
the earliest pioneer families of this county. His 
father. John Chism, w.as born in Hardin County, 
Ky.. and was a son of William Chism. who was a 
Virginian by birth. He becsme a pioneer of Har 
din County, where he resided until about 1829. 
when he came to Illinois with ox-teams, bringing 
his household goods along and cooking ard camp- 
ing by the way. He located In what is now West- 
ern Mound Township, taking up a tract of Govern- 
ment land which he entered at the land office at 
Edwardsville. He developed a farm, on which he 
made his home until his mortal career was closed 
in death. 

The father of our subject was nine years of age 
when his parents brought him to Illinois, and he 
was reared under pioneer influences. He received 
his education in the primitive schools of the early 
days of the settlement of the State, which were 
taught on the subscription plan, in log houses fur- 
nished with rude, homemade furniture. After 
marriage he rented land three years in Chesterfield 
Township, and then bought a place one and one- 
fourth miles north of Medora, where he lived the 
remainder of his life, which was brought to a 
close at a rij/e age in February 1881. The maiden 



834 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



name of liis wife was Racliel Skeen, and she still 
lives on llie farm where she assisted her husband in 
the uiihuilding of a comfortable home. She is a 
native of Tennessee, and a dauirhter of John Ander- 
son Skeen. She has reared ten children to good 
and useful lives. 

When our subject was born the county was still 
in the hands of the pioneers, and he has witnessed 
much of its growth, -is his life has been p.issed here 
amid its pleas;int scenes and his education was ob- 
tained in its schools. Heearl}- received a thorough 
practical drilling in all kinds of farm work, and in 
due time became an enterprising, successful farmer 
and raiser of stock. He remained an inmate of 
the parental household until he married, and he 
then established a home of his own on section 31, 
Western Mound Township. He busied himself 
about its cultivation and improvement, interesting 
himself in various branches of agriculture, and con- 
tinuing to reside on that fnrm until 1S90, when he 
bought the farm adjoining upon which he has since 
made his home. 

Mr. Chism married in 18(58. Mary E. HajMies, a 
native of Jersey County. 111., and in her he has 
found a wife devoted to his interests, who has 
heartily co-operated with him in his life-work. 
.Six children have hallowed their marriage named 
as follows: John French. Thomas A., Charles, Nel- 
lie, Willie and Lester. 

Our subject is an intelligent, wide-awake man, 
possessing in a good degree tho.se qualllications that 
make a man self reliant and helpful, and his ntigh 
bors find him friendly and obliging. His wife has 
in him a considerate husband, his children an indul- 
gent father, and his county a good citizen. We 
ma}' add that the Reiiublican i>arty has in him a 
warm supporter. 

This biographical review would l)e imeomplete 
without some further reference to the antecedents 
of the wife of our subject. Mrs. Chism's father, 
John Haynes, was born in Rockingham County, 
Va., and he was very young when his father died. 
He was the youngest of a family of five sons, and 
he was six years old when his mother removed to 
Ohio and settled in t!;e wilds of Preble County, 
where he was reared and married. In 1845 he came 
from thereto Illinois, niaknig thejourne}- overlauil 



and bringing a jiart of his household goods with 
iiim. He settled two miles from Jcrseyville, where 
he -entpd land. A few years, later he settled near 
Medora, in Chesterfield Township, and that was his 
liome until death called him hence at a ripe age. 
The maiden name of Mrs. Chism's mother was 
Sarah Stoner. .She is a native of Ohio, and a 
daughter of John and Elizabeth Stoner. She is 
living at a venerable .age, at Jcrseyville. 







ULLEN C. GIBSON is a worth}- member 
of the farming community of this county, 
and his farm, with its well tilled fields and 
many excellent improvements, compares favorabl}' 
with the best in Girard Township. Mr. Gibson 
was born in Rutherford County. Tenn., near 
Murfrcesboro, Febi-uary 1. 1823. His father, 
James Gibson, was a son of one of the early pio- 
neers of that county. He was a stock-raiser and 
had a large number of horses that used to feed on 
the canebrake. As the country became settled he 
pushed o!) to the frontier, and thus in 1830 he 
came to Illinois, accompanied by his wife and three 
of their children with their families, making the 
trip by land, bringing all their household goods 
along, and camping by the wayside at night dur- 
ing their journey. After twenty-one days of 
travel they arrived at their destination in Morg.in 
County, and selected suitable locations on Young- 
blood's Prairie, seven miles southwest of Franklin.- 
The grandfather of our subject purch.ased a tract 
I of wild land, mostly prairie, built on it and act- 
' ively commenced the improvement of a farm, but 
death cut short his career the same fall. The 
maiden name of his wife was Rebecca Robinson. 
She survived her husband some years and finally 
died at the home of her son Isham in this county. 
She reared six children to maturity — Betsy, P.atsy, 
Sally, J.ames. John and Isham. all of whom 
came to Illinois, and John and Patsy are now de- 
ceased. 

The father of our subject was reared and mar- 
ried in Tennessee. He bought a tract of bhiegrass 
land southwest of Murfrcesboro, and enjjaned 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



S35 



in farming and slock-iaisinof. He was much op 
posed lo the iuslilutioii of slaver^-, and on that 
ticcouut decided lo emiorale to a free Stale. Hence 
lie came to Illinois in 1830, accompanied by his 
father and other members of the family, as before 
related. He bought land in Morgan County, on 
Younghlood's Prairie, and moved into the rude log 
cabin that stood on the place. That dwelling was 
a primitive affair, with its roof covered willi 
boards split by hand and held in place by |X)les. 
boards split made the door which had wooden 
hinges and a wooden latch, with the siring always 
out. betokening the hospitality of the family. Tlie 
chimney wris of earth and slicks, and no nails were 
used in the construction of the building, wooden 
pins taking their place. This humble abode was 
but a type of those occupied by the few white set- 
tlers in that wild, sparseh* inhabited region, where 
there were but few evidences of civilization. 
There were no railways, and the pioneers had to go 
across the country over rough roads, or no roads 
at all, to Alton seventy miles away, to obtain 
necessary supplies and to market their grain and 
other produce. Mail faciliiies were of the poorest, 
and before stage routes were established the mail 
was brought with ox-teams or on horseback. That 
was in the d.\vs before envelopes were used, and 
was prior lo ti)e era of cheap postage. Twenty- 
tive cents were charged for each letter, and monev 
being a scarce article, often the whole neighbor- 
hood was searched to find enough lo pay the 
requisite postage. 

The father of our subject won an honorable 
place among the pioneers of Morgan County, con- 
tributing his quota lo its development. He cleared 
quite a farm, which he provided with good frame 
buildings, and otherwise improved it. and there in 
his comfortable home his life was terminated by 
d^ath January 24, 1855. His wife, who was Han- 
nah Meredith prior to her marri.ige. is thought lo 
have been a native of North Carolina, and to 
have been of Welsh lineage. She attained the 
venerable age of eighty-seven years, dying in 
Morgan Count}- in August, 1883. She wa« the 
mother of five children, named William, John. 
Cullen C, Rebecca and Martha. 

A lad of seven years when he was braught to 



Illinois, our subject h.ns a distinct recollection of 
the incidents of frontier life in a newly settled 
country, and he grew to a stalwart manhood under 
the invigorating influences of pioneer times. He 
lived with his parents until his marriage, and then 
bought land adjoining the old home, on which 
stood a substantial log house that was considere<l 
a fine dwelling for those days, :ts it was built of 
of hewn logs, shingles covered the roof, it had a 
puncheon floor, and the chimhe}' w.as made of 
brick. In that abo<le he and his wife spent the 
first few 3-ears of their happy wedded life, and 
four of their children were born under its shelter- 
ing roof. In 1861 Mr. Gibson sold that place, and 
coming to this county, he bought the farm that he 
now occupies, which comprises one hundred and 
and seventy-three acres of soil of surpassing fertil- 
ity, finely located close to the village of Girard. 
At the time of purch.ase the buildings upon it 
were of a poor class, which he immediately re- 
placed with a new set of a better order. In May, 
1888, they were burned. entailing a heavy loss, and 
then Mr. Gibson erected the neat ilwelling and 
outbuildings that now adorn the place. 

September 10, 1843, was the date of the mar- 
riage of our subject with Miss Nancy J. Daugh- 
erty, who was born in Lincoln Count}-, Ky., May 
22, 1827. John Daughcrty, her father, is tliought 
to have been a native of Uie same State, of which 
his father, Charles Daugherty, was a pioneer 
farmer. His last years were spent there. 

Mrs. Gibson's father was left an orphan at an 
early .ige. His early life was passed in his native 
State, a:)d he w.is there married. In the fall of 
1830 he emigrated to Illinois with his wife and the 
two children that had been born to them in their 
old home, making the removal with teams. He 
settled on Younghlood's Prairie, purchasing a tract 
of land, on which stood a log cabin, which became 
the home of the family for a number of years. 
In that early day the people were obliged to live 
in the most primitive fashion, and labor-saving 
machinery was an unknov\-n quantit\ to the farmer 
in carrying on bis work. The grain was cut with 
a sickle until the cr.adle came into use, and there 
were no threshing machines, the grain being laid 
on tbe ground and tramjjed out b\- oxen or horses. 



836 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



There were no fanning mills, and it took three 
people to winnow the grain, one to pour it out, 
wliilc two fanned it with a sheet. As Mrs. Gib- 
son's parents were amonj); the early pioneers of 
Morgan County, her education was obtained in tiie 
primitive pioneer scliools of those early days of the 
settlement of that county. She became accom- 
plished in the art of spinning and weaving wcol 
•ind llax, and in her early married life dressed her 
family in cloth of her own manufacture. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gibson have twelve children, as 
follows: Serilda, wife of Frank Gates; James, 
John, Charles, Hannah, wife of James Wirt; 
.Snrali, wife of George Garst; George; Rinda, wife 
of Henry Showalter; Isaac, Henry, Cullen, and 
Lizzie, wife of John Stowe. 

Our subject and his wife are people of true reli- 
g'ous eharar'ter.who are highly thought of in their 
community as good neighbors and useful citizens. 
They and all but three of their children are mem- 
bers of the German Baptist Church, two of their 
sons being preachers of that denomination, and 
every good work finds in Ihcm hearty support. 



lEORGE W. SCHMIDT is extensively en- 
II ^S? S^S'^'^ '" business as a dealer in general 
^^^l! hardware, tinware and farming implements, 
his establishment being located at the corner of 
Macoupin and Chestnut Streets in the thriving 
village of Gillespie, where he has carried on oper- 
ations since 1882. He began business on a small 
scale and as his trade increased, enlarged his stock 
until he has now a well-filled store which indicates 
that he receives a liberal ])atronage. 

Mr. Schmidt was born in Hesse-Castle, Fursten- 
hagen, German}', September 1, 1839, and is a son of 
Nicholas and Elizabeth (Geisce) Schmidt, both born 
in the Fatherland. The former died at the age of 
sixty-six 3'ears, but the mother is still living at 
the age of seventy-seven. She is a member of the 
German Evangelical Lutheran Church, as was her 
husband. In their fiimily were nine children, our 
subject being the second in order of birth. John 



was the first to come to America, crossing the At- 
lantic in 1856. When the Civil War broke out he 
enlisted at Philadelphi.i in the service of his adopted 
countrj' and wore the blue until peace was once 
more restored. Not long after he died of sickness 
contracted in the army. Mrs. Eliza Fisher, a sister, 
also came to this country, crossing the water in 
company with our subject. She makes her home 
Brighton. 

George Schmidt began learning the carriage-mak- 
ing trade in Hamburg, Germany, where he worked 
from 1855 until 1860. He then entered the regu- 
lar army of his country, serving for a short time. 
Again resuming work at his trade he wasem))loyed 
as a journeyman until 1865, which year witnessed 
his emigration to America. He took passage at 
Bremen upon the sailing vessel ''Mozart" and after 
a voyage of thirty-five days landed in New York 
City, whence he came at once to Illinois. T!ie first 
year after his arrival he spent in Palmyra and then 
took up his vesideu'ie in Dorchester, Macoupin 
County, where lie built a wagon shop and began 
business on his own account. He was at first alone 
but later associated with him Charle'* Hoffman, a 
sketch of whom appeals on another pnge of this 
work. Their partnership continued until 1875, 
when on account of failing health Mr. Schmidt had 
to abandon that business, and sold out to C. Theuer. 
He then embarked in the hardware business, carry- 
ing on a store at that, place until 1882, when he 
removed his stock to Gillespie. 

On the 28th of February, 1869, in Upper Alton, 
Mr. Schmidt was joined in wedlock with Miss 
Louisa Theuer, who was born in St. Louis. Mo., 
September 17, 1850, aiid is of German descent. 
Her father, Edward Theuer, was a Saxon and her 
mother was a native of Baden. After coming to 
this countrj' thej' were married in St. Louis and are 
now residents of Upper Alton, where Mr. Theuer 
engages in gardening. Mrs. Schmidt was a maiden 
of five summers when her parents removed to Upper 
Alton where she resided until her marriage. By their 
union have been born seven children as follows: 
Charles and Mary, now deceased; George W., Ec\- 
ward and William who assist their father in carry- 
ing on the business, and Emma and Alvena at 
home, The parents and children are all members 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



fc37 



of the German Evangelical Church. In politics 
Mr. Schmidt was formerly a Re|iublieau but now 
voles with the Democr«tic party, and since ho 
cainc to Gillespie he has been a member of the town 
Board. A public-spirite 1 and progressive citizen, 
he takes an active interest in all that |)ertains to 
llic welfare of the communiLy and ranks high among 
his business associates, and in social circles as well. 
His family holds an enviable position in the social 
world and the Seliniidt household is noted for its 
liosi-'itality. 

i^m 

'^/OSEPII ENGLAND. One of the i)ioneer 
settlers of this State who has experienced 
the vicissitudes of a farmer's life from 
early settlement to the present time is he 
wliose name is at the head of this sketch. He owns 
and resides on the farm located on section 34, 
North Ottsr Township. The encouragements and 
discouragements of life are all familiar to him, 
having passed througii drought and flood, grass- 
hopper scourge and blight and having had his 
heart gladdened by such luxuriant croi)S as only 
Central Illinois can produce when the genius of the 
weather is in a propitious mood. 

Our subjecfs father vvas John England; his mother 
was Linnie (Hall) England. They were both prob- 
ably natives of Tennessee, whence they came to 
Morgan Countj', 111., remaining there only one 3'ear. 
They then came to Macoupin County early in the 
'30s and settled in North Otter Township where 
they lived until their death. The original of our 
sketch w.as one of the older members of his father's 
familj-. He was born in INforgan Count}', Tenn., 
December 29, 1818. He came to Macoupin County 
with his parents and lived under the home roof 
until he had attained to years of manhood. He is 
proud of the fact that he is one of the oldest set- 
tlers in North Otter T<jwnsliip and also of Macoupin 
County. 

Our subject was married in his native county 
December 19, 1839. His wife's maiden name was 
Mary A. Hays. The lady was born in Martin 
County, Ind., April 10, 1824. Her parents were 
AVilliam and Elizabeth Havs. Mr. and Mrs. Eng- 



land have been the parents of thirteen children. 
They are Nancy, Luciuda, John, William. Samuel, 
Elisha, Benjamin F., James F., Elizabeth, George F., 
Thom.os J., Sebinl, Joseph H. The eldest daughter 
became the wife of W. S. Bond and died in North 
Otter Township when forty-five 3'eir3 of age; Lu- 
cinda ia the wife of John M. Hays; John married 
Mary S. Thurman; William died in childhood; 
Samuel married Ellen Swift; Elisiia took to wife 
Ada M. England; Benjamin married Mary Adcock; 
James F. is deceased; Elizabeth is the wife of 
Joseph Norvel; George married Elizabeth Adcock; 
Thomas married BLary Harlan; Sebird died in 
irifanc^y, Joseph H. when twenty-three years of 
age. 

Mr. Engla.id has always been engaged in farm- 
ing. He owns one hundred and sixty-nine and one 
half acres. He has erected a good class of build- 
ings upon his farm and tiie place is well improved. 
Mrs. England died in Nortii Otter Township. Au- 
gust 19, 1877. Our suliject is a man who is liberal 
in his religious views. No man in the township or 
county knows so much of the history of the locality 
and of men who have been prominent here as does 
our subject. He is genial and hospitable and al- 
though he has lived more than the allotted three- 
score and ten his friends hojie that he will survive 
many years. 

f]AMES H. SMALLEY, who is successfully 
cngageil in general farming and sheep-rais- 
ing on section 35, Hilyard Township, has 

the honor of being a native-born citizen of 

this count}', his birth having occuried on the old 
Smalley homestead in Bunker Hill Township, in 
1840. We have no authentic record concerning 
the early history of the Smalle}' family and its es- 
tablishment in America, but know that the pa- 
ternal grandfather of our subject, Samuel Smalley, 
came of an old New Jersey family of English He- 
brew origin. He was twice married in his native 
State, and with his second wife and his children, 
emigrated to Illinois, traveling from I'ittsburg 
with a one horse team. He located in Bunker Hill 



83« 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



'J'ownsliip "lien the citj' of that name was a raerc 
hamlet. Seeming hinds he improved a good prop- 
el ty and lived to see all of his cldldren established 
in good homes of their own. He and his wife both 
(lidd on the old homestead at au advanced age. 
They were members of the Baptist Church and 
were well-known among the early settlers of this 
community. Tne usual trials and hardships of pi- 
once/ life fell to their lot, such as having to 
live upon corn-meal which was ground in a coflfec- 
mill. For some time the family which numbered 
twenty -one persons, lived in a small log cabin, j-et 
in the course of lime Samuel Sraalle^- became one 
of the prosperous men of the community-. 

Andrew Snialley, father of our subject, was born 
in Somerset County, N. ,1., in 1815, and in that 
State learned the hatter's trade, which he followed 
for several years. About a year previous to his 
emigration Westward, he married Miss Julia Cox, 
who was born and reared in Sussex County, and 
was a daughter of Capt. Restore Cox, a soldier of 
the War of 1812, who in that struggle, won his ti- 
tle. After the death of his wife, the Captain, then an 
old m:in.i\ame to Illinois and spent his last days in the 
hume of his daughter. On coming West, Andrew 
Smalle}' and his wife at once began the work of 
acquiring a property. He secured eighty acres of 
land from the Government, upon which he built 
a cabin and in true pioneer style, began life. Prac- 
ticing industry and economy, his financial resources 
were there increased and from lime to time he 
made judicious investments of his capital in real 
estate until he became owner of about twelve hun- 
dred acres of fine land, all lying within the borders 
of Macoupin County except one quarter section in 
Kansas. His land was divided into good faims, 
upon which he placed manj- excellent improve- 
ments. No man did more for the development 
and upbuilding of this township than Andrew 
Smalley, and he became one of the prominent and 
influential as well as the prosperous citizens of the 
community. In all his labors he was ably assisted 
and seconded by his estimable wife who proved a 
true helpmate to him. She was born in 1817, and 
died at their home in Bunker Hill, in 1872, in the 
faith of the Baptist Church, of which she was a 
consistent member. Andrew Smalley was again 



married, his second union being with Mrs. John- 
son, who is yet living and makes lier home in Bun- 
ker Hill, at the age of sixty yeai-s. He was a mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church also, and lived an up- 
right life, worthy the esteem of all. Industry and 
enterprise characterized h'S career, and fairness 
marked all of his business dealings. In his death 
the county lost one of her best citizens. 

Our subject, James H. Smalley. is the eldest of 
four surviving children, out of a family of six. 
His entire life has been spent in this countj-, and 
its growth and development, he has witnessed 
from an early day. Traveling life's journey with 
him as his faithful svife, is Miss Emma Hopper, 
their marriage having been celebrated in Bunker 
Hill in 1862. She was born in Booneville, Ind., 
February 7, 1842, and her parents. Rev. J. V. and 
Lucinda (Johnson) Hopper, were natives of the 
Bucke3e Slate, where they were reared and mar- 
rieii. After the birth of their first child, a daugh- 
ter, they removed to Indiana, but in a few years 
relumed to Ohio. Subsequently they came to Ill- 
inois, settling near Bunker Hill. Where Mr. Hop- 
per improved and operated a farm. He also en- 
gaged in preaching as a minister of the Baptist 
Church, and after years of hard labor retired to 
])rivate life, removing to Bunker Hill, where he is 
now living at the age of seventy seven yeai-s, while 
his wife has attained the age of seventy-five years. 
Their famil}' numbered seven children of whom 
six are yet living. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smalley have been born a 
family of five children, and death has not once vis- 
ited the home. Charley ()., the eldest, is now con- 
nected with a street cir eompan3' of St. Louis, 
where he makes his home: L. Etta, Herbert H., 
Arden E. and Edward O., are still with their pa- 
rents. Mr. and Mrs. Smalle3' attend the Baptist 
Church, and in politics he is a Democrat. He has 
traveled extensiveh- through the North and West, 
and was one of the first to engage in mining in 
Leadville, Colo. For a half ccnturj- he has resided 
in Macoupin County, and with the history of its 
agricultural interests his name is inseparably' con- 
nected. He owns one of the best farms in Hilyard 
Township, and in connection witii its cultivation, 
is extensively engaged in sheep raising, in which 



1 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



839 



be hns met with excellent success. He possesses 
good business ability, is enterprising :infl pro- 
gressive, nnd is accounted one of the valued citi- 
zens of the neighborhood. 



Vj — ,17 RANK FRIKDE, wiio is engaged in gen- 
1—/^) eral merchandising in Mt. Olive, was born 
It, on the 10th of May, 1859, in Edwardsville, 
111., and is a son of Charles ,1. and Sophia (llaTi- 
nan) Friede, wiio were natives of Prussia, Oerniany, 
wiiere they grew to mature years. The father 
alone and the mother in company with her parents 
emigrated to this countiy in 1.S54, sailing from 
Bremen to New Orleans and then came up the 
river lo lllimtis, settling in Edwardsville, where a 
few years later the young people were married. 
Mr. Kriede followed tlie trade of a carpenter and 
when well advanceil in 3'ears came with his wife to 
this county, where they spent the remainder of 
their lives, liie father dying in 1881, at the age of 
fifty-seven years, the mother passing aw.-y in 1880, 
when lift}' years of age. She was a member of the 
Lutheran Church and Mr. Friede was a Catholic in 
religious belief. Our subject is the eldest of the 
family of whom three are yet living — Ernst, who 
is now married and resiiles in East St. Louis; and 
Sophia who makes her home in this city. 

Frank Friede, whose name heads this notice, 
resided at home until 1874, when he went to St. 
Louis, Mo., where he spent ihree 3'ears in learning 
the trade of a confectioner. On the expiration of 
that time he earae to Mt. Olive and established 
business in that line, carrying on operations with 
considerable success for seven years, when in 1884, 
he embarked in general merchandising. Six years 
later lie erected a fine brick store building, 75x30 
feet and two stories in height with abasement. It 
is well filled with staple and fancy groceries, cloth- 
ing, dry goods, hals and caps, boots and shoes, 
etc. 

Mrs. Friede, wife of our subject, was in lier 
maidenhood Miss Frances Schoen. She was born 
in Montgomery County, III., in 1864, and is a 
daugliter of Albert and Anna (Akerbauer) Schoen, 



natives of Germany, who on coming to this coun- 
try had located in Illinois. After their marri.age 
they settled in Montgomery County, where Mr. 
Schoen improved a good farm. Having acquired 
a good competence, he and his wife removed to 
Mt. Olive where Ihey are now living retired, both 
being well advanced in years. Unto Mr. and I\Irs. 
Friede have been born an interesting family of 
three children, all sons — Charles F., Albert .1. ami 
William A. 

Mr. Friede holds membership with the Catliolic 
Church and his wife belongs to the Lutheran 
Church. In polities he is a Democrat and for 
many years has served as a member of the Council 
and for tiiree yeais was President of the Hoard. He 
is now serving as Supervisor of Mt. Olive Town- 
ship, wliich was cut oflf from Staunton Township 
in 18S;5. One of the young business men of the 
plnce he has succeeded in wiiuiing an excellent 
trade, liaving acquired his pati'onage by fair deal- 
ing, courteous treatment and a desire to please his 
customers. As a citizen he is true lo every iluly 
and he r:inks higii both in business and social 
circles. 

-S^S?!^- 



/p^EORGE W. RIVES. Among the extensive 
ill (— , farmers of Rarr Township, the biographer 
^^i)!) m.ay well mentif)n the name which appears 
at the head of this paragraph. Mr. Rives is tlie 
son of James Rives and Elizabelii Hc)od, both nat- 
ives of North Carolina, vvho have resided in Kent- 
ucky, i)revious to their mii;,ralion to Illinois. 
Having arrived in the Prairie State they settled in 
Greene Countj', about the year 1831 and there 
the}' died. 

Our subject first saw the light in (ireene County, 
May 13, 1837, and there betook his early training 
upon tlie farm, and in the district school, and did 
not come to this county until about the time he 
reacbeii his majority. He then settled u|.ou sec- 
tion 21, Barr Township, in 1858, but returned to 
his native county two years later, to bring for his 
bride. He was married .lanupry 25, 1860 to Miis 
Jemima Deal, i daughter of (Jeorge and Lucy 
(Rismiller) Deal, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. 



.«40 



rORTKAIT AND KIOGRArHICAL RECORD. 



Deal dieil in Luzerne County, Pa., and the mother 
in Christian County. III. Their daughter Jemima 
was born in TS'orUi Hampton County, Pa., March 
it, 1838. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Rives were granted ten bright 
and interesting children, namely: Charles P.; Wil- 
liam H., who ra.Trriod Miss Anna Skaggs; James 
L., who married Miss Emma Jones; Augustus M., 
George E., Lenora E., Jolin M.. Harry E., Ever- 
ette A. and Stephen C. These children are all 
being brought up in the faith of the Christian reli- 
gion, and arc given excellent opportunities of edu- 
cation, the parents being intelligent and thought- 
ful and desirous of the best good for their children. 
They are both earnest members of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church, and in politics Mr. Rives is 
attached to the Republican part}-. Farming and 
stock-raising absorb the greater part of Mr. Rives' 
interest and efforts and he is successful in his en- 
deavors. He is the prosperous owner of seven hun- 
dred and sixty .acres, ali in Rarr Township. 



■S)^-" 



FORREST D. GORE. There is a well known 
1^^ aphorism that blood will lell. 'I'lie gentle- 
man whose name herds this sketcli is a 
worthy lepresentative of a family that for years has 
been distinguished by virtue of the intellectual 
superioritj-, mental vigor and liusiness capacity and 
|iusli of its members. He is a son of the Hon. 
David and Cindrella (Keller) Goieof Carlinville, 
the former of whom is a man noted for his bioad 
intellectuality, and the prominent position he has 
successfully filled in public life. 

Our subject was born in Cliesterfield, Macoupin 
County, October 1. 1854, and is now a resident on 
his farm in Nilwood Township his place being 
located on section 4. He passed the early years of 
his life in his native township and until seven 
years of age, when his parents moved to Carlin- 
ville, where he grew to manhood. There he passed 
his years as do most of the village lads, engaged 
in school life and the sports of boyhood, until he 
reached mature years when life was serious before 
him, and he began to think of making himself a 



home. He was married at his home in Carlinville, 
November 30, 1880, to Miss Carrie Bird, the eldest 
daughter of Joseph Bird, of Carlinville. She was 
a native of Macoupin County, where she was born 
August 17. 1866. 

The young couple set up housekeeping in the 
village where their marriage look place and there 
remained for four years. September 1884, he re- 
moved to Nilwood Township, and settled on 
section 4 where he has ever since been a resider.t. 
He has always devoted himself to agi'icultural 
pursuits and owns a fine farm of one hundred and 
twenty acres on whicii arc a series of buildings 
that speak well in appointment and convenience, 
of the judgment and taste of their owner. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gore are the parents of tliree sons 
and one daughter. They are, Forrest Bird, Victor 
Morris. Jose|)h Herald. Gladvs Isabella. In poli- 
tics Mr. Gore is an uncomprising Democrat. Our 
subject is an enterprising, vigorous man. He is a 
lover of lionie and family anrl on ail sides in his 
house can be seen evidences of culture and reline- 
ment. Mrs. Gore is a woman of unusual personal 
attraction, and wh>le devoted to her family, is the 
center of the social life in her neighborliood. She 
dispenses with rare grace, the hospitality of their 
home .ind happy is the stranger who gains entrance 
into that home. 



L«^-^57^)HEODORE J. 



I'EANEY, a brother of 
I /«v, E. A. C. Teaney, who is elsewhere sketched 
in this volume, is a rei>resentativc of a well 
known and honorable family, whose life in Barr 
Township, has given them a just claim to the re- 
spect and esteem of their neighbors. The father 
Francis C. and the mother Mary (Huff) Teaney 
are spoken of more at length in the biography of 
the other son. In a family of twelve children, 
Theodore is the fiftii, the dale of his nativity being 
June 20. 1825. He was born in Augusta ("ounty, 
Va., and came to Greene County, III., with his par- 
ents and there grew to manhood. 

After coming to this county this young man 
took to himself a wife in the person of Caroline M. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



841 



Colby, who became the mother of six children, 
namel.y: Silas F., died in boyiiood; Alpheus L. 
died .'it tho age of fourteen; INlary the third ciiild 
was talieii away at the age of sixteen; .Sylva L. is 
tlie wifvi of Thomas Tilbscott; Eri K. married Miss 
Jennie Maxwell ; Theodore J. married Miss Nora 
Havens. Mrs. Caroline Teaney died in Barr Town- 
shi|) many years ago leaving her family to deeplj- 
mourn her loss. 

Tlie second wife of our subject bore the maiden 
name of Martha J. Vaughn and she brought her 
husband five children, .Toiin A., George A., Ephraim 
K., Cora O and Martha J. Theii mother was 
taken from them in 1884. The present Mrs. Tea- 
ney was before her marriage with our subject, 
Mrs. Elizabeth (Drake) Shelton. .She is a woman 
of ability and influence and takes an active part in 
religious affairs, filling a useful sphere of influence. 
Tne [jolilical views of Mr. Teaney have led him to 
attiliate with the Democratic party. He has always 
followed agricultural pursuits and has not given 
his time to otflce seeking. His farm of one hun 
dred and thirty-eight acres, shows the mark of 
patient, persevering endeavor and a thorough un- 
derstiinding of the needs of agriculture. Mr. 
Teaney is wide-awake upon educational themes and 
has served as School Director. Their pleasant 
home is the scene of a cordial hospitality and fre- 
quent reunions of friends of genial nature and 
true culture. 



3^ 



/^ APT. LEVI M. HE.SS. The days of the 
[if^L Civil War have not so far passed into his- 
■^^^ tory as to iiave impaired the personal inter- 
est which the present generation should take in 
those heroes who battled bravely for the Union 
and the honor of the old flag. We still have among 
us men in the prime of life who were the heroes of 
those days, and the patriotic impulses of our 
j'oungcr people may well be stirred by a recountal 
of their sufferings and conflicts. We are there- 
fore doubly pleased to present a sketch of Capt. 
Hess, whuse record both in times of peace and times 
of war is wortli^- of publication. 



Our subject was born on a farm two miles south 
of Goshen, Elkhart County, Ind., October 15, 1840. 
His father, P^lias Hess, was a native of Franklin 
County, Ohio, born in 1810, and was the son of 
the Rev. Bolser Hess, of German}', who came to 
America in the early Colonial d.ays and settling 
with his father's family near Beilford, Pa. He 
was quite young when he became an emigrant and 
was reared in Pennsylvania and became a pioneer 
of Franklin County, Ohio. He resided there until 
1829 when he removed to Elkhart County, Ind. 

At that time that section of the country was 
very sparsely settled and Indians still lingered near 
them. The county was not yet organized and the 
land was not in market until three years after this 
pioneer ''squatted" upon the tract which he chose 
for his home. As soon as it was possible he entered 
two sections of land within two miles of the present 
site of Gushen. He had erected a log house in the 
woods and at once began to clear the land. No 
railroads nor canals furnished means of transit 
through th.at section, and Ft. Wiiyne, fifty-three 
miles distant was the nearest market. 

Bolser Hess was a successful man and acquired a 
handsome properly, dying in 1858. He was a, 
preacher in the Baptist Church and very useful in 
his work among his pioneer neighbors. The maiden 
name of his wife was Sarah Immell and she w.as of 
French ancestry. She spent her last years here 
witii her children. 

The father of our subject was but nineteen j'ears 
old when his parents settled in Elkhart County, 
and he remained at home for some time after his 
marriage, as his fatlier desired his help upon the 
homestead. He then gave him one hundred and 
sixty acres of land which was a portion of his orig- 
inal entry, and there he resi<led until after the war, 
when he sold out and removed to Marshall Count}', 
buying a farm there which he still owns, although 
he resides in Bois D'Arc, Bio. 

The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Lueinda Wright. She was born near Wheel- 
ing, W. Xh., and was a daughter of Enoch and 
Jane (Abshire) Wright. She died on the home 
farm in Marshall County, Ind., after having reared 
to maturity thirteen of her fourteen children. 
Three of them, Ezra, Isaiah and our subject served 



842 



PORTRAIT AND 1U(JGKAPH1CAL RECORD. 



as soldiers in the late war. The former was killed 
in the powder explosion at University Place in the 
Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee. Isaiah was 
wounded at the battle of Joncsboro, Ga. 

Levi Hess was reared upon the farm and remained 
under the parental roof until the breaking out of 
the war. He enlisted at the first call for troops, 
April 15, 1861, joining Capl. Haskell's conipan}-. 
The company' was not acci'i)ted and he again en- 
listed at the second call in July of the same year, 
joining Company B, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infan- 
try. In 18G4 he was transferred to Com pan}' G 
and continued to serve with this regiment until 
after the close of the war. 

The young man, enlisted as a private and was 
promoted to Sergeant and then to First Lieutenant, 
and December G, 1864, lie received tlie commission 
of a Captain and was placed in command of Com- 
pany G, of which lie had charge through the re- 
mainder of his term of service. He was discharged 
with the regiment at INIariella, (ia., and paid off at 
Indianapolis, December 12, 1865. 

Returning iiome Capt. Hess decidcl to prepare 
himself more fully for business life, and going lo 
Chicago, entered Eastman's Business College where 
he graduated in 186G. He tiien .accepted for a 
short time a position as book-keeper in a stove 
store in that city, before returning lo Goshen. 
From tliere he went lo SpringHeld, Mo , where he 
engaged in teaching and farming until 1871, when 
he cr.me to Macoupin County and bought a farm 
in Virden Township, which projierty he still owns. 
He engaged in farming till 1881 and then formed 
a partnership with .John F. Huston for the puri)0se 
of engaging in the hardware and furniture busi- 
ness, combining with this the sale of agric\illurnl im- 
plements under the firm name of Hess \' Huston. 

The I'a|)|)y marriage of Capt. Hess and Miss 
Annie B. Clay took i)lace in August, 18GC. This 
lady is a daughter of Henry and Lucy (Webber) 
Clay. To Mr. and Mrs. Hess were granted two 
beautiful daughters, whom they have brought up 
in the faith of the Christian Church an<l educated 
according to the best opportunities of which the}' 
could avail themselves. JMartha is now the wire 
of John \\. Sumner and Lulu is at home with her 
parents. Mr. Hess is connected with the A'inlen 



Lodge No. 161, A. F. & A. M. and the Girard 
Chapter No. 281, also with the Yirdcn Lodge No. 
534, I. O. O. F., and is prominently identified with 
the John Baird Post No. 285, G. A. R. 



— *- 



(.i j^EYE H. WEYEN, deceased, was born in 
\rJ/l Hanover, Germany, October 20, 1820, and 
'^^xy died at bis home in Cahokia Township, on 
March 15, 1889, respected bj' all who knew him. 
In the usual manner of farmer lads his boyhood 
da^s were passed and in the common schools of 
Germany he acquired his education. The year 
1851 witnessed his emigration to America. He was 
then a young man and had resolved to tiy his 
fortune in the New World, of whose advan'.ages 
and op|)firlunilies he had heard so much. The 
vessel on wiiich he took p.assage sailed from Bremen 
to New Orleans, whence became up the Mississippi 
River to Alton. He began life in Madison County 
as a farmer. Some years later his parents also came 
to the United States, locating in Macoupin County, 
where they resi<led until fleath, both being well ad- 
vanced in years when the}' passed away. 

While resiiling in Alton, Mr. Weyen was joined 
in wedluck with ISIiss Mate Johnson, also a native 
of the Province of Hanover, Germany, born 
February 17, 1827. When a young woman she 
bade adieu to the Fatherland and her people and on 
the same ship in which her sweetheart had taken 
passage, she crossed the waters to America. Her 
home she made in Alton until, just a year after her 
arrival in this country, she became the wife of Mr. 
Weyen. They continued their residence in Madi- 
son Count}' forsome nine years, living upon a farm 
and then came to ]\lacoui)in County, in 18G5, the 
husband |)urchasing land on section 8, Cahokia 
Township. When they were married their cash 
capital consisted of only 15 but they started out in 
life together hand in hand, determined to win suc- 
cess and at length a large and finely improved farm 
of six hundred acres was yielding to them a golden 
tribute. Thereon Mr. Weyen continued to make his 
home until his death. He was a man of great energy 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RP:CORD. 



843 



and perseverance, possessed also of good manage- 
ment and excellent business ability. The obstacles 
which arose in his path, he made to serve other 
than adverse purjioses and where many a man of 
less resolute character would have despaired, he 
seemed to lake fresh courage after an encounter 
with dilliculties and to press forward with renewed 
zeal. In politics he was a Democrat and in re 
ligious belief a Lutheran. In his death the county 
lost one of its best citizens, his neighbors a kind 
friend and his family a loving and considerate hus- 
ban<i and father. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Weyen were born six chil- 
dren and with the exception of John who died in 
childhood, all are yet living. Meye who wedded 
Minnie Meinicke owns and operates a farm in Hone3' 
Point Township; Mary is the wife of George Oster- 
cauip who owns an excellent farm in tiie same 
town;Tacc wedded Allie Schmidt and resides on a 
|>art of the old li()mestead; Tcnnie married John 
W. Schmidt, they reside in Gillespie Township; 
John still lives with his mother and assists her in 
her business affairs. Mrs. Weyen is still living on 
the large farm in Cahokia Township which she has 
successfully managed with the hcl|) of hei- sons 
since her husband's death. She, too, is a member 
of the Lutheran Church and is a lady whose many 
excellencies of character have won her many friends. 
Her youngest son who has the burden of the farm 
work upon his shoulders, is a young man of excel- 
lent liusiness ability, wide-awake and progressive 
and will .loubtless have a successful career. 



-4— 



^^.^ ^^^ 



IL^ I'GH F. LOVELESS. Among the most 
prominent families in Bird Township who 
y^ have made their mark in the farming com- 
vj^) munit)- by the thoroughness and etliciencty 
of their work and the sterling value of their char- 
acti'r, we find the one repiesented by the gentle- 
man whose name appeals at the head of this l)rlef 
life review. A resume of the family history will 
be found with the biography of his brotlier, J. 11. 
Our subject was born in this township, June 2, 
IH.J.i, ;u'd here lie has grown u|) to iniinhoi)d. His 



father's farm was the scene of his earl\' training 
and he received sucii intellectual stimulus and 
education as was to be found in the pioneer schools 
of Macoupin County. In those fundamental insti- 
tutions of learning a noble start was given to many 
a worthy citizen, for although their cour.«e was not 
a broad one the drill was deep and the effect en- 
during. This son was one of the younger in his 
father's household and he made his home under the 
parental roof until his marriage. 

Sarah A. Sell was the maiden name of the lady 
who became ftlrs. Hugii F. Loveless March 3, 1864. 
at St. Louis. Mo. Her parents, Michael and Sarah 
(Brown) Sell were natives of Pennsylvania and 
Virginia respectively. They had made their home 
in Indiana some time previous to their coming to 
Macoupin Countj-, 111., which was at an eaily day. 
The^' settled in Western Mound Township, and 
after man}' years' residence there removed to Bird 
Township and afterward to Carlinville, but spent 
their latter days in Nilwood Township, where Mr. 
.Sell <lied June 22, 1 88f>. The ag^d mother of Mrs. 
Loveless still survives. They had live S(>ns and 
four daughters, of whom Sarah was the fifth. 

Mrs. Loveless lirst saw the light in Western 
Mound Township, May 3, 1847, a;id she made her 
home with her parents until her marriage. The 
young couple then settled in Bird Township upon 
the spot which the^' now call home. Mr. Loveless 
has made a thorough study of agriculture and is 
well informed in regard to all bian'hes of farming 
and stock-raising, and more than this has achieved 
a practical success in his efforts. He owns three 
hundred and forty acres and has upon his farm a 
fine set of farm buildings. 

Four pi'omising children came to brighten the 
iiome of our subject: one, Edgar L., died at the age 
of four and one-half years, but the others have 
grovvn to be a comfort and support to their parents. 
Albert P. manieil Miss Etta Adams and Francis 
F. and Cora F. are still at home with their parents. 
The ollice of School Director has lieen admirably 
tilled by our subject. In his |>olitical views he is 
in favor of the doctiines of the Democratic party 
and he has ever cast his vote in its favor. The 
Shiloh Baptist Church is the body of Christians 
with which they ai'e connected and there they have 



844 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 




proved themselves earnest and efficient workers. 
Mr, Loveless is known far and wide as a prudent 
and well-l)al:inccd man whose natural tharacter- 
istics, supplemented bj' the training whluh he has 
given himself, have made him prosperous and intlu- 
ential. Mis connection by marriage witli some of 
the most influential families in the township also 
added to his social strength. 

jOBERT R. TOMPKINS, who passed away 
from life in Woodburn, October 3, 1871, 
i^ W was one of the most respected and esteemed 
citizens of that pleasant village. For a 
few years previous to his decease, he had been re- 
tired from business as a miller in which line of 
work he had built up a very fine business and had 
established a beautiful home in tlie weslern part of 
Woodburn. He had lived either in this village or 
in the town of Bunker Hill since 183.5, when he 
came to this place which is now called Woodlmrn, 
and found it in its primitive condition. He helped 
to build it up and was one of its leading citizens. 
In his early years he was a carpenter, but later took 
the man.agement of the Woodburn flouring mills, 
and when they burned down he rebuilt near the 
old site. 

Mr. Tompkins operated the new mill on his own 
account, until he retired to enjo3' his accumulated 
fortune, a few years prior to his death. He had a 
host of friends in this part of the county and a 
large circle of acquaintances, for the first mill 
which he managed was the first one built in this 
county and the early settlers nsed to come to it also 
from Bond and Madison Counties. The friendly 
and upright dealing of this good miller with his 
customers ensured to him their friendship and their 
continued patronage. As an upright Christian 
man, he had no peer in that part of the country. 
He was for many years a Deacon in the Congrega- 
tional Church, and he took an active interest in 
everything which concerned Woodburn and 
M.acoupin County. He helped to organize and was 
one of the charter members of the Congregational 
Church and he gave liberally to its work and was 



a faithful teacher in the Sunday-school. He showed 

a like interest in all educational matters and was 
one of the early advocates of the free schools in 
this part of the State. 

The subject of this sketch w.as born in Spottsyl- 
vania County, Va., Januarj' 5, 1811, and there 
grew up under the care of his worthy parents, who 
lived and died in their native county. They were 
people who were iiighly respected by all who knew 
them. In 1834, while yet a young man, he came 
to this county, having already learned the trade of 
a carpenter. He was married at Woodburn and 
chose for his wife Miss Susan Hamilton, who was 
born in Hampden County, Mass., March 22, 1819. 
She is the daughter of Lemuel and Margaret (Quig- 
ley) Hamilton, natives of Massachusetts, both be- 
longing to old New p]ngland families. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton grew up and were mar- 
ried in the Bay State, and were the first settlers at 
Chester. Mass. Here all their children were born 
and then as a family they came in 1836 by way of 
canal and river to the western land. They made a 
six weeks' journey and landed at St. Louis and 
afterward came to Edwardsville. Later they came 
on to Woodburn, and here Lemuel Hamilton and 
his wife with their unbroken household began their 
new life. Tliey were, however, somewhat advanced 
in years for pioneers. Mr. Hamilton died in 
Woodburn, at the age of seventy-eiglit years and 
Mrs. Hamilton was sixty-three years old at the 
time of her decease. They were both earnest and 
consistent members of the Congregational Church 
and found in tlieir church connections a wide field 
of usefulness. Mr. Hamilton was very decided in 
his political views but never was an office seeker 
or an office holder. 

Mrs. Susan Tompkins, whose deceased husband 
is the subject of this sketch, was the youngest of 
the two daughters and two sons born to her par- 
ents. One sister, Mis. James B. Tompkins, also of 
Woodburn, is yet living. The brothers, William and 
James Hamilton both died, one in Bond County, 
and one at Bunker Hill. Botli left wives and 
families. Mrs. Tompkins is a noble woman and is 
possessed of a true Christian character. .She is a 
faithful member of the Congregational Church. 
She highly reveres the memory of her departed 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



845 



husband. They became the parents of twelve 
children, three of whom died — Emily, Susan and 
Eliza. Those who survive are: Ann, the wife of 
Martin L. Carriker, a farmei' in Montgomery Coun- 
ty; Mary H., wife of Martin L. Alford, residing in 
Woodburn; Sarah A., the wife of Andrew AVilson, 
now living at Rosemond, III.; Jane C, wife of 
Edward Hollister of St. Louis; Catherine D., wife 
of David Edwards, operating a printing ollice in 
the same city; Williara R., who took to wife Miss 
Elizabeth Woodard of Detroit, where tiiey now re- 
side; Clara A., wife of Dr. C. E. Axline, residing 
at Lancaster, Ohio, wliere her husband is a physi- 
cian and surgeon; Fanny W. is at home with her 
mother, and .Julia !>. is the wife of Benjamin R. 
Foster of St. Louis, Mo. The children of the 
family have all been brought up in a truly religious 
life and have endorsed the faith of their parents 
by conue(;ting themselves with Christian Churches. 
They all belong to either the Presbyterian or Con- 
gregational C'hurclies. 



OSEPH LOWDERMILK. Among the 
public-spirited men of Virden Township, 
few are more wide awake in regard to edu- 
cational and religious work and all matteis 
which pertain to the moral and material well-being 
of the community than he whose name appears at 
the head of this brief sketch. He is the seventh in 
order of age in a patriarchal family of fourteen 
children, the offspring Of Jacoli and Sarah (Bentlcy) 
Lowderrailk, residents of Sangamon County, 111. 

Our subject was born in Hamilton County. Mo., 
June 5, 1851, and was a baby two years old when 
his parents removed to this State, settling in Mor- 
gan County. After one year's residence there they 
made their bonic in Auburn Township, Sangamon 
Countv, and tliere this boy received the advantages 
of the common scliools and received industrial 
training upon his father's farm. He early chose 
agriculture as his life work and has ever devoted 
himself persistently and successfully to farming. 
Mr. Lov/dermilk was niariied November 11, 18C9, 
to Miss Marv F. Slutzman at the residence of the 



bride's father. She is a daughter of the late Dan- 
iel U. and Hannah (Wineland) Stutzman. Their 
daughter, Mary F. was born October 13, 1850, in 
Elkhart County, Ind. After marriage the young 
couple made their home in Virden Township for 
about two years and then removed to Ricks Town- 
ship, Christian County*, this State, and resided there 
for four years, after which they returned to Virden 
Township Three years later they returned to 
Christian County, where they remained until the 
spring of 1890, after which they returned to Virden 
Township. 

The gentleman of whom we write has devoted 
himself principally to farming, although he has 
found both pleasure and profit in teaching music, 
in which branch of education he is an enthusiastic 
proficient. One hundred and thirty-two acres of 
rich and arable soil constitutes his farm and upon 
it may be seen the best class of farm buildings and 
a lieautiful home. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Lowdermilk were given eight 
beautiful children, viz: Ida E. ; Lillian E. who died 
April 16. 1891 ; Alvin A . Cora E., Eddie J., Fred- 
die D., William and Viola. The eldest daughter 
is now the wife of Horace Eslerbrook. The mother 
of these children passed away from earth March 
II. 1890. The second marriage of Mr. Lowder- 
milk. which united him witl\ Miss Adella Jumper, 
took place November 7, 1890. He has ever taken 
a good degree of interest in educational matters, 
and in his office as School Director has efficiently 
promoted the welfare of the township. His polit- 
ical views ally him with the Democratic party, and 
as a member of the Baptist Church he is an efficient 
worker in religions movements. 



i^ 



EV. THOMAS MILTON METCALF, wc'l 
known and honored as a resident of Car- 
linville. and as a minister of the Missionary 
(^Baptist denomination, was born in Hop- 
kins County, Ky., November 10, 1828. His father. 
William Metcalf, Jr., was born in Christian County, 
Ky., December 7, 1809. His father, William Met- 
calf. Sr., w.as a native of North Carolina. He 




•846 



PORTRAIT AND liJOGRAPHJCAL RECORD. 



grew to manliood in tliut Slate, and subsequently 
became one of the early settlers of Christian 
County, Ky. He resided there a few years, 
and then removed to Hopkins County, where 
be purchased a tract of timber land. In 183.5 he 
emigrated thence to Illinois, an<l became a, pioneer 
of Macoupin County-, bu3ing land in Barr Town- 
ship, where he engaged in fanning and made his 
home until his death. 

The father of our subject was reared to agricul- 
tural pursuits, ar.d his father gave him a tract of 
limber land in Hopkins County, which he farmed 
until 1835. In that year became to Illinois, ac- 
companied by his wife and four children, inakirg 
the entire journey overland, bringing all his earthly- 
IX)ssessions with him, camping and cooking by 
the way. After fifteen days travel the family ar- 
rived in Macoupin County on the 22d of April. 
Mr. Melcalf entered one humired and sixty acres 
of Government land in Barr Township, and also 
bought a quarter-section near bj' in Western Mound 
Township. There was a log house on the place 
which he purchased, and in the month of Septem- 
ber he moved into it with his family. At that 
time the surrounding country presented a far dif- 
ferent appearance from what it does to-day, as it 
was in a wild, sparsely-settled condition, with no 
railwiiys or other means of eommuniealion with 
the outside world, except rough prairie roads or 
Indian trails. For many years after that St. J,ouis 
was the nearest market and deiiot for supplies. 

Mr. Metcalf resided on his first purchase two 
years, and then bouglit two hundred acres of land 
across the line in Greene County. He remained 
there until 1857, when he removed to Girard, 
where he now lives retired at the venerable age of 
eighty- one years. Tlie good wife who has jour- 
neyed by his side for over half a centurj' is still 
with him. She was born in Muhlenberg County, 
Ky., January 4, 1812, and her maiden name was 
Huldah A. Davis. Her father, William Davis, was 
born either in Virginia or Kentucky. He was a 
son cf Richard Davis, who is thought to have been 
a native of England. Richard Davis went from 
Virginia to Kentucky in the early days of its set- 
tlement, and was a pioneer of that State. The 
removal was made by pack horses, and the wife 



carried one of the two children in her arms, and 
the other rode on the horse behind her, attached to 
her by a surcingle. At that time there were but 
few white settlers in Kentucky, and the aboriginal 
iniiabitants were so hostile that the pioneers lived in 
forts and when tiiey cleared anil cultivated their 
land had a guard, that they might not be surprised 
and massacred by the savages. 

Tiie great-grandfather of our subject located 
at first on the banks of Mie Kentucky River, bul he 
afterward removed to Hopkins Count}', securing a 
large tract of land and cleared a farm, on which 
he spent his remaining days. His wife a'so died 
there. Her maiden name was Ann Cliilds, and she 
was a native of Virginia. The grandfather of our 
subject was reared in Kentucky, and resided there 
until 1822, when he went to Mississippi. Three 
3'ears later he returned to Hopkins County, K}'., 
ami resumed farming on the old homestead, which 
lie never afterward left until death called him 
hence. The maiden name of his wife was Messa- 
iiiah Earl, and she was born in South Carolina, a 
ciaughter of John and Nancy (Burns) Earl. She 
also died on the old Davis homestead. 

Our subject was seven years old when he came 
to Illinois with his parents. He attended the pio- 
neer schools, and assisted on the farm during his 
youth. At tiie age of nineteen he taught one term 
of school. He then studied medicine one year, 
but concluded that profession was not suited to his 
taste, and turning his aMention to mercantile pur- 
suits, engaged as a clerk in a genaral store. After 
three years behind the counter his health failed, 
and he engaged in farming one year. At the ex- 
piration of that time he established himself in the 
mercantile business at Greenfield, which he carried 
on from 1852 until 1855. In the latter year he 
removed to Girard and entered the lumlier business 
as a member of the firm of McKinney & Tliomp- 
son, and later he engaged in the liardware busi- 
ness. 

At the age of nineteen years our subject w.is 
converted, and at the age of thirty he joined tiic 
Missionary Baptist Church, and has tiuis from his 
youth up devoted liimself earnestly to the advance- 
ment of religion. When he was forty- eight years 
of age he was licensed to i)reach, and has served as 



PORTRAIT AND BFOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



847 



Ij.istor at Carlinville and Nilwood, besides supply- 
iiij^ llip iiul|iit of Charity Cluiich in IJird Town- 
ship. Uirec years, and he has done mncli to build 
up liis beloved cliurch during these years that he 
has labored so faithfully. 

The Rev. Mr. Mcteslf was married at Waverly, 
Morgan County. .January 211, 18.50, to Miss Emma 
L. Thayer. Mrs. iVIctcalf was born at Amherst 
Hampsiiire County, Mass., -luly 19, 1832, a daugh- 
ter of Asahel Thayer, who was born in the same 
county and State it is supposed. His father was 
Josiah Thayer, who, as far as known, spent his en- 
lire life in tiiat eounty. His wife was Avis How- 
ard, she was a native of Massachusetts. Mrs. 
Metcalf's father passed his early j'ears in his native 
State, and when a young man engaged in mercan- 
tile business and later in the manufacture of car- 
riages at Amherst. In 1839 he came to Illinois and 
located at Chatham, .Sangamon County, where 
lie resided until 1844. In that year he removed 
to La Grange, Mo., whence be returned to 
Chatham two years later. A few months after 
that he opened a general store at Waverly, Morgan 
County, which he managed until 1877. He then 
went to Taylorville to live with a daughter, and 
died there one month later. The maiden name of 
his wife was Mary Cannon, and she was also a native 
of Hampshire County, Mass. She died at Wav- 
erly. Her father, Josiah Cannon, was of Massa- 
chusetts birth, and s|)cnt his whole life in his native 
State. 

Mr. and Mrs. Metcalf have no chihlrcn of their 
own, but tliey have nobly acted the part of father and 
motiier to no less than four children, whom they 
have reared and educated. Their adopted daugh- 
ter, Kate Milton Metcalf, is now the wife of N. 
V. Hall, of Brushy Mound Township, and thej' 
have one chdd, named Howard Metcalf Ball. Lucy 
J. McBride, Charles M. Kinney and Ida F. Wyn- 
koo|), are the others reared by our subject and his 
wife. Lvicy married James F. Duncan, of Western 
Mound Township, and they have five children. 
Charles, who resides at Caidinville, is married and 
has four children. Ida married John C. Helmich, 
of Denver, and they have one child. 

Mr. Metcalf was a Whig in |)olitics until the 
formation of the Republican party, since which 



time he has been identified with that. He has held 
several responsible public offices, and has alw.ays 
shown himself to be earnestly interested in the 
welfare of his town and county wherever he re- 
sided. He served as Justice of the I'eace in Greene 
County, and also at (Jirard, from 18.5.') until 1866. 
He was a mendier of the V^illage Board of Trus- 
tees, both at Waverly and at (iirard, and during 
Lincoln's .administration he was Postmaster at 
(Tirard. In 1869 he w.as elected Clerk of Macou- 
pin County, .and removed to Carlinville, of which 
he has since been a resident. He was re-elocted in 
1873 to that office and served two full terms. 



AMKS M. ATCHISON, who is engaged in 
general merchandising in (Tillespie, is one of 
the native. citizens of this county. He w.as 
born in Bunker Hill, January 10, 1860, and 
is a son of EIridge Atchison, a native of Tennes- 
see, who in his youth learned the trade of a car- 
penter and cabinel-m;iker. While still single he 
came to Illinois and in Edwardsville met and mar- 
ried his wife, whose maiden name was Eucebia 
Wilson. .She was horn in Kentucky and during her 
maidenhood settled in Madison County. Some 
time after their marriage Mr. Atchison and his wife 
came to this county, where be eml)arked in farm- 
ing near Bunker Hill. He became one of the prom- 
inent and leading citizens of this community and 
served as Postmsister of the city of Bunker Hill for 
a number of years, filling the office during Presi- 
dent Lincoln's administration and again under 
President Grant. At length he resigned, since 
which time he has been living a retired life. He 
is now eighty years of age and one of the well- 
known and highly res|>ected people of the commu- 
nity. His wife has attained the age of three-score 
and ten and she is .i member of the Baptist Church. 
On the organization of the Republican party Mr. 
Atchison joined its ranks and at the last election 
supported Benjamin Harrison for the Presidency'. 
The Atchison family during the late war was rep- 
resented by the father and three sons; the former, 
with his sou Thomas cjiligted ill tlie Seventh Jib 



818 



POKTKAIT ANL) UlOGliAl'HlCAL UKCOllO. 



iiiois Infantry, Mr. Atcliison being at tbat time 
fifty -one years of age. Thomas continued in the 
service until the close of liie war. The father was 
honoralily discharged for disability, suffering from 
the hardships and trials of army life. The other 
two sons, Alex C. and Nathan D., both enlisted at 
the early part of the war. the former becominj; First 
Lieutenant of Company A, Ninety seventh Illinois 
Infantry. He was killed a- the battle of Vicks- 
buig, at which time he was commanding a com- 
pany, as the Captain, Mr. Woods, was tlien off 
duty. Nathan enlisted at the age of sixteen years 
and thougli young proved himself a brave soldier. 
After participuling in many engagements he was 
shot by the enemy at Altoona Pass, Ga. 

Mr. K. Atchison was placed on the pension rolls 
in 1877 for disabilities receiveil in the service of 
his country, at the rate of $12 per monlli from the 
time of his discharge from the army, aggregating 
about*2,000. He remained a pensioner until 1886, 
when under the administration uf President (;ieve- 
land, after having applied for an increase in his 
pension, he was cut down to H per month, which 
he refused to accept and wrote the Commissioner 
of Pensions to that effect. He remained off the 
rolls until 1891, when he was again restored to the 
pension rolls at the rate of -^17 per month, and now 
draws that amount. 

The subject of this sketch is the tenth in order of 
birth of the family of eleven children, six of whom 
are yet living. He was reared to manhood in Bun- 
ker Hill and vicinity and in the public schools ac- 
quired his education. He married in 1882 Miss 
Elizabeth Roberts, who was born September 10, 
1860. in Bunker Hill. Her parents were William 
and Mary (Lewellyn) Roberts. The father was a 
wheelwright and wagon-maker by trade, which oc- 
cupations he followed for many years. He came 
from Kentucky, his native .St;ite. to Bunker Hill, 
where he died at the age of fifty years. He was a 
Democrat in politics and a prominent citizen of 
the community. His widow, a native of Virginia, 
is a member of the Methodist Church, still survives 
him and is now about sixty years of age. Nine 
children were born of this union, of whom seven 
are yet living. 

Mr. Atchison is a member of the Baptist Church 



and his wife of the Methodist Church; they are 
widely known throughout this community, ta ng 
rank among the leaiiing young people of Gillespie. 
In politics our subject is a Republican and keeps 
himself well informed on all the leading questions 
of the day, both political and otherwise. He is 
recognizeil as a straightforward, upright business 
man who well deserves the liberal patronage which 
he now receives. He entered upon his mercantile 
career in 1875, in the employ of T. E. Dow, and in 
1886, when that gentleman established a branch 
house in Gillesi)ie, Mr. Atchison was i)laced in 
charge continuing as manager of the store for two 
years, when in 1888 he became owner. He carries 
a full line of goods and bj' his earnest desire to 
ple.-ise his customers, his genial manner and fair 
dealing, has built ui)an excellent trade. 



;-^.^, 



NDREW McDonald, of Gillespie, comes 
of an old Scotch family and inherits many 
of the characteristics of that race. The 
grandfather of our subject, George Mc- 
Donald, after the death of his first wife, crossed 
the Atlantic to America and located in Kentucky 
about 1798. Man}' j'ears later he followed the 
course of emigration which was steadily drifting 
Westward and in 1828 t0(ik up his residence in 
Greene Count}-, 111. He left Kentucky on account 
of his opposition to slavery, and after settling in 
Greene County he was again married when quite 
old. He was a worthy and highl}' respected gentle- 
man and passed awaj" when well advanced in years. 
James McDonald, the f.ither of our subject, was 
a native of Scotland, and in that country learned 
the trade of a stone-cutter. When a young man 
he accompanied his father to America and in Ken- 
tuck}' was married to a lady who died in that 
State in the prime of life. Of that union there 
were born five children, but only two are now liv- 
ing. James McDonald subse(iuentl3- made a home 
in Greene County, 111., where he was a second 
time married, his union being with Miss Mary All- 
man, n lady of Welsh and English descent. They 



I 




I'ORTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



849 



spent their entire married lives in Greene County, 
wiiere James McDonald died at the age of sixty- 
five years, and his wife wlicn forty years of age. He 
Was a member of the Episcopal Ciiurch and his 
wife a Presbj'terian, and they were highly respected 
citizens of the community in which they made 
their home. 

The subject of this sketch was only three and a 
half years old when his father was called to his 
final rest ami by an uncle and an aunt he was 
reared, remaining at their home until after the 
breaking out of the late war, when, in 1862, he 
joined tlu; boys in blue of Comp.-my J, Kinet^'- 
first Illinois Infantry. The company was com- 
manded by Capt. S. K. Culver, and the regiment 
at the order of Col. H. M. Day proceeded South- 
ward. They met the enemy in battle at Elizabeth, 
Kj'., at which place a detachment of the regiment 
was captured, Mr. McDonald being among the 
number. Later, however, they were paroled and 
on rejoining the command were sent to the South. 
Another battle occurred at Morganza, and for 
some time they fought the enemy in their own 
stronghold. Mr. McDonald was a second time 
captured near Blakeley, Ala., and held by the ene- 
my for some weeks. He was placed within the 
walls of Meridian, Miss., prison. He had many 
narrow escapes, having at one time had his kg 
broken while on skirmish duty and on another 
occasion the eagle on his cartridge box saved his 
life. A bullet struck the metal and rebounded, 
but the force vvas great enough to knock him 
down. When the war was over he was honorably 
discharged at SpringBeld, HI., .Tuly 27, 1865. He 
still has in his possession the old canteen which he 
carried throughout the service. He has a brother, 
George McDonald, that served during the war in 
Company D, Fourteenth Illinois Infantry. 

Rlr. McDonald immediately returned to Greene 
County, where for some time he again worked at 
his trade of carpentering. It was in that count}' 
on the 25th of November, 1869, that he wedded 
Miss Sarah F. Farmer, who was born in Tennes- 
see, near the Kentucky line. November 25, 1844, 
and is a daughter of Henry D. and Mary E. 
(Goocli) Farmer, both of whom were natives of 
'lennessee. They removed to Illinois about 1847, 



and after living in Wayne County for a time, 
took up their residence in Macoupin County, 
where Mr. Farmer died in 1885, at the age of 
sixty-five years. Throughout his life he engaged 
in agricultural pursuits. His widow still survives 
and makes her home with Mrs. McDonald at the 
age of sixty-nine years. She is a second cousin 
of the Hon. Thomas Benton. Her family is noted 
for longevity. Her husband was a member of the 
Methodist Church, to which she too belongs, and 
no better citizens ever resided in this community. 
The grandfather of Mrs. McDonald servetl in the 
War of 1812, and the greatgrandfather was a 
Revolutionary heio. 

By the union of our subject and his wife has 
been born a daughter, Mary Adellp., an accom- 
plished and well educated young lad}-, who assists 
her father in the duties of the post-office. Mr. 
McDonald is a Presbyterian in religious faith, 
although not a inembc!' of the church, but his 
wife belongs to the Methodist Church. They 
take great pleasure in collecting old coin and other 
relics and have almanacs of every year back to 
1840. In their possession are also a number of 
walking sticks, famil\' heirlooms, which were 
brought from Scotland to this country', and are 
over three hundred years old. In politics Mr. Mc- 
Donald is a stalwart Republican, prominent in 
local affairs, and for sixteen years has been a cen- 
tral committee man in Gillespie Township. He 
has also been Township Clerk, and is now the 
Postmaster of Gillespie. A valued citizen, a faith- 
ful soldier and a capable official, he is well deserv- 
ing of a representation in this volume. 



,|p<\^|OBERT D. QUIGLEY owns and operates 
'1'^ a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres 
on section 30, Gillespie Township, where he 
has resided for the long period of thirty- 
four consecutive years. In addition to this he 
owns eighty acres of timber land. The fine build- 
ings seen upon the place, the many improvements, 
the well tilled fields and good grades of stock, all 
indicate the thrift and enler[)rise of the owner who 




.-50 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



is niinil>t..^.i ......_■:. g Uii? s.iiceessfiil and well-to-do 

farmers in this locality. He is a native of Ala- 
bams, liis binli having occurred in tlie city of 
Mobile. October 18, 1832. The tiuigley family is 
of Irish descent and of Presbyteii.in bilief. It was 
established in America by emigrants from the 
Emerld Isle who crossed the Atlantic, settling in 
Xew Jei-sey prior to the Revolulionarj- War. and 
subsequently removing to Alabama. The grand- 
parents of our subject wrrc Daniel and Margaret 
(^uigley. He served in the Colonial Army during 
the War for Imlependeuce and in later years went 
to Mobile, Ala., where both he and his wife died 
at an advanced age. 

William t^uigley, the father of our subject, was 
born and reared in Xew Jersey and in Trenton, in 
1825, led to the marriage altar Eliza .Somers, who 
was born near Camden and was a daughter of Isaac 
and Hannah Somers. natives of England. After 
their marriage thev cmigrat€i1 to the United States, 
settling in New Jersey. Their removal caused a 
break in the family chain, where if the records were 
clear, it would entitle llic descendants to a large 
fortune. They continued to reside in New Jersey 
during the rera.aindcr of their lives and were niera- 
bei-s of the Society of Friends. Mr. and Mrs. Wil- 
liam <^uigley soon after their marriage went South 
to Mobile. Ala., where for some years before he 
had been engaged as a ra.ason and bricklayer. 
Afterwiiril he became a contrtictor and w.as the 
architect of many of the le.iding buildings in that 
citj-. where he had first located when it was a small 
town. In Mobile he spent his entire active life 
and died of scarlet fever in 1836, at the age of 
thirty-five years. Mrs. Quigley afterward returned 
to the North and spent her last d.ays at the home 
of her son George William in Gillespie Townsh'p. 
She W.1S born in 1801. and died July 11, 1869. In 
their family were five children, of whom Robert, 
Cordelia and George W. are yet living. 

The subject of this sketch, who was the fourth 
in ordei- of birth, grew to manhood in his native 
city and acquired an excellent education, under 
the tutorship of Prof. Norman Pinney. a graduate 
of Yale College and a prominent educator of the 
South. Into his mind w.is instilled lessons of in- 
dustry, such as would prove of practical benefit to 



liim and lie has never forgotten the excellent train- 
ing of his youth. He was only three years old 
when his father did but he remained iiv Mobile 
until twentj" years of age, when he accompanied 
his mother to Illinois and since his marriage has 
resided upon the farm which is still his home. 

On June 7, 1855, Mr. <.iuigley was joined in wed- 
lock with Miss Mary J. Parks, a native of Christian 
County. Ky., and a daughter of James ;ind Mary 
P. (Harl.»n) Parks. They were both natives 
of Virginia, and emigrated with their respective 
families during iheir cliildhood to Kentucky, where 
they grew to mature years and were married. Six 
children were born unio them in that State and 
they then came in 1833 to Illinois, traveling over- 

[ land with teams to Gillespie Townsliip, Macoupin 
County, where Mr. Parks purchased a small farm. 
He dieil two yeare later. His wife survived him 

: many years, dying in 1884. when a very old lady. 
The}- adhered to the faith of their ancestors and 

I were members of the Presbyterian Church. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. »iuigley have been born five 

I children, but one died in infancy and Mary is also 
deceased. Walter S. married Sarah Spilhnan and 
is a farmer of Hilyard Township: Robert P. and 

1 Jessie C. are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Quigley are 

I members of the Presbyterian Church, hold a high 
position in the social world and are numbered 

i among the highly respected peo|)le of this com- 

i munity. He is a Republican in politics and has 
held a number of local ottiecs. 

I 

•^ > ; |3- c|» — — 



()"^EPH HOWELL, a furniture dealer and 
undertaker of Brighton, who has carried on 
business at this place since 1859, is of Eng- 
' lish birth, llis grandfather, William How- 
ell, was born ami reared in Gloucestershire, 
England, where throughout his business life he fol- 
lowed blacksmithing and when well advanced in 
years, died near the place of his birth. John How- 
ell, father of our subject, also a native of (tIouccs- 
tershire, was a broadcloth weaver and followed 
that occupation for some lime. He married an Eng- 
lish lady. Miss Martha Jones, who spent the days 



PORTRAIT AND HlOtiUAl'lllCAL KKCOKD. 



80 1 



of liei- maidenliood in Gloi)ee»torsliire. Some years 
after tlicir m.iiiiago tliey reuiovoil to Leeds. York- 
shire, wliere Mr. Howell spent tlio remainder of his 
life except two years which he passed r.t the home 
of our subject in tliis country. His wife died in 
i8ot>, at tlie age of tifty-six years and like licr hus- 
band was a member of the Bapli^t Church. In 
their family were four sous .inil a daughter. The 
latter died at her home in Brigiiton, III., in 1881; 
.Samuel «'as married and died in England, from in- 
juries reciived whilo casting shot for the Crimean 
War. Tlic brothers stdl living are William and 
Henry, l)c>th of whom are marrieil, have f-imilies 
and reside in Leeds. Kngland. The laltjr is a boot 
and shoe manufacturer and the former is proprietor 
of a sash and door factory. 

We now take ',ip the personal history of Joseph 
Howell, who was born in Gloucestershire, Kngland. 
.Inniiary 1. 1828. and when a lad of ten summers 
accom[)anied his [larents to Leeds, wiiere the days 
of his boyhood and youth were p.issed. He served 
for seven years as a clerk behind tlio counter of a 
general store and thus familiarized himself with 
business methods. When he had attained to ma- 
ture years he chose as a hel[)niate on life's journey 
Miss Jane Warbarton. who w.as born and re.'ire(l in 
Bradford, Kngland, and is a daughter of Abrahan: 
and .Sarah (.Senior) Warburton. natives of Brad- 
ford, where they resided many years, the father 
being an engineer at that place. However, in 
1850. he crossed the Atlantic with his family and 
made a settlement in Brighton Township, Macou- 
pin County, 111., where for eight years he made his 
home, removing thence to Montgomery County, 
where he died in 1871, His wife survived him 
two years passing aw.ay in 1873. They left four 
chihlren: Mrs Emma Tennis and ;\[rs. Harriet 
Brown, of Carlinville. HI; George, who is married 
and eng.ages in merchandising in Colorado; and 
Jane, ilie honored, wife of our subject. 

In England there w.as born unto Mr. and Mrs. 
Howell one child and witn their little son they 
took passage on the sailing vessel "'The Express.'" 
which, after nine weeks and two d.iys. dropped an- 
chor in the harbor of New Orleans. Coming up 
the Mississippi River, they landed at Alton on the 
8th of M.ay, 1850. just fourteen weeks from the 



time they left their home in Leeds. Some months 
later they came to Brighton, where tiiey still reside. 
a::d here Ihc family has been incre.ased by the 
birth of four children: Edwin S. was born in 
England, married Susan Wilson, who died April 
24. 1891; he is engaged in the practice of law 
in East St. Louis; Eliza is the wife of David 
A. Rice, a resident farmer of Waubansee County, 
Kan.; Julia is the wife of G. M. French, a train 
despatcher on the Indianapolis it St. Louis Rail- 
road, living at Mattc)on, III.; Alfred ,I.,«iio married 
Mary Johnston, is an undertaker and dealer in car- 
pets in Alton, III.; Jennie M. is the wife of Dr. T. 
H. Hall, of Alma, Kan. The children were all pro- 
viiled with good educational advant.ages, such as 
would til them for the practical duties of" life, and 
Julia and Edwin were successful teachers for sev- 
eral years. 

As before stated. Mr. Howell began business in 
his present lint? in 185".'. He carries a full and 
complete line of undertaking supplies and also a 
good stock of furniture of tlie latest styles, and is a 
straightforward, upright business man who is highlj' 
esleenicd by all who know him. Both he and his 
wife are leading members and active workers in the 
Baptist Church, in wliieh Mr. Howell has served as 
Deacon for thirty years. In politics he is a stanch 
Republican and has held the office of Justice of the 
Peace for live j'ears and has also served as a mem- 
ber of the Tow,' Board. A public-spirited and prog- 
ressive man, he is numbered among the valued 
citizens of the communitj'. 



•*H-^H^- 



^XN^' 



\T?OIIN C. HOLLO WAV. Among tiie retired 
farmers who h.avc done good service in the 
earlier days of Macoupin Count}', and who 
now in their later years are enjoying the 
fruits of their labor with a conscience at ease and 
au active interest in the welfare of the eommunit}-, 
we are ple.ased to mention the gentleman whose 
name stands at the heail of this brief notice. He 
resides at Palmyra where with his family he enjoys 
the pleasant home which he has so truly e.irned. 



852 



rORTRAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



He was born in Scott County, III., four miles west 
of Winchester, April 5, 1836. His failier George 
M. Holloway was born Ji'ne 14, 1813, in Clarke 
County, Ky., and was the son of .Icibn Holloway, a 
native of A'irginia, and one of the first settlers of 
Clarke County, who removed to Kentucky in very 
early days. This pioneer emigrated to the State 
of Illinois in 1823, making the trip overland. He 
settled in what is now Scott Cou;i(y being one of 
its first settlers. 

At the time that John Holloway, Sr.. came to this 
Slate Indians were more plentiful than whites. 
There was no settlement whatever where .Spring- 
field now sLan<ls and Chicago was unbea-d of. 
There was, however, a military post there which 
was known as Ft. Dearborn. Tl c pioneer made 
claim to a tract of Government land four miles 
west of Wincliester and resided there until his 
death in 1841. His son George resided with his 
parents until his marriage, and then took charge of 
the old homestead and continued his residence there 
for many years. The maiden n.ame of the mother of 
our subject was Mary Klizabetii New. She was born 
in Kentucky and her father John New was a native 
of Virginia. She reared to man's and woman's es- 
tate eight of her nine children, namely: Lucinda, 
our subject, Permelia, Mary E., Martha, Ellen, Sa- 
mantha A., Lucy E. and AVealthv. 

The one of whom we write had his early training 
and education upon the home farm and in the pio- 
neer schools of Scott County and he lias lived to 
see a wonderful growth in this section, as since iiis 
birth the wild prairies have given place to riclilv 
cultivated farms, fruitful orchards, populous towns, 
and tracts crossed by many a stirring railroarl 
train. In his early years there was no railroad in 
his vicinity and Naples, on the Illinois River, was 
the nearest market for supplies and at wliicli to dis- 
pose of the products of the farm. Deer, turkej's 
and other kinds of game aliounded, and tlie gar- 
ments of his childhood were made by the mother's 
hand from clo*h which she had manufactured with 
her carding comb, her spinning wheel and her 
loom. 

The young man resided with his p.irents until 
he reached the age of twenty-one and then bought 
eighty acres of land near Wincliester and livad 



there for four years. He then sold this property 
and bought one hundred acres a mile and a lialf 
from Winchester and after residing there foi a year 
sold it .at an .advance and came to Macoupin County, 
purchasing two hundred and fort}' acres of land in 
South Palmyra Township. He added to his land 
by purchase at different times and now has five 
hundred acres. He resided on tills farm until 1887 
and then after a few months residence in Carlin- 
ville built the pleasant home where he now resides 
in South Palmyra Township. 

The marriage of Mr. Holloway with Miss Nancy 
Piaker, took place in 18.56. The lad}' was born in 
.\daiiis County, ill., and was the daughter of John 
IJaker; her married life was to be of brief duration 
for she die<l in 1860. His second marriage was in 
December, 1865, wi.en he was united witli Miss 
Lucy K. Smithson, a native of Clarke County, Ky., 
whose father, J. Wesley .Smithson, w.as born in 
South Carolina. His father, John Smithson, re- 
moved from South Carolina to Ohio, and thence to 
Kentucky, where lie resided for a time in 15ourbon 
County. He then went to Clarke County and 
bought a home six miles south of Winchester. 
There he lived for many years before cominfr to 
Illinois, where he died at the home of his son Will- 
iam, near Winchester. Scott County, 111. The 
father of Mrs. HoKow.ay w.as reared on the home 
farm in Kentucky and resiiled there until 1859, 
when he came to Illinois and resided in Scott 
County until after the war of the Rebellion. He 
then went to Missouri and made his home in Lar 
fayette County, and afterward in Johnson County, 
where he passed away at the age of seventy-one. 
His wife, a native of Clarke County, Ky., was 
Mary E., daughter of Patrick Henrj' Danielson, a 
native of Kentucky. The gre.at-grandfatber, John 
Danielson, was born in Virginia and was one of the 
early settlers of Kentucky. He lived for a time in 
Bourbon County and was one of tiie men who cut 
away the canebrake and cleared the ground where 
the first courthouse was built in Paris, Ky. He 
secured land in Clarke County-, built a log cabin 
and began to clear a farm. 

When the War of 1812 broke out John Daniel- 
son enlisted and while be was absent in service iiis 
wife and servants cared for the property. After 



PORTRAIT AND iJiOGRAPHlCAL RKCORO. 



853 



his I'eluni lie improved his place considerably and 
ieniaine<l a resident there until his death. His son, 
the grandfather of Mrs. lIoHowaj', was a blacksmith 
by trade and in 1854 went to Johnson County, 
Mo., and bought a farm of sixty acres near Fay- 
etteville, on the Warrensbnrg and Lexington road, 
where lie resided until his death. The maiden 
name of his wife %^as .Sarali Shaer. Her father, 
Jacob Shaer, was of German parentage and born 
in Maryland. He was one of the first settlers of 
Bourbon County, Ky., and spent his last years 
there. His wife's maiden name was Elizabeth 
I'neraalier. and she died in Paris at the age of one 
liuinh'ju and four years. The mother of Mrs. IIol- 
loway still has her home in .fohnson County, Mo.- 
but spends most of her time with her children. 

Mr. Holloway has by his first marriage two chil- 
dren living, George W. and John L. The former 
mairied Kmma Sims and the latter Mary Holloway 
and has two sous — Arthur L. and Cleva C. Mrs. 
Holloway is an earnest and etHcient member of the 
Baptist Church. To our subject and his wife six 
children have been born, namely: Ettt B., Oliver 
C, Charles A., Mary E., Myrtle and Nora C. Etta 
married Mr. August Depheidc and has one chdd, 
Irma. These children of an honored and honorable 
family are well sustaining the reinitation of their 
ancestors and are worthy and esteemed members of 
sociel}-. 




GEORGE i\it)RRI.SON is engaged in general 
farming on section 13, Hilj'ard Township, 
where he has made his home for the long 
period of twenty-two consecutive years. He pur- 
chased the farm in 1868, and has since resided 
thereon. It now comprises two hundred acres of 
valuable land, all under a high state of cultivation. 
The fields are well tilled and in the barn are found 
excellent grades of stock. The buildings are such 
.as should be .seen upon a model farm and almost 
all of the improvements are the work of Mr. Mor- 
rison's hands, standing as monuments to his thrift 
and enterprise. 

The subject of this sketch was born in County 



Derry, Ireland, December 22, 1840,and is descended 
from Scotch-Irish ancestry. His pateinal grand- 
parents spent their entire lives in the north of tiie 
Emerald Isle. Henry Morrison, the father of our 
subject, was also a native of County Derry, and in 
the usual manner of farmer lads he was reared to 
manhood in the county of his birth, where he mar- 
ried Miss Martha Taylor, and in their later years 
they emigrated with their children to America, 
sailing from Belfast in 1846, on a vessel which af- 
ter souie weeks reached the harbor of New York in 
safely. They si)ent tiie first ye;ir of their residence 
in this country in Genesee County, N. Y., after 
which they travelled from Buffalo by way of the 
Lakes to Chicago, b3' wagon to Peru, and down 
the Illinois River to Alton, where thej- spent one 
year. They then came to Hilyard Township, and 
fcratiine livecl upon a rented farm until INIr. Mor- 
rison was able to purchase land. Tlie old home- 
stead in Hilyard Township is still their place of res- 
idence. Mr. Morrison has now reached the age of 
eighty-two and his wife is about three-score years 
and ten. They are Scotch Presbyterians in religi- 
ons faith anil are numbered among the honored 
pioneeis of Hilyard Township where they have 
many friends. In their family were seven children 
and with one exception all are living. 

Our subject, who is the eldest, spent the days of 
his boyhood and youth under the paternal roof and 
in the common schools acquired his education. 
Extensive reading and obsei vation have made him 
a;; intelligent man and he keeps hinself well in- 
formed concerning all matters of general interest, 
also upon the political issues of the day. Whatever 
success he has achieved in life is due to his own 
efforts and he need never feel ashamed of the posi- 
tion to which he has attained for his fellow towns- 
men and those who know him all speak of him in 
terms of praise. He w.as married in Carlinville to 
Miss Rebecca T. Jones, a native of Kentucky, born 
in Allen County, October 22, 1848. When a child 
of three 3'ears she was brought to this county by 
her parents, Ambrose and Mary (Wilson) Jones, 
who were also natives of Kentucky and on coining 
to Illinois settled in Greene County. Later they 
resided in Jersey County for a time and thence came 
to this county, locating on a farm in Gillespie 



854 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



Township, wliero Mr. Jones died in 1872, at the .age 
of sixty years. His ni(iow still survives hini and 
is living on the ohl lioraestead at the ,ige of sixty- 
nine. She is a member of the Methodist CMiurch, 
as was her husband and in pulities he was a Repub- 
lican. Seven eJiildren gr.ice the union of Mr. and 
Mrs. Morrison, five of whom are yet living — M. 
Burtie, Jessie E., George W., James H. and Flossie 
R. Nettie and an infant arc now deceased. 

Mr. and Mis. Morrison adhere to the faith of 
their forefathers and are members of the Presby- 
terian Church, while in politics'lie is a stalwart Re- 
publican. A |)le.asant. genial man, affable in man- 
ner, he has won nian\' friends and his wife is like- 
wise held in high esteem. Our subject enlisted in 
Company G., One Hundred and Thirty -third Regi- 
ment Illinois Infantry, and w.as on guard <luty at 
Hock Island during liis term of enlistment. 



\lp\J-^OBERT DRl'RY is a respected member 
!|Wr of the farming community of Brushy Mound 
■■£> * Township, where he owns eight}' acres of 
land, pleasantly located on .section 27, and 
provided with good buildings and other improve- 
ments, a fine orchard adding value to the place. 
A Soulhernei- by birth, Mr. Drur}- was born in 
Danville, Ky., April 9, 1841. His father was John 
J. Drury, also a native of that .State, Beardstown 
is his birth place. The grandfather of our subject 
was born in Maryland and came of English ancestry. 
When a young man he went to Kentucky where he 
married. He settled six miles from Beardstown on 
tlie Mooresville road, and became a pioneer farmer 
of that section. His death took place in 1833, 
from an attack of cholera, he, his wife and three of 
his children dying within a few weeks. 

John Drury was thus left an orphan when he was 
seventeen years old. He went to Louisville to 
learn the trade of a carpenter, and followed it for 
a time. He finally had the great misfortune to 
lose his eyesight by the formation of a cataract, 
and has been blind for fifty years. He resides in 
Nilwood Township, this county, and is now eighty 
years old. His wife was .Mary Buckman in her 



maiden days, who was born in Marion County, Ky. 
her father, John Buckmar, was a n.-itive of Mary- 
land, and a pioneer of Marion County. Ky., where 
he improved a plantation, his land being worked 
by slave labor. It was close to the town of Ray- 
wick, and for many \ears he was engaged in me"- 
cantile business there. He dieil in 185.5. The 
mai<len name of his wife was Sarah J. Matingiy, 
and she was also a native of Maryland. She died 
on the old Kentucky- homestead in 1842. The 
mother of our subject depai-te(5 this life in January 
1875. These six children were born of her mar- 
riage, John, Robert, James, William. Charles and 
Mary F. 

Robert Drur}' was twelve years old when he 
accompanied his parents to Illinois. The farailj-, 
consisting of the father, mother and six children, 
started for their new home in October, bringing 
their household goods with them, and making the 
journe}- with two horses and one wagon. They 
camped and cooked by Itie w.a}' at night, and after 
eighteen d,ays travel arrived at Honey Point Town- 
ship. The}' visited a family in that place for tlree 
weeks, during vvhich time Mr. Drurj' rented a log 
cabin in Bi ushy Mound Township, into which they 
moved, living there until spring, then farming one 
year in the samo township. The father then bough*, 
a farm in Bird Township, and upon that the subject 
of this sketch was reared, lie received his edu- 
cation in the pioneer schools, which were taught in 
a log house. In that early day deer were very 
numerous and were seen in large droves. The 
people lived in a very primitive way, as the luxur- 
ies and often the comforts of tife were hard to 
procure, and their dress w.as mostly of homespun 
cloth. 

Our subject resided with his parents until after 
his marriage, which occurred December 30. 1863, 
when he was wedded to Miss Mary F. Pearson, who 
has rendered him invaluable assistance in the up- 
building of their home. Their union has brought 
to them five children, whom thej- have named 
Charles C, Mark W., Robert O., Frank N. and 
Dais}-. Mrs. Drury is a native of this county, 
Gillespie Township being her birthplace. 

In 1864 Mr. Drury bought a farm in Gillespie 
Township, and resided there until 1870, when he 



PORTRAIT AND lUOGRAJfiUCAL RECORD. 



855 



raovcd to Missouri. A }'esr later he returned to 
Macoupin County-, and purcliased llie place where 
lie now lives in Brushy Mound Township. He has 
devoted his energies to its cultivation and improve- 
ment witli good results, and from its productive 
soil derives a comfortable income. 

Politically, Mr. Drury cast« his vote with the 
Democrates in national elections, but in local 
elections he is independent, supporting the tnjin he 
considers best fitted for office reganlless of party. 
His social atHliations are witli the Farmers' Mutu.Tl i 
Renedt Association, and he is a member of Elm- 
wood Lodge, No. 2948. He has held the office of 
Justice of the 1'c.ice, and h.is served his township 
as Assessor and Collector. 



-^ri_S»- 




tS^i^\ ICHAEL SWENK, a retired farmer living 
\l\ at Shipman, is the owner of a fine prop- 
a erty there. He moved into town in 1886, 
being then sevenl^-five years of age, and 
feeling that be was entitled to ease during the 
remnant of his days. His career from his early 
life had been industrious and enterprising, and he 
had accumulated sufficient of this world's goods to 
feel no anxiety for liis future su|iport. While 
building up a good home, he hiid given his family 
man}' comforts, and had taken i)art in such piojects 
as were instituted in the neighborhood fur the gen- 
eral good and promised well for the community. 
He has been a resident of the county sine* 1857. 
and is therefore well a,:quaintcd with its progress 
fi>r considerable more than a quarter of a cen- 
tury. 

Mr. Swcnk is a son of the Buckej-e State, born 
in Montgomer}" Count}-, October IC. 1811. He 
comes of Pennsylvania families, and his parents 
were Jacob and Catherine (Hening) Swenk, both of 
whom were born in the Keystone Stale. He was 
but a small boy wiien his father died, leaving 
eight chililren, all now deceased, except Michael 
and onesister. He lived with a brother-in-law for 
a time, and at the age of tifteen years began his 
apprenticesliip to a hatter, an<l from that lime lived 
among strangers. He learned his trade at Frank- 



lin, Ohio, and followed it for several years, but in 
1853 he went to Cass County. Mich., bought 
land and turned his attention to farming. He 
lived there until he came to this .State, and setlled 
not far from Shipman, buying one hundred and 
sixty acres cf slightly-improved hand. He con- 
tinued the work that had been begun on the prop- 
erty, and before he left it had changed it into a 
well-regulated estate, with every nee<lful farm 
building and other .adornment. 

Mr. Swenk was married in Ohio to Miss Sarah 
Wood, a native of the Buckeye State, who died in 
Jersey County. III., leaving no children. The 
present wife of our subject was formerly Mrs. 
Charity E. Crane, nee Eaton, and was living in 
Michigan at the time of their marriage. She is a 
well-informed, efficient woman, who shares with 
her husband the respect of their acquaintances. 
Of lliis union three children were born, but the 
parents have been bereft of all. One dieil in in- 
fancy, one in childhood, and Samuel J. after he 
hail grown to manhood. Mr. .Swenk gives his po- 
litical allegiance to the Democratic party. 

T'SRAEL CHAPPELL. In noticing the promi 
ill nent and successful agriculturists of Honey 
jl Point Township we find Mr. Chappell occupy- 
ing a front rank. A can of more than ordinary 
ability and sound judgment, he h.as exercised no 
small intluence in ids community, and at the same 
time, by his industry and [lerseverance, has gained 
a competence. His residence and surroundings 
indicate in a marked manner to what good purpose 
he has enipkiyed his time t'or so manj- j-ears, he 
having a most carefullj" tilled farm, whereon he 
has instituted all modern improvements. The 
buihlings "iid appurlcnances are well appointed, 
and indicate tiie good taste and am|)le means of 
the proprietor. 

A native of Devonshire, England, Mr. Chappell 
was born February 5, 18'25. His parents were 
Bartholomew and Grace (Gean) Chappell. who 
were also natives of that famous English shire. 
Tliei'.- lives were parsed there until 1.S33, when, 



856 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



with their eiylil children, they set sail from Liver- 
pool in the montli of October in an American- 
bound ship, nnd after a V03 age of nine weeks and 
four days landed at New York. They came di- 
rectly to Illinois, and located in Jersey County, 
where the father purchased a tract of land includ- 
ing a part of Gilliam's Mound. About fifty acres 
were improved, and there was a log house on the 
place. Mr. Cliappell erected frame buildings, im- 
proved his land, and increased the acreage of liis 
farm so tjiat at one time lie had four hundred acres 
of land. Death closed Ids career in 1867, and his 
community was thus deprived of a valued citizen, 
who had done much to upbuild tlie township, and 
his memory is held in respect as one of its early 
pioneers. He was twice married, and by his first 
marriage had six children, all of whom came to 
America, and these are their names: Ann, John, 
Bartliolomew, Elizabeth, Susan and Willi.iin. His 
second wife, the mother of our subject, who was 
the daughter of Richard Gcan, survived him, her 
death not occurring until 1871. when slie passed 
away in the home of her daughter in Jersey 
County. She reared seven children, as follows: 
Lucinda, Solomon, Israel, Kphraim, Tl.irzn, Maliala 
and Richard. 

Israel Cliappell was in his eighth year when his 
l)arents brought him to the United States, and he 
can remember well the incidents of pioneer life in 
the early years of the settlement of Ihis Slate. At 
that time deer and bears were very numerous in 
Jersey County, and also coons, wild turkeys, and 
other game. For many years there were no rail- 
ways in the county, and Alton was the ricarest 
market for supplies. Young Chappell attended the 
pioneer schools, the first one being taught in the 
kitchen of a neighbor, as there were then no free 
.schools. The grain then was cut with a cradle and 
threshed by a flail. The mother carded, spun and 
wove wool and linen with which to clothe her 
children, and cooked the meals for the familj' before 
a rude fire|)lace. 

Our subject resided with his paienls until 1840, 
and then commenced life for himself, working on a 
farm for 18 a month, continuing thus emoloyed 
until 1850, when he went to California. He left 
Jersey County the 1st of M.ay and made the entire 



journey across the plains and mountains with a 
mule team, arriving at Saciamento on the 4tii of 
August without mishap. AVith the exception of 
the Mormons at Salt Lake City, there were but 
very few white settlers west of St. Joseph, Mo., 
until California was reached. Antelope,- elk and 
deer abounded on the plains, and buffaloes were to 
be seen in large numbers. There were also plenty 
of Indians, who were hostilely disposed, rendering 
traveling very dangerous. Upon arriving in Cali- 
fornia Mr. Chappell engaged in mining, and resided 
there until 1852, when he returned to Illinois by 
the way of the Isthmus. 

Prior 10 going to the Pacific coast our subject 
had bought a tract of wild prairie land in what is 
now Honey Point Township, and the year following 
his return he settled on it, and has lived here con- 
tinuously since. The hcnnestead consists of one 
hundred and sixty acres of choice land, and be 
has ert-cted a good set of frame buildings, planted 
fruit and shade trees, and made all modern im- 
|)rovements. Besides his home farm he also owns 
one hundred and eighty acres of land in Shaw's 
Point Township, and eighty acres in Lmcasler 
County, Neb., and is one of the substantial men of 
his community. 

March 30, 1834, Mr. Chappell was united in 
marriage with Miss Sophia Hunt, who was born in 
the same shire as her husband. Her father, George 
lliiul, was also a native of Devonshire, where he 
married Sophia Willoway, and stient his entire life. 
His wife was also of Devonshire birth, and was a 
daughter of Thomas and Charity Willoway. At 
lier husbaml's death she was left with six children. 
She afterward became the wife of James Hunt, 
brother of her first husband, and in 1849, with ten 
childien, came to America. The family located in 
the town of Stafford, about five miles east of Bata- 
via, Genesee Countj', N. Y., where Mr. Hunt died 
some years later. The mother of Mrs. Cliappell is 
still living, aged eighty-seven, and resides on the 
home farm. The children by her first marriage 
were named Clnritj-, Frances, Thomas, William, 
Elizabeth and Sophia. Those by her second mar- 
riage were Mar}- J., Ann, James and Matilda. 

Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Chappell there are 
five children living: Israel AVatson. George Mil- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



857 



ton, Sophia Grace, James Richard and Cora May. 

Sophia is the wife of Samufl Diigger, of Shaw's 
Point Townsliip. Mrs. Chappell is actively inter- 
ested in religious matters, and liolds membership 
in the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



-^^-^^f^^^^-^-i- 



^jEORGE Y. SMITH, one of the worthy and 
III (~^ respected citizens of Shaw's Point Town- 
'^^^J ship, was born in Lincolnshire, England, 
July 16, 1832. Here he passed hi.s boyhood and 
j-outh, and when nineteen years old came to Amer- 
ica, making his home for six years in Huron County* 
Ohio. There he engaged in farming. In August, 
1857, he came to Macoupin Count3-, and located in 
Shaw's Point Township, where he has since been a 
resident. He owns two hundred and ten acres upon 
wiiicli he has made good im|irovcmcnts. He carries 
on general farming. 

Mr. Smith was married in Carlinville, February 
4, 1860, to Miss Harriet Keller, who was born in 
Henry County, Ky., August 10, 1817, and (iied 
April 23, 1891. She came to this State with her 
parents in her girlhood. Mr. Smith is a public- 
spirited man who is ever an active promoter of all 
movements for the improvements of the township 
and the well being of its residents. He has set a 
good example for his neighbors in the in)|)rove- 
ments ho has placed upon his farm and all unili5 in 
praising the condition of iiis property. His polit- 
icals views are embodied in the declarations of the 
Democratic platform, and he is deeply interested in 
the success of that party; he has never sought for 
office and prefers to devote his entire attention 
to agricultural |)ursuils. 

^^^ ALEB CAPPS. There is probably no farmer 
111 of North Palmyra Township who has at once 

^^^^ a better farm, better buihiings and a higher 
reputation as a man of ability and intelligence than 
he whose name stands at the head of this paragraph. 
The beautiful farm attracts the eye of every passer- 



by. Its neat and commodious buildings speak well 
for the management of the farm and the neatness 
and productiveness of the land attest thorough cul- 
tivation and rich soil. Mr. Capps is not content 
with mere material prosperity, however, for he de- 
votes much time and thought to matters of general 
intelligence, being a great reader. 

Jolin Capps, the father of our subject, was a Vir- 
ginian, and his wife, Sallie T. iTilmer was born in 
Kentucky. Their marriage took place in Adams 
County, III., where ho carried on a woolen factory 
in Columbus, that count)-. After engaging in this 
business for some two or three years he returned to 
Kcntuckj- on account of failure of health and died 
therein 1843. His bereaved widow long survived 
him and finall}- passed away while with her children 
in this county iu February, 1888. 

This son Caleb was born in Winchester, Clarke 
County, Ky., March 23, 1840. When he was three 
years old he went with his mother to Adams 
County, HI., and lived there three or four years 
and then came to Greene County, 111., and after a 
fovv years removed to this county. At the age of 
fourteen years he le.irncd the trade of machinist, 
at which lie worked until he reached his majority. 
In 1861, he engaged in farming settling on a tract 
of land on section 31, North Palmyra Township, 
farm that was entered by his father prior to 
marriage. Since his location in this township he 
has devoted himself exclusively to farming and 
stock raising with the exception of time which he 
spent in the arm}' in the service of his country. 

Our subject enlisted in October, 1864. in Company 
A, Thirty-second Illinois Infantry in the <lefense of 
the old flag. He served about one year and was with 
Sherman in his rnaich to the sea. During the latter 
part of his service he was detailed as acting Com- 
missary Sergeant for his regiment. Ilis marriage 
in Barr Township, took place January 3, 1872 and 
made him the happy husband of Elizabeth Maxfield 
a daughter of Robert H. and Sarah J. (Petefish) 
Maxtield. Mr. Maxfield was a Kentuckian and his 
wife a Virginian, and they were early settlers in 
Barr Township, whither they came in the '30s. 
He followed the carpenter's trade when he was a 
young man although farming was hi< chief business 
through life. He died in Barr Township, June 15, 



858 



POKTKAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1876, and his wife still resides at tlie old liouietcad. 
where Mi's. Cap(>s was boru Fel.ruary 21, 1844. 

The political views of Mr. Capps are in accor- 
dance with the lieclarjiiioDS of the Democratic psrt^- 
and in its progress and prosperity he takes a great 
interest, for he believes it# teaching and policy 
are those best fitted to insure the welfare of the 
country and the prosperity of the citizens. Upon 
his fine farm of two hundred and eighty acres he has 
erected a good home, excellent barns and such out- 
houses as are seeded to carry on farm work in the 
best w.ay. He has himself done most of the work 
uiKin this farm and upon the buildings. 



^,ROF. CHARLES ROHKRT.'^ON. The vital 
and liberal tendencies of the Prairie Stale 
have given fresh impulse and breadth of 
vision to many a man of E.asleru blood and 
breeding. A man with soienliflc instincts finds in 
the West a freedom from traditions and a stimulus 
to investigate '^hich he might have missed in a 
narrower sphere. Macoupin Countj' is justly 
proud of the lecord of the gentleman wlio.«e name 
appears at the head of th;* sketch, as he is acknow- 
ledged to be one of the leading scientists of our 
country, having made a special study of botany 
and entomology and being a discoverer intlie path 
which Spengel. Darwin and Hermann Muller pointed 
out. 

The subject of our sketch is a native of this 
county, being born in Carlinville June 12. 1858. 
His father. Dr. William A. Robertson, was born 
near Liberty, Bedford County, Va., October 27, 
1803. His father. Dr. William Robertson, was a 
practicing physician and moved from Virginia to 
Knoxville. Tenn , in 1803, soon after the birth of 
his son. He resided there for a short time and 
then went to Kentuck\-, where he settled in Lex- 
ington, but after a short lime remove<l to Harrods- 
burg and followed his profession there. 

The father of our subject w.as quite young when 
his father moved to Kentucky. He attended school 
at New London Academy in Virginia, and com- 
mencing the study of medicine quite early, grad- 



uated at Transylvania College. He practiced for 
a time in Kentuck_v and in 1830 emigrated to Illi- 
nois, making his horae at Edwardsville. in Madison 
County. A Utile later he practice*! his profession 
in Alton, but subsequently abandoned it and en- 
gaged in farming. In 1835 he removed to Carlin- 
ville, where ten years later he engaged in general 
merchandising. He was a man of rare good sense 
and of more than ordinary financial ability. He 
w.as pi'^sessed of considerable literary ability and 
was liberal with his wealth, his private charities 
being numerous and his donations to institulions 
of learning ami religion generous. He died Feb- 
ruaiy 5. 1880, leaving behind !iim a precious mem- 
ory- as a heritage to his children. 

The father of our subject w.as married October 
18, 1842, to Nancy H., daughler of Rev. Charles 
Halliday. She was born near .Scottsville, Allen 
County. Ky.. November 14, 1821. Her father. 
Rev. Charles Halliday. was born in Baltimore, Md. 
His fatiier. .lames Halliday, was a native of Annan- 
dale. Dumfrieshire. Scotland, and came to America 
in Colonial times, making a settlement in Baltimore. 
Charles Halliday was fifteen years old when his 
father died. He was educated in Baltimore and 
Freflericksburg for the ministry of the Presbyter- 
ian Church, but before entering it he joined the 
Methodist Episcopal Church and liecarae a preacher 
in that denomination. 

He who is now known .as Prof. Robertson received 
his early education in the public schools of Carlin- 
ville, and finally advanced to Blackburn Iniversity 
and in 1880 became a teacher in that institution, 
taking up the branches of botany, physiology and 
Greek. He taught until 1886 since which time he 
h.as attended to the affairs of his private business 
and pursued his independent studies. He is a 
memb.er of ihe American Association for the Ad- 
vancement of Sciences, of the Cambridge Entomo- 
logical Club, of the Western Society of Naturalists, 
of the Indiana Ac.ademj' of Science and of the 
Entomological Society of France. He was mar- 
ried in November, 1879, to Alice McDonald Ven- 
able, a native of Indiana. The}' have one child 
named Mary. Prof. Robertson is independent in 
politi<'S and is a contribuior to the following jour- 
nals : Bohinical Gazelle, Transactiotis of the Amer- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



859 



ican Entoviological Society, Transactions of the Si. 
Louis Academy nf Scienci', Entomological AV»'s,eto. 
It is furluimte, indeed, for science when such men 
as tliis liave tlic means to free tbcin from sordid 
caves and enable them to devote themselves untir- 
ingly to scientific researches. 



y'lLLIAM .lOINER, a representative farmer 
anil sLock-raiser residing on section S, Bird 
Tovvnshii), is a son of George and Mary 
(Pnlliani) Jo'ner, natives of the Old Dominion. 
The}' emigrated to tlie Prairie State from Kentucky, 
where they settled near Jacksonville where the 
father died. The mother afterward came to Ma- 
coupin County, where sl.e survived her husband 
many years and died at the homo of our subject 
in Logan County, this Slate. 

William was the youngest of a family of seven 
children. He was born in Morgan County, this 
State, ^Lny 2. 183.5. lie grew to manhood, s|iend- 
ing most of his youth in Macou|)in County, and 
when about twenty-live years old he removed to 
Logan County and made it his home from the 
spring of 18GI) till the fall of 1876, when he re- 
turned to this county and settled on section 8, of 
Bird Township, which has since been his place of 
residence. He has been engaged in agricultural 
pursuits and stock-raising and now owns two hun- 
dred .eighteen and a half acres of fine arable land. 

The marriage of Mr. Juiner with Sarah L. Xevins 
was solemnized November 22, 1860. She is a 
daughter of James B. and Miramla (Sims) Nevins. 
After marriage they settled in North Pahnyra 
Township. Mrs. Nevins was called away from 
earth in August, 1885, and her husband passed 
away at the residence of ou'' subject January 11, 
1890. Seven of their children lived to years of 
maturitj-. of whom Jlrs. Joiner was the second. 
She was born in North Palmyra Township August 
5, 1840, and received a good coramonscliool edu- 
cation. 

Our subject and his estimable wife are the happy 
parents of nine children, seven of whom were reared 
to maturity; Thomas F... Lucy A.. Ida M., James 



W., Otis C, Mar.v Z., and the youngest is named 
Noah C. The first burn took to wife Eudora A. 
Casteel; Mary Z. became the wifeof Edward Hart- 
wick. 

Mr. Joiner has held the office of School Director 
of his township in which [josition he not only did 
credit to himself but to his constituents. He has 
served in that capacity for over twenty-seven years. 
In his political views he attiliates with the Repuli- 
lican party of which he is a stanch adherent. Re- 
ligiously he is a consisienl and active member of 
the Baptist Church. He is a man who is held in 
high re|)Ute by his fellow-citizens and always ap- 
proves any movement which will enhance the 
prosperil}' of the community. 



\T/AMES E. \VAG(iONER. who resides on 
section 8, Brighton Township, and is en- 
gaged quite extensively in the dairy business 
is one of the honored of the |)ioneers of 
1834. By his parents he was brought here when 
five years old from Knoxville, Tenn., where he \ 
was born on the 8tli of September, 1829. His 
father, George Waggoner, was a native of Maryland, ^ 
and his grandfather, George Waggoner, Sr., was *-^ 
born on the high seas, while his parents were emi- 
grating from Germany to America, prior to the 
Revolutionary War. The family settled in Balti- 
more. Md., where the grand|)arents of George 
Waggoner. Jr., lived an(i died. He grew to man- 
hood in that State and removed with his parents 
to Knoxville, Tenn., prior to the War of 1812, 
during which war he served his country; with oth- 
ers of his regiment he came nearly starving to 
death, they being deprived of food for several 
days. Before the war he was joined in wedlock 
with Miss Mar}- B.iker, who was born in Maryland 
of (Jerraan descent, her ancestors having come to 
this country in early Colonial da3-s. One of the 
family m.ide a settlement by a. ninety-nine years' 
lease upon forty acres of land in the heart of Harris- 
burg, and eighty acres in the cit} of Philadelphia. 
He never married, and the connecting link which 
makes his rightful heirs the proper owners, has 



860 



rORTKAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



beeu lost. A; marriage of George Wag- ' 

goner and his wife, iho parents of our subject, they 
resided for some years nenr Knoxville. Tenn.. but 
becoming dignsted wiili the practices of slavery, 
decided to make their home in a free State and lo- 
cated in Madison County. III. This was in 183J. 
Tliey seltleil near Alton,where they resided for some 
j'cars. but afterward came to this couniy to m.ike 
their homo with their dauoliter. Mrs. Joseph An- 
drews, at whose lumse they died when well ad- 
vanced in years. Like their ancestry they were 
adherents of the Methodist faith, and were highly 
respected people. 

Our subject is one of their twelve children, nine 
of whom are yet living, are married and have fam- 
ilies. They have all prospered in their business 
affairs and are leading citizens of the various com- 
munities where they reside. James Waggoner was 
reared to manhood under the [parental roof. Sep- 
tember 28, 1856, he was united in marri.age with 
Almira Mundy. since which they have resided near 
Brighton, Macoupin Count}'. Almira (Mundy) 
Waggoner w.is born in St. Louis, December 2. 1837, 
and is a daughter of Rowland and Aseuath (Kel- 
logg) Mundy. natives of the Empire Stale and pio- 
neer settlers of Illinois. Seymour Kellogg, father 
of Mrs. Mundv. surveyed and laiil out the city of 
Jacksonville, and several other towns in Illinois. 
He was one of the prominent and honored early 
settlers in that part of the State. He served as 
Colonel in the War of 1812. and died in St. Louis, 
Mo.. April 15, 1827. Mr. and Mrs. Mundy were 
married in St. Louis, where they resided some years, 
when ihey removed to Lexington. Mo. Six years 
of their lives were there passed, after which they 
retnrneil to St. Louis, aud subsequently they spent 
some years in Whitehall. G.-eene Counlv. III., go- 
ing thence to Madison County and finally taking up 
their residence in Brighton, where the father died 
at the age of eighty-one years, aud the mother 
when eighty years of age; they were members 
of the Methodist Church, and people whose many 
excellencies of character won them a host of 
friends. 

Mi-s. W.aggoner is one of eight cliildi-en. of whom 
three are now living. By her marriage she has 
become the mother of five children — George R., 



who is now serving as Township Collector, and re- 
sides at home; Louada, wife of Monroe Forward, 
who is engaged in farming and operates a creamery 
at Piasa, III.: Nellie Almira, who is attending the 
Normal School at Bushnell. 111.; James E., Jr., 
and Homer O.. at home. In politics Mr. Wag- 
goner affiliates with the Republican party and he 
and his wife are members of the Methodist Church. 
They are numbered among the leading aud repre- 
sentative people of the community where they 
have so long made their home, and their many 
friends hold them in high regard. Mr. Waggoner 
is one of the successful and enterprising farmers 
and dairymen of Brighton Township, where he 
owns two hundred and eighteen acres of highly 
improved lanii. He ako raises a good grade of 
slock, and keeps on hand thirty cows for dairy 
purposes. His farm is well supplied with modern 
conveniences and equipments, and the neat appear- 
ance of the place indicates the thrift and industry 
of the owner. 



■if: AMES L. TIETSORT. a retired farmer who 
is passing his declining years pleasantly with 
his good wife in the village of Girard. where 
(^y he is greatly esteemed, was born in one of 
the pioneer homes of Ohio, on a farm one mile 
from Middletown, Butler County. January 30, 
1822. being the date of his birth. His paternal 
grandfather was a native of Holland, who e«ni- 
gratcd to America and is supposed to have spent 
the remainder of his life in Xew Jersey. His son 
William, the f.".ther of our subject, w.as born in that 
State and there grew to manhood. He subsequently 
became a pioneei of Kentucky, whence he re- 
moveil to Butler County. Ohio, of which he was 
an early settler. He finally went from there to 
Cass County. Mich., after a number of years, and 
there his life was brought to a close at a ripe old 
age. 

Williiim Tietsort was eight 5'ears old when his 
parents removed to Butler County. Ohio, in the 
early years of its settlement. Cincinnati was then 
but a hamlet, and the State was a wilderness. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



S61 



There he grew to manhood and married and con- 
tinued his residence in that State until 18o2. wlicn 
he went with his family to the Terrilnry of Michi- 
gan, traveling with te^ms and taking all his earthly 
possessions with him. He locaie<1 in Cass County, 
in Volinia Township, and became one of its most 
useful pioneers, doing his share of tiie hard labor 
by which its rich agricultural resources were ilevel- 
oped. and becoming one of the pros|>erous farmers 
of his community, bowing out a fine farm from the 
wilderness, on which he erected substantial frame 
buildings and m.ade other valuable improvements. 
Il was his home until his long life wps brought 
to an honorable close in IS72. His wife, whose 
maiden name was Sarah Law, did not long survive 
him. but died in 1873. She was a native of Vir- 
ginia and a daughter of James Law. wlio was also 
a Virginian by birth and was a pioneer of But- 
ler County. Ohio. She had lx*n twice married, 
the name of her first husband being Huff. She 
reared fourteen children to maturity. 

The subject of this biograpiiy was an active lad 
of ten years when the family settled amid the pri- 
meval wilds of Cass County. Mich., and he well re- 
members the primitive condition of the country 
in that region, where Indians were more plen- 
tiful than wriites and deer and other kinds of 
game abounded in the forests and on the open 
prairies. There were no railways there for some 
years and the settlers had to go St. Joseph, a dis- 
tance of thirty miles, to market iheir oroduce and 
to obtain supplies. Money was scarce and the [leople 
lived on what they could raise on their land and 
on wild game. The mother of our subject was 
skillful in canling, weaving and spinning dax. hemp 
and wool and clad her children with cloth made 
by her own hands. The first dwelling in which 
the family livetl after settling in their new home 
was of the reg^ular pioneer ixpe and was built by 
the father of white oak logs, boards being rived to 
cover the roof and puncheon hewn for the floor. 

Mr. Tieisorl made the best of his opportunities 
for obtaining an educalios. which were very lim- 
ited. The pioneer schools which he attended were 
taught in the log house of '.hose times, that were 
furnished with slab benches and had no desks. 
He was reared to habits of mdustrv and earlv 



gained a knowledge of agriculture, while assisting 
his father in clearing his land. He made his home 
with his parents until his marriage. For two years 
after that he manageil the old homestead. In 
1856 he and his family started with a team and 
made an overland journey to this Stale, as he had 
wisely decided to take advantage of the many su- 
|)erior advantages offered by the rich soil and ge- 
nial climate of Illinois to a skillful, practical farmer. 

After his arrival he located eight miles e.ist of 
Jerspyville. where he farme<1 as a router ten years. 
At the expiration of that time he purchased eighty 
acres of land two miles southeast of Girard. He 
worked with a good will and in a few years placed 
it under a high state of cultivation, made many 
valuable improvements and in due time bought 
eighty acres .idjoining the entire tract, which is 
deetled to his son. The old home is in the posses- 
sion of the subject of this sketch, making one of 
the most desirable farms in the neighborhood. In 
1SS7 he reinoveii from his farm into the village of 
Girard, where he purchased his present substantial, 
comfortable home, wherein he and his wife live re-. 
lired in the enjoyment of the fruits of their early 
years of labor. 

November 30. 1 854, was the date of the marriage 
of Mr. Tietsort and Miss Harriet E. Gould. They 
have one son. Melvin Harvey. He married Miss 
EdnaThacker. a native of this county and a daugh- 
ter of Z.achariah Thacker. of whom an extended 
sketch appears on another page of this volume. 
They have two children. James H. and Nona E. 

Mrs. Tietsort was born in White Lake County. 
Mich.. February 11. 1837. a daughter of one of its 
pioneers. James Harvey Gould. He was a native 
of M.assachusetts and a son of William Gould, 
who is supposed to have been a native of the 
same Stale. He removed from there to Michigan 
while it was yet a territory and lived for a few 
vears in White Lake County. He then took up his 
residence in Port Byron. N. Y.. but some years 
after that he returned to Michigan and spent his last 
years in Cass County, that .State. 

The father of Mrs. Tietsort was reared and 
married in Massachusetts. He subsequently became 
one of the early settlers of White Lake County. 
Mich. A few vears Ixter he returned Eastward as 



.S62 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAFHICAL RECORD. 



far as Port Byron, N. Y. where he resirled a few 
years. Returning lo Michigan, he bought a tract 
of forest-covered land in Cass County, and l>y iiard 
pioneer labor cleared a good farm, on which he 
erected suitable buildings. He departed this life in 
18fi4, full of years. The maiden name of his wife 
was Elizabeth Quimby. .She was also a native of 
Massachusetts and was .1 daughter of a Revolution- 
ary soldier. She died on the old Michigan home- 
stead in 1.S76. 

Our subject has accumulated a competency by 
persistent labor, by that wise economy that knows 
how to spend as well .as to save and b3- the exer- 
cise of sound judgment in his dealings. He has 
earned a place among our most respected citizens, 
and his honest}- and uprightness in all theaflfairsof 
life have gained him the trust of all who know him. 
He and his wife are firm believers in the Baptist 
faith and have been among the most faithful mem- 
bers of that church since they connected themselves 
with it. 



1l ^ARMAX G. TALLEY. a prominent citizen 

^^j of .Shipman, was born in that part i>f 
Wilmington, Del., which was then know 
!»s the village of Brandywine. His birth 
occurred .January 28. 1828, and his father. Isaac 
Grubb Tf.lley, was born in the same vicinity 
and was the son of Harman Talley whose ancestors 
were among the first settlers of that State. He resided 
near Wilmington for many years, and then made 
his way to Ohio and became one of the pioneers of 
Muskingum County. He lived tUere until 18.50. 
after which he emigrated to Ogle County, this 
St.ate, and after a few years came to Piasa, this 
county, where he died. 

The father of our subject grew to manhood in 
his native State and w.as there married before com- 
ing lo Illinois. It was about the j-ear 1856 when 
he settled in Macoupin County, making his home 
in Shipman Townsliip, where he bought a farm and 
resided for four j-ears and then sold and returned 
to his native home, dying in Wilmington, Del., 
February 22, 1888, when he was eightv-seven 



years old. The maiden name of the mother of our 
subject was Mary Simmons, and she was born in 
Delaware and died in 1831. She had two children, 
our subject and his brother .John, ^viio still resides 
in Wilmington. 

The fatlier was a second time married, to Rachel 
Grubb and Uy iier had one child. Rebecca Our 
subject served for five years in Centerville, learn- 
ing the trade of a blacksmith, and followe<I it in 
Delaware until 1850, when he came to Illinois by 
the way of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and set- 
tled in Alton, where he was a pioneer and where 
he o[)ened the first blacksmith shop in that village, 
carrying on business there until the breaking out of 
the war. 

The vouug man enli3le<l .Septembers. 1864, iu 
Company A, One Hundretl and Forty-fourth Illi- 
nois fi.fantry. and served until the close of the war. 
being mustered out as a .Sergeant of the Provost- 
Guard in l«6.i. The following year he engaged in 
farming on one hundred and sixty acres of land 
which he had purchased about a mile east of Piasa. 
There he resided until 1887, .ind then leaving his 
sons in charge, retired from active business and 
made his home in Shipman. 

Louisa Ann Hedges was the name of the ladj- 
who becaino the wife of our subject in 1850, and 
she die<l on the home farm in 1879. The second 
marriage of Mr. Talley took place in 1885, and 
brought to his home a bride in the person of Mrs. 
Mary (Martin) Quick, a native of New York. By 
his first marriage our subject had five childieu, 
namely: William. Hattie. Dora, Lula and Harman 
Grubb. Our subject and his good wife are both 
earnest members of the Metnodist Episcopal Church 
and he is a thorough Republican in ais political 
views and has served for ten years as Postmaster of 
Piasa. His son William married Miss Laura Kel- 
sey, and his daughter Dora became Mrs. W. B. 
Waggoner. 

The present Mrs. Talley, as well a» her f.ather and 
grandfather was born in the Green Mountain State, 
aud her father who was a blacksmith, followed that 
trade both in Vermont and in Susquehanna 
County, Pa., and afterward in Steuben County, 
N. Y., where he finally purchased a farm and man- 
aged it in connection with the work of his trade. 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



863 



The maiden name of liis wife was Liirinda Coleman, 
and she was a daughter of Williaii) and Hannah 
(Cross) Coleman of Vermont. 

Mrs. Talley's tirsl marriage was when siie was 
eighteen and uniteil her with Mr. Bennett, a black- 
smith, who came to Illinois in 1859. and carrie«i on 
his trade in Shipman until his death in April, 1865. 
Her set-oml husband, Mr. Parker (.^uick, uf Missouri, 
was a farmer wbo came to Shipman and died here 
in 1873. She has two cliildren b\- her first marriage, 
Gertrude, who is now Mrs. Silas Webster, and Je- 
rome C, who married Sophie Harris. 



Sf AMES E. WOOD. The .leatii ..f this gen- 
tleman, which occcurred on June 13, 1891, 
removed from this county one who had 
for nearly sixty 3'ears been closel\^ con- 
nected with its development. Following the occu 
pation of a general farmer, he resided on a fine 
tract of land in Bunker Hill Township, and was 
the owner of two hundred and thirty ,acres which 
had been improved under his own management. 
June 16, 1832, marked his arrival in this township 
and since that time he worked his way to the com- 
petency which surrounded liis declining years. 
Some nine seasons were passed on the Mississippi 
River as a keel boater, and many and strange were 
his exjH-riences as a pioneer boatman. By means 
of this work he gained his lirst money to pnrcliase 
land. His first purchase comprised forty acres, 
bought at a low rale, but he w.is compelled to bor- 
row the money to pay twciity-Hve per cent, down, 
and gave personal security to enable him to ef- 
fect the purchase. Aside fr'jm the time spent 
upon the Missi>sippi, he resided upon this farm al- 
most continuously from his arrival here. A hard- 
working and energetic man, he achieved success 
fiuanciaily, and at, the lime of his decease, was liv- 
ing retired from life's active duties. 

Before narrating more fully the various inci- 
dents of importance in the life of our subject, we 
will briefly record the genealogy of the Wood fam- 
ily which began in America in 1755. Samuel Wood 



was born in Leicestershire, England, May 2 or 3, 
1737. He emigrated to America in 1755, and al- 
though really untitted for military service, being a 
cripple, he went into the army during the Revolu- 
tionary War. He was a ripe scholar and was pri- 
vate secretary to President George Washington. 
He spent most of his life in Loudoun County, Va., 
but in his later years removed to East Tennessee, 
and there died full of years and honors. He first 
married a Miss Robertson, and of that union one 
daughter, named Marj-, was born. This daughter 
WPS reared by her grandfather in South Carolina 
and married James Hendricks. 

The second wife of Samuel AVood was known in 
maidenhoO(i as Sarah Reives, and seven sons were 
born of the marriage, viz: William, James, Sam- 
uel, Thomes, Abram, Jol)u and George. William, 
who w.as born June 13, 1773, w.as married in 1814, 
to Nelly Ryan, and their five children were named 
-as follows: Washington, Eliza, Thomas J., James 
W., and Mezany. The first wife dying, he after- 
ward married JIary Cargile, and the one son born 
of this union, William, died January II, 1851. 
James AVood, father of our subject, was born Oct- 
ober 26, 1774, in Loudoun County, Va., near the 
tails of the Potom,ae River. On March 11,1794, 
he was united in marriage with Susanna Renfro, a 
A'irginian, who had been reared to womanhood in a 
fort in E.astern Tennessee, near Knoxville. 

Eleve'i children comprised the family of James 
and Susanna Wood, namely: William, Sarah, John 
v.. Xancy, Sa'uuel. Tboma*, James E., Naomi, 
David and Abigail. During the War of 1812, the 
father enlisted under Gen. Harrison, and lost his 
health while in service as a valiant defender of 
American rights. His death occurred vSeptember 
6, 1849. After his marriage he had lived on a 
farm in Cumberland County, Ky., and all of his 
chiliiron were natives of Kentucky or Tennessee. 
Finally, accompanied b^' his wife and eight chil- 
dren, he removed to Illinois, making the trip over- 
land with leams. Their lirst home was ma<le in 
June, 1832, on the farm where the subject of this 
sketch passtd almost his entire life. 

The father having entered land from the Gov- 
ernment in 1831, had his deed signed by President 
J;;ckson, :ind this document is yet in the family, 



.SG4 



FORTllAIT AND BIOGKAI'HICAL KECORD. 



tlic land having never been transferreil except 
from f;illiiT to son. Here on thai beautiful prairie 
the fatner and mother ended their days, the father 
passing away at the age of seventy-f ve and the 
mother when seventy-nine years old. They were 
members of the old school Bajjlist Church. He 
was a strong Democrat. Possessing a retentive 
memory and being a well read man, he was an in- 
teresting conversationalist, and could relate many 
tiirilling reminiscences of i)ioneer life in the AVar 
of 1812. 

Another member of Grandfather Wood's family 
was his namesake, Samuel, who was born March 
30,1777, married Naomi Uenfro, and became the 
father of five children, viz: Mary, William, James, 
Isaac and Andrew. The fourth son in the grand- 
father's family was Thomas, born August 25, 
1779, in Loudoun County, Va., and married to 
Mary Bayles, becoming the pareiit of seven chil- 
dren bj' this union. In 1779, Grandfather Wood 
emigrated to Washington County, Tenn., where 
Abram was born, tSepteraber 19, 1781. He was 
married to one Polly Hunt, April 20, 1802, and 
they had four ciiildren. John Wood was born in 
AVashington County, Tenn., September 2S, 1783. 
His wife was known in maidenhood as Sarah 
Crouch, and a large family of children gathered 
around their fireside. George Wood was born in 
AVasliington County, Tenn., September 10, 1787, 
married Elizabeth Ervine, and unto them seven 
children were born. 

James E., of this sketch, was the fourth son and 
fiflli cliiUl of the ten granted to his parents. He 
and his two brothers, Samuel and D. B., became 
farmers in this township, and the latter still resides 
here, Samuel having reached the age of eighty-six. 
Their parents lived to see five generations of their 
own family in their house at once. Upon reaching 
manhood our subject was married to Rose B. 
Thomas, who was born in St. Clair County, III., 
June 9, 1817. She is the daughter of David and 
Peggy (Barry) Thomas, the maternal grandfather 
being Capt. Andiew Barry, of Revolutionary fame. 
The patents were natives of South Carolina and 
came North to St. Clair County, 111., when this 
State was still a territory. After laboring as pi- 



to Macoupin County, entering land near Plain- 
view, and there dying at the ages of sixty-two and 
seventy-one respectively. Mrs. Thomas was a 
member of the Methodist E()lscopai Church. Mrs. 
Wood's |)aternal grandfather, John Thomas, was a 
native of Wales, and when a young man came to 
America, locating in South Carolina, and removing 
thence witii his children to the territory of Illinois. 
He was elected one of the first Territorial Clerks, 
when ci)urt convened at Kaskaskia, III. At an ad- 
vanced fige he died in St. Clair Count}-. 

Mrs. Wood was one of the younger of her pa- 
rents' eight children and is the only one now sur- 
viving. She is a woman of character and ability, 
and worth}' of the admiration with which she is 
regarded in the community. She is the mother of 
four children, only one of whom is living. Charles 
died when less than twenty-two years old; Alfred 
K. passed away at the age of thirty two. He mar- 
ried Amanda Phillips and became the father of one 
child, Melvina, who did not survive infancy. Ab- 
raham D. took to wife Maranda Montgomery, and 
of their four children two survive — Charles Ar- 
thur and p;iizabelli. They reside on a farm in this 
township. 

In the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which 
she is an earnest member, Mrs. Wood finds a 
broad field for activity. Mr. Wood also belonged 
to the same church, and was a Democrat in his po- 
litical views, having cast his first ballot for Jack- 
son and continued to vote that ticket until his de- 
mise. Socially, he was identified with the Masonic 
order. He had a wonderful store of historical in- 
formation, which had been told him by his parents 
or had been learned by his own researches in this 
Western country, and these facts and narratives 
would make a large and interesting volume if com- 
piled. 



-^ 



-4- 



L E X A N D E R B U T T' E R S , of the 

firm of Steidlej' & Butters, dealers in 

general hardware, of Gillespie, is of 

English birth and comes of a family who 

for generations have resided in that country. He 




oneers there several years, they sold out and came crossed the water and established a home in the 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



865 



United States. He was born in County Durlip.in, 
in 1826, and lliere grow to manlioo<). For a time 
he worked in the mines of that country', but in 
1852, having determined to seeli his fortune in 
America, he embarked from Liverpool, and on tiie 
16th of September, landed in New York City, 
whence he made ills way to Klizabelhtown, Pa. In 
the mines of Itiat section he was employed until 
1856. For fourteen years he was a resident of Car- 
linville, 111., and helped to sink the lirst mines at 
that place in 1868. On coming to Gillespie lie 
helped to sink the coal shafts at this place and ^'as 
boss of the mine for some time. He was concerned 
directly in the sinking of tiie Dorsey shaft, and is 
one of the prominent miners of tlie State. It has 
been his business during the greater part of his life, 
and he received many communications from differ- 
ent State and Government geologists and [irofes- 
sors of that science for his knowledge of geology, 
especially of the coal period, far surp.asses that of 
many who have made of geology a special study. 
He gathered one of the finest collections of fossil 
fish in the United States and has recently sold the 
same to the State of Illinois for 81,000. It is now 
exhibited in the museum at Springfield. Mr. But- 
ters has also acquainted himself with the mines in 
the Southern part of Illiouis. This State fur- 
nishes a splendid field for research, and perhaps no 
one is better inforuied concerning the mining inter- 
ests than he. Two years were also spent by him 
in the mines of Missouri. 

While residing in Pennsylvania, Mr. Butters was 
'inited in marriage with Miss Sarah Craig, who was 
born and reared in Cumberland Countj^, Kngland. 
She crossed the broad Atlantic in 1853, and im- 
mediately afterward was married, having plighted 
her troth to Mr. Butters ere he left his native land. 
She was born at Garigal Gate, England, on the 
13th of September, 1825, and was a lady of many 
excellencies of character. She was called to her 
final rest on tin; 6th of February, 1891, while re- 
siding in Gillespie, being then sixty-five years of 
age. Many friends shared with her husband in his 
great loss. Four children were born unto them — 
Mary A., Sarah A., John A., and Sarah A., but all 
died before the mother. 

Mr. Butters is one of the leading citizens of 



Gillespie, prominent in all public affairs and found 
in the front rank of every enterprise calculated to 
l)enefit the comniunll}'. He is a sound Re|)ublican 
in political sentiment, and is a member of the 
Board of Labor Statistics of Illinois. He has 
been engaged in his present business since April. 
1890, when he bought out the interest of William 
Dickey, one of the original owners of the store, 
and became a member of the firm of Steidley tfe 
Butters, dealers in general hardware. They have 
a full and complete stock and are doing a good 
business, such as is deserved by gentlemen of their 
worUi and standina:. 



\ll AMES O. PATTERSON. Among the pros- 
perous fanners and public-spirited residents 
of Bird Township, we are pleased to mention 
the gentleman whose name stands at the head 
of this brief sketch. His worthy parents, Abraham 
and Melinda (Kh'klandt Patterson, were early set- 
tlers in Jersey Count3', III., where they remained 
until the father was called away by death. The 
mother afterward removed to Greene County, this 
State where she died. They had seven children, 
of whom our subject was the sixth. His birth took 
place, Januarv 25, 1840, in Jersey County, 111. 
He was early bereaved of his father, and when ten 
j'ears old left his home and came to Macoupin 
County. Since that time he has made his residence 
here, and has been one of the reliable and respected 
citizens of the county. When he was a young 
man he atone time engaged in the threshing bus- 
iness, and from the time he was fourteen years 
old until he was twenty-two, he worked in a saw- 
mill. Aside from this he has followed agricultural 
pursuit.^. 

In 1864 Mr. Patterson bought the fine farm 
where he now lives. Thiscon^ists of one hun- 
dred and eighty broad and productive acres. Upon 
this farm he has erected as fine a set of farm build- 
ings, as may be found in a ride of many miles. 
The residence is commodious and attractive, and 
th? barns well adapted to farm work. He is a man 
of oi.icrprisc and forethought and always strives 



80,6 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



to keep his properly in such a condition as will in- 
crease its value and promote not onl}' his own 
prosperity but the comfort of his stock. 

The ranrriage of our subject, November 14, 1861 , 
was an event which opened the way to a life of 
great domestic happiness. His bride, Miss Eliza- 
beth Doty, is a lady whose beautiful Christian 
character and sound judgment, make her not only 
highly respected but much beloved by all in the 
community. She was born in this county in March, 
1839. 

The eight children who have blessed this h.nppy 
union are as follows: Liona E., Chailcs M., who 
has married a Miss Stewart; Robert li. ; AVilllam 
E. ; John F., who died when about eighteen years 
old; Minnie M., Marion Elbert and James M. Mr. 
Patterson is deeply interested in all matters of 
Ijublic interest, especially in educational affairs, 
anil he alwa)'s gladly promotes movements for 
the betterment of his fellow-cilizens, especially 
in the line of education of the young. He has 
held the office of School Director for several 
years. His political views arc expressed in the 
platform of the Democratic party and he is earnest 
and hearty in his advocacy of these. His good wife 
is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and this family is respected and admired 
b}' their neighbors. 



-^^>^^^^^f!:^<'^f-^ 



.-^ HARLES M. EDWARDS. Among the most 
(ll n prominent and progressive farmers in Scott- 
^^^ ville, we are |)leased to mention this gentle- 
man who has cultivated the three hundred and 
twentj' acres of land whicii he entered many years 
ago and who has made of it a garden spot in the 
county. He was born on his father's farm in 
Scottville Township. June 28, 1844. Peter Ed- 
wards, his father, has been a prominert farmer in 
Morgan and Macoupin Counties and was a Virgin- 
ian by birth. He went from that JSiate with his 
parents and resided in Kentucky until 182.5, when 
he came to Illinois and settled in Morgan County, 
becoming one of its pioneers there. 

When this family came hither the greater part 



of Illinois was still in the hands of the Govern- 
ment, being a true frontier region and the settle- 
ment for man}' j'ears was vci'y slow, while deer, 
turkeys and other kinds of game abounded. Tlie 
Edwar<ls bought property in Morgan County and 
resided there until ] 839 when they came to Ma- 
coupin County and entered eighty acres of land in 
Scottville Township, and there resided until the 
death of the father on the 1 7th of Ma}', 1 847. 

The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Frances Pemberton and her bii'th was in Wayne 
County, Ky., November 12, 1807. Her father, 
George Pemberton w.as born in Virginia of Eng- 
lish parentage, his father having come to this coun- 
try during tlie Colonial times. 

The grandfather of our subject was reared in 
A'irginia and after his marriage there went to what 
is now West Virginia and from tliere to Kentucky 
about the j'car 1800, thus becoming one of the pi- 
oneers of that State. He sett'ed in Wayne County, 
and bought a tract of timber land and with his 
nx hewed out a splendid farm about eighteen miles 
from ilonticello. He resided there till his death 
in 1832 and his good wife, Jane Miller, daughter 
of Frederick Miller of Virginia came to Illinois 
in 1834 and tliere resided for about a year when 
she died in 1835. 

Tlie mother of our subject was born and reare<l 
in Wayne County, Ky., and there had her early 
training, learning as di<l the pioneer girls of that 
day to card, spin ami weave anc: in her early mar- 
ried life she used to manufacture all the clothing 
used in her family. In 1833 she made her first 
visit to Illinois, traveling on horseback and being 
fourteen days on the road. In 1836 she returned 
to Kentucky and after a few months' visit there 
again made her home in Illinois. Although she is 
now quite advanced in age her mind is clear and 
her disposition is most cheerful and delightful. 
She now makes her home with her son. Three of 
the six cliildren of these parents are now living 
and of the nine children of the father by his pre- 
vious marriage all have passed awa}-. 

He of whom vve write had his training and edu- 
cation in Ills native township and his home through- 
out life has been upon the old homestead. His mar- 
riage in 1868 brought to his home a worthy bride 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



867 



in the person of Mercy A. Mill wlio was horn at 
Coniiersville, Ind.. and is a ilaiigliter of Benjamin 
and Elizabetli Hill. Five children have blessed 
the home of our subje.'l: Frances. Lizzie. Georiio 
W., Mary Ella. Charles M. Tlie eldest is now niar- 
rietl to Mr. John T. Owens. In the early days of 
the township, Mr. Edwar<ls was active in its organ- 
ization and government and was its first Assessor. 
He is A Democrat in liis political views and works 
with tiiai party. 



-s^Tt^- 



-E^ 




DAM DEAHL. Of German-.\merican par- 
entage our subject has inlieriled from tiic 
one side prudence, thrift, and intellectual 
vigor, with a tendency to analyze and care 
for iletail; from the maternal side he gets the inher- 
itance of nerve, qii'ckness of perception and prompt . 
decision. His father was Andrew Deahl, a native I 
of Germany. His mother was Matilda(.Shultz)Deahl, 
a native of Pennsylvania. The parents resided j 
prior to their coming to this State, in Maryland 
and removed hither in the year 1865, coming 
directly' to Macoupin County, and settling on sec- 
tion 23. of Shipman Township, whereon their son 
a', present resides. 

Mr. Deahl's parents removed to Nebraska in 
1879, and died in Lancaster County of that Stale. 
They had a large family of whom our subject was 
the second. He was born in Allegany County, 
Md., March 18, 1840, and his marriage took place 
in the same county, May 19. 1861. There they 
lived until the fall of 186.5 wlien with his family 
and accompanied by his father's family he came 
to Macoupin County. 

For the first ten years after their settlement here 
our subject was engaged in carpenter work in Ship- 
man Township, which trade he had learned in his 
native State. On the parents' removal to Nebraska 
he traded with his father for the farm where he 
now lives. It now comprises three hundred and 
sixty acres and he has erected thereon a tine resi- 
dence, containing all the comforts and conveniences 
that modern life considers so necessary. Besides 
this he has also put up other good buildings. His 



barns are commodious and adequate for the de- 
mands upon them. Mrs. Deahl's maiden name 
was Elizabeth Simon. S''e was a daughter of John 
and Catherine (Peck) .Simon. The former was 
born in Germany, the latter in Pennsylvania. Mrs 
Deahl's father was but six years old wlieii he came 
to America with his parents. In the fall of 1866 
they came to JIacoupin County, and lived one 
winter in Shipman. thence removing to Montgom- 
ery County where he lives a retired life. He has 
been a fanner by occupation having been success- 
ful in that line. Mrs. Deahl was one of sev- 
enteen children, she being the eldest of the family. 
She was born in what was at that time Allegany 
County, now Garrett County, Md., April 2.5, 1845. 

The subject of this sketch and his capable wife 
an' the parents of ten children, six of whom are 
still living. They are: Matilda C, Susan K., 
Henry C, Mary E.. Royal A., and Virginia. Tlie 
deceased children were taken away in infancy. 
Matilda is the wife of Lafayette Clardy. Mary E. 
is the wife of W. Clower. 

In polities Mr. Deahl is a Democrat. He and 
his wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran 
Church, in which they take iheir place not only as 
constant and consistent attendants but as generous 
supporters and energetic helpers in every measure 
either philanthropic or religious that may be there 
broached. 

ENRY C. KABLE. The highly cultivated 
|i farm of four hundred and eighty acres, lo- 
cated in North Otter Township, on section 
12, is owned by Henry C. Kuble. It seems 
a pity that so i)repossessing a man with so tine and 
extensive worldly possessions, and one who is so 
fitteil to make a happy home for some sweet 
woman, should spend liis days in single blessedness, 
but such is the case, and although the fact is to be 
deplored, the domestic arrangement of the house- 
hold does not seem to sutTer for want of womanly 
care. 

The parents of our subject were Janoes and Su- 
san (Gaiver) Kable, of whom a sketch will be 
found under the name of James Kable on another 



868 



PORTRAIT AxVD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



page of this Recokd. Our subject was the fifth 
child of his father. He was born in Miami 
County, Oiiio, November 8, 1849, and there he 
lived until 1864, when he camn to Macoupin 
County with his father's family. Since tliat time 
ho has been a resident of North Otter Township, 
and always engaged in agricultural pursuits. 

Until the spring of 1883 Mr. Kable remained 
at home with his parents. At that time he pur- 
chased the farm where he now lives. He settled 
on the same the following year, and has since been 
occupied in i's cultivation and in keeping up the 
buildings u.:on the place. He gives his attention 
wholly to farming, his favorite pursuit being 
the raising of tine stock, of which he has a large 
number. 

In politics Mr. Kable is a Rei)ublican, and al- 
though his fellow- farmers are not generally in 
favor of the protective tariff, that appealing more 
to the manufacturing class than to the agricultur- 
ists, he of whom we write feels that in protecting 
the ri3anufactu'-er the farmers are making their own 
market. 



felLLI^M I. GATES. We are gratified to 
Ijl be able to place before our readers the 
name of one who has not only served the 
community- well as a business man, but has also in 
his private life been consistently worthy of the re- 
gard in which he is held by his neighbors. He 
now has charge of the business of the Adams Ex- 
press Company at Staunton, having had the inter- 
ests of that company under his personal control 
ever since the agenc3' was here established. He 
was formerly in the gro(^ery business, keeping 
both a staple and fancj' stock. He has been a resi- 
dent of the city and vicinity all his life, and was 
here reared and educated. Since he reached the 
age of sixteen he has been in some kind of busi- 
ness. 

Our subject was born near Staunton, April 2, 1867, 
and is the son of Joseph C. and Sarah (Bruce) 
Gates, natives of Ohio, who came to Illinois before 
their marriage and settled in this vicinity on a 
farm. Later they removed into tiie city, and here 




the mother died in 1887 at the early age of 
thirty-eight years. The father, who still survives, 
now resides here and has reached the; age of fifty - 
eight. 

The marriage of our subject at Edwardsvillc, 
this State, gave him a faithful and devoted wife in 
the person of Miss Jennie Ilalliday, who was born 
near Chesterfield, March 4, 1870. She was early 
orphaned, as her mother was called from earth 
when this daughter was only a few months old and 
the father passed away before she had reached the 
age of three years, but she was carefully reared by 
her paternal grandmother, who is now deceased, 
and on the death of that faithful and devoted grand- 
parent, this lady fell heir to a comfortable fortune. 
She h.ad received a thorough and excellent educa- 
tion in the public schools of Madison County, and 
has more than ordinary intelligence ami ability as 
well as refinement. 

IMr. &nd Mrs. Gates are both members af the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Gates be- 
longs to Lodge No. 685, I. O. O. F., at Staun- 
ton, and has been prominently identified with all 
public movements in the city. He is a sound Re- 
publican, as is also his father, who was a devoted 
adherent to the Union cause during the war, and 
fought for three years during that conflict, sufl'er- 
ing much from the exposures and privations of 
army life. Mr. and Mrs. Gates are the happy and 
proud parents of one son, David Ira, for whose fu- 
ture they are solicitous, and upon whose training 
they are willing to bestow unlimited care and ex- 
pense. 



E.^ 




lOBERT HOKTON. During the years since 
Illinois has become a richly cultivated and 
thickly populated State and especially 
)^ since her surface has been covered by a 
net-work of leading railroads, a great business has 
grown up in the line of shipments of stock and he 
of whom we write has engaged extensively in this 
line of business, and has thereby accumulated a 
handsome property. His father, Oswell Horton, 
was the son of Augustine, who was born and reared 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



809 



in B'aiiqiiier County, Xa. With his wife, Mary 
Taylor, lie emigrated to Kentucky and settled in 
Green Count}-, where ho died and she somewiiat 
later csme to Macoupin County, where she lived 
until called from her earthly labors about I860. 

The fatlier of our subject was born in Fau(iuier 
County, Va., May 26, 1807, and was about two 
years old when his father removed to Keiituuky 
where this boy grevv to manhood and when he was 
about twenty -one years old came to Illinois, where 
he found employment in Morgan County for sev 
eral years as agent for a stage company, although 
he resided most of the time at Springfield, i.ater 
he took charge of the Springfield and Peoria and 
Springfield and Terrc Haute stage lines, his duties 
being those of a general superintendent. On ac- 
count of failing health he decided to devote him- 
self to a farming occupation and in 1842 he bought 
one hundred and twenty acres of land in North 
Palmyra Township, where he continued to live 
until liis death, which occurred in that Township. 

Matilda Norvell was the maiden name of her 
w!:o became the wife of Osvvell Ilorlon in North 
Palmyra Townsliip, February 22, 1835. She was 
born in Sumner County, Tenn., her father being 
AVilliam Norvell and her mother Mary Payne, both 
of whom were Tennesseans by birth and came from 
Sumner County, that State, to Macoupin Counly 
where they settled in North Palm3ra Township, 
and spent the remainder of their lives. Oswell 
and Matilda Horton became the parents of four 
children, two of whom died in infancy, and the 
only surviving members of their household are 
Robert and Mary. 

Our subject was the eldest of the family and was 
born in Jacksonville, III., December 26, 1836. He 
passed the first six years of his life outside of Ma- 
coupin Cf)unty and then came hitlier with his i)ar- 
enls and hr.s since made his residence on his father's 
old homestead where he now resides. Mosl of his 
education has been gained in the common schools 
here. His marriage with Miss Rebecca J. Rice 
took place in North Palmyra Township, March 22, 
1860. This lady is a daughter of the late .iasper 
Rice who was Jborn in Green County, Ky.. May 
13, 1812, while her mother, Mary Jones, was born 
in Cumberland County. Ky., March 19, 1816. This 



couple were married in North Palmyra Township 
on the 16th day of May, 1833, and made their 
home permancntlj here. Mrs. Horton was born in 
this township. May 6, 1843. 

Until 1865 Mr. Horton engaged in farming in 
partnership with his father and became one of the 
most energetic and successful farmers and traders 
in this county, devoting himself largely to buying 
and selling stock. The old home farm is supplied 
with the very best of farm buildings and the home 
is fitted with every convenience and luxury. Our 
subject and his good wife are the happy parents of 
four children: Edward L., William H., Jt)hn L., 
and Luther O. William H. is now married to Miss 
Elizabeth Rohrer. Mr. Horton makes Chicago his 
market almost exclusively for his large shipments 
of stock, which he is able to care for well u|)on his 
splendid farm of nine hundred acres. He has tilled 
the ofiice of Highway Commissioner, and also that 
of School Trustee, and in his political views he is 
in sympathy with the Democratic party. Mrs. 
Horton is a devout member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church and an active worker in its charities. 
Our subject is a member of the Order of Odd Fel- 
lows and also of the Grange, No. 162i), and also 
of the Macoupin County Grange and ii the fall of 
181)0, he was chosen a delegate to tlie Slate Grange 
which mot at Spiinglicld. 




,,., BRAHAM CRAMP. There is nothing 
(.(tj ^y/Jl l more truly charming to one who appreci- 
ates the genuine harmony of life, than the 
beauties of old age when life has been 
spent in the discharge of duty and 'he practice of 
llie Christian religion; and such a life we have be- 
fore us in the subject of this sketch who has now 
retired from farming and is living upon his home 
on section 21, Ililyard 'I'ownship, where he has re- 
sided foi many years. When he took this farm of 
one hundred acres in 1844, it was all wild land an<I 
he has made of it a thoroughly equijjped and richly 
cultivated estate and has been a successful farmer. 
Besides this property he has owned and iniprove<l 
a number of other farms. 



870 



rORTRAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mr. Ciamp came to this county in 1838 and since 
that date lliis has been his home. He had his hirth 
January 20, 1S07, in Kent County. England, and 
came to this country in 1832 when he was twenty- 
five years old, making his first home in Canada, 
lie had previously been married to Miss Sarah Pel- 
ialt who was born in Surrey, England. They had 
three children when ti)ey left, their native land, but 
on the voyage one of them sickened and died, and 
they had the inexpressible grief of burying it be- 
neath the waves. After living for some time in 
Quebec they removed to Prescott, N. Y., and sev- 
eral 3'cars later came to Illinois, where they have 
led uneventful but most worth3' lives. 

In this township Mr. and Mrs. Cramp labored 
together with success, and sixt3'-lhree years of mar- 
ried life had passed over their heads before the 
death of the beloved wife and mother which took 
pl.ace May 9. 1888. She had reached the age of 
eighty-two years. The memory of her noble, kindly 
and truly lovable character is a precious memorial 
wiiich her children and friends would not barter 
for the proudest lineage of European noi)ility. 
She was one of the first members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church when it was formed in this 
county, being one of a class of six vvho iniiiated 
that movement, and her husband is the only one of 
the charter members now living. Mr. Cramp is one 
of the venerable men of his township who are truly 
beloved by all who come witliiu the scope of his 
influence because his character is unclouded b}- 
stain and his kindl}' heart has m.ade him the friend 
of every man, woman and child. 

Our subject came to this country a poor man 
without a dollar, and he is now in possession of 
three hundred and forty acres in the richest section 
of Illinois, besides one hundred and sixty acres 
which he has disposed of to his children. Six of 
his ten children are now living. Charles, who is 
now a retired farmer and stock raiser, living in 
Bloornington, 111., married Henrietta Hopkins. 
William took to wife Miss Cora Rawson, and now 
lives on a farm in Montgomery County, this State. 
Sarah M., who has ever remained at home and has 
acted a daughter's part most faithfully in the ten- 
der care of her aged parents, still lives with her 
father. Ruth R., the widow of Thomas Crse, is 




now in the asylum at Jacksonville, having for some 
j'ears past lost her mind. Samuel took to wife 
M'.ss Susannah Reed and is a prominent minister 
in the Methodist Episcopal Church in East St. 
Louis. Ezra, who now resides at Raymond, Mont- 
gomery County, 111., married Miss Olive Calloway. 
Not only the parents but all the members of this 
famil}' are earnest and devoted members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Ciiurch. 

^^OLOMON N. SANFORD, of Bunker Hill, 
has been a resident of this county since 
1857, and claims the honor of being a na- 
tive-born citizen of Illinois. He was born 
in Menard County, near Petersburg, September 14, 
1846, and when six years of age accompanied his 
parents to St. Paul, Minn. His father. Ira Sanford, 
was born in Verrjont in 1800, and belongs to one 
of the old "Sew England families. When he was 
young, he went to New York and was there mar- 
ried, emigrating with his wife in 1834 to Illinois, 
locating in Springfield wlierc he eml>nrked in the 
mercantile budness. While there he took a con- 
tract on the Jacksonville & Springfield Railro.ad, 
which w.as the first load built in the State, but the 
company failed and his fortune was somewhat im- 
paired thereby. His wife died during his residence 
in Springfield in 1839, and in Sangamon County 
he married Miss Emeline Mattoon, a native of Am- 
herst, Miiss., vvherc her parents and grandparents 
had both resided. Her grandfather. Gen. Mattoon, 
was a Revolutionary soldier and a [nominent citi- 
zen of the Bay State. His portrait, painted by 
Trumbull, now adorns the walls of one of the lead- 
ing historical halls of Boston. Mrs. Sanford's 
father, Ebenezer ftlattoon, was born and reared in 
Amherst and became a leading fanner of thai part 
of Massachusetts. He married Lucena Mayo, and 
willi their family in 1846, they came West to Illi- 
nois, settling near Bunker Hill, where the parents 
spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Mattoon 
died at the .idvanced age of eightj'-eight years on 
the old farm and his wife, who survived him some 
years, died in Bunker Hill, in 1883, at the very ad- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



871 



vnncert age of ninety-two. They were members of 
the Congregational Church, and were well known 
in this county as among its best citizens. In their 
family were twelve children, ten of whom lived to an 
advanced age, wiiile four yet survive, tiie eldest, a 
resident of St. Louis, being eighty -six years old. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ira Sanford, as before stated, re- 
moved to St. Paul, where the deatii of the husband 
oceurrfd in 1857, after whicli Mrs. Sanford re- 
turned to Blinker Hill. She long survived her 
husband, dying at this place in September. 1886, 
at the age of seventy-four, her birth having oc- 
curred in 1812. Slie was a member of the Congre- 
gational CImroh, and a woman whose many excel- 
lencies of character endeared her to all. Mr. San- 
ford was a Presbyterian in religious faith, and in 
politics was a Wliig and Re|)ublican. 

Our subject returned with his mother to Illinois, 
where Ids early education was acquired and he 
then attended the Vv'illiston Academy, of Willis- 
ton, Vl. At the age of nineteen years he beoan 
life for himself and has since been dependent upon 
his own resources. He was married in Hunker 
Hill, to Miss Isa ShepbercJ, a native of that city, 
born .September 21, 1852, and a daughter of Isaac 
and Hannah Siiepherd. Her parents were natives 
of Cumberland County, N. .1., where iheir child- 
hood days were ijassed, and after their mai riage 
the\' came to Bunker Hill. Mr. Shepherd had 
previonsi}- been married and resided in that town 
f^ one of its earl}' settlers. His death occurred in 
the prime of life. His widow jet survives him 
and now makes her home ivith our subject, at the 
age of seventy four years. She is a consistent 
member of the Congregational Church, to which 
Mr. and Mrs. Sanford also belong, the former be- 
ing Treasurer of the church, while both are active 
workers for its interests. The family numbers the 
following children : Edward, Anna B., Mary F., 
William S. and Herbert B. 

In 1866, Mr. Sanford established business in 
Bunker Hiil as a grocer, and from the beginning 
has had a constantly increasing trade. He first 
er.rrici on operations under the lirm name of S. 
N. Sanford & Co., and after three years changed 
the name to Sanford & True, which company ex- 
isted for about eight years, when Mr. Sanford be- 



came sole proprietor, having entire charge of the 
store until December, 1889, when he sold out to 
J. H. Simmons, who is now in charge-. With many 
of the leading industries and enterprises of Bunker 
Hill, our subject has been and is prominently con- 
nected. He is one of the Directors of the Build- 
ing and Loan Association, which was organized in 
1887, i.s a stockholder and Dinctor of the Bunker 
Hill Nail Company, which was established in Jan- 
uary. 1890, and is also Man.ager and Treasurer of 
uhc Boss Coulter Company, which was formed in 
1885. For Sftcew years he h.is been Director of 
the Library Association and for the same length 
of time has served on the School Board as Clerk. 
The cause of education has lound in him a warm 
frien<i, and he has done not a little toward pro- 
u)oting the high standard of Bunker Hill's schools. 
A public-spirited and progressive man, he is num- 
bered among the valued citizens of the community 
and has ever manifested a commendable interest 
in .all that pertains to the upbuilding and welfare 
of town and county. As a business man he is in- 
dustrious and enterprising and in consequence suc- 
cessful. While in the grocery trade his fair deal- 
ing and courteous treatment won him hosts of 
frieniis, and whoever he meets either in business or 
social ('ircles, accord him their high esteem and 
good will. 

i^^ 

<J¥=^RED L. BLO.ME. This gentleman is the 
lU- (fe editor and proprietor of the Staunton 
/1\ ^ Times, which he has had charge of since 
Sei)tember, 1885, and has made it a newsy, eight 
column weekly folio. It is a spicy little paper edited 
with considerable ability, and issued every Frid.ay. 
He is a practical printer and his olfice, in its com- 
pleteness for getting out a paper and doing job 
work, is as good as is to be found in the county. 
It has been the ambition of Mr. Blome to improve 
his paper from year to year, and he now contem- 
plates an increase in size to a six column quarto, 
which will Ije .is large a paper .as is issued in Ma- 
coupin County. It has a good local circulation 
which is steadily increasing. Mr. Blome is a 
practical man and is working hard for the good of 



872 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the town where ho now resiiles, and lends his aid 
willinslv to every enterprise calculated to better 
tlic place and its people. 

Prior to coming hither, Mr. Blome had been en- 
ffaged in the publishing business in AiVarrenton, 
Mo., where he caried on the Warrenton Bntint-r, 
and where his first newspaper work was done. After 
serving his ai>prenticeship there he went Bonanza, 
Colo., where he took tlie i>osition of foreman on 
the Dnily Eiitf^-prise until the summer of 1882, 
when he went to Villa Grove, in the same .Suite, 
and was there one of the proprietors of the DU- 
i>alctt. L.iter he returned to Mongoraery County, 
Mo., and two years after this went to his old home. 



worker in the Presbyterian Church. The political 
views of Mr. Blome cause him to affiliate person- 
ally with the Democratic party but his pajier is in- 
dependent in both politics and religion. 



' AMES S. THOMPSON. Among the reputa- 
ble men who in the conduct of business 
matters and the duties belonging to the 
various relations of life have acquired a 
worlhv name, mention should be made of Mr. 



Warrenton, and tlience. in 1885, came to Staunton. I Thompson who is now the Superintendent of the 



The subject of this sketch was born in Lincoln 
Count)-, Mo., June 5, 1862. and is a son of Lym.an 
and Dorotiiy Blome. who were of German birth 
and came from the Fatherland to tlie I'nited 
States immediately after their marriage. Their 
migration to this country was in the last half of 
llie '40s, and their first settlement was made in the 
cilj- of Chicago, and then for awhile in Washing- 
ton, ilo. The fatlier had learned the boot and 
siioe business in Germany and he followed that 
after coming to this country. They finally located 
at Truxton, Lincoln Countj-, Mo., and there our 
subject was born. Eight j'ears later tiie father 
died at the age of forty-seven. His widow is still 
living and makes her home with the daughter, 
Mrs. Mary Miller, at Marj-sville, Cal. She is now 
upwards of three-score years and ten and in her 
old age is resting from her labors. She is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Church as was her husband in 
his lifetime. 

Our subject is the youngest of four children 
born to his parents two of whom died in infancy, 
and he and his sister Mary are all that now remain 
of that once happy household. Mr. Blome w,as 
married in Staunton to Miss Ella Jageman who 
■»v."»s born in Madison County and had her training 
and education in !>taunton. She comes from an ex- 
cellent family, being the daughter of Charles W. 
and Kate Jageman who were formerly well-known 
throughout this part of the State and are now liv- 
ing in Arizona, .^he is a woman of more than or- 
dinary ability and brightness and is an earnest 



Macoupin County Alms House, which is located 
on section 16, Carlinville Township. He was born 
in Wayne County. III., Septcmlwr .'>, 1838 and 
there spent his boyhood d.ays until 18o+ when he 
started out in life for himself, coming to Scotts- 
ville thiscount)- where for one year he lived with 
his brother, L. J. Thompson. 

The marriage of our subject with Miss Rhoda J. 
Conlee took pl.ace in Palmyra Township, this 
county, March 31, 1858. This lady was born in 
the township where she was married on Decern l>er 
22, 1837, and there she grew to womanhood, re- 
ceiving educational and domestic training. The 
firet wedded home of this young couple was in 
South Otter Township, where they rented land and 
lived for a year, and then removed to South Pal- 
myra Township, which continued to be their home 
until 1865. During their residence there Mr. 
'J'hompson was for tliree yeai-s engaged in the saw- 
mill business and during the remainder of the time 
carried on farming. 

Our subject w.as now tilled with a •;esire to go 
farther West and see more of pioneer life, and sell- 
ing his property he removed to .lohnson County, 
Neb., where he homesteaded aud farmed for a year 
only when he fell satisfied to return to Macoupin 
County and make liis home in Girard, where he 
acted as engineer for something over a year. For 
ten years he then lived in South Palmyra Town- 
ship, and again sold his proper*^y and bought one 
hundretl .acres in South Otter Township, and four 
years later disiKJsed of that and bought a farm of 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



S7S 



ninetv-five acres in South Palmyra Township which i small scale at Arming-ton. In 1857 he removed 
he now has in the hands of a tenant. 

The appointment as Superintendent of the Ma- 
coupin County Alms House, was made in Msrch. 
1S88. and Mr. Thompson has since filled that posi- 
tion with great credit to himself and salisfaetion to 
the people. This institution is c.ilculatt>d to ac- 
commodate about one hundred inmates and while it 
is conducted on business principles, kindly care is 
given to the unfortunate inmates by both the Su- 
perintendent ai\d his estimable wife. Eight living 
children form the farailj- of Mr. and Mrs. Thomp- 
son, namely : Alice S. wife of J. E. Bacon : Thom.ns 
M. married Miss Martha Little: Clara B., Mrs. 
.lohn W. Kidd ; Jajnes S. Jr. ; George A. : Amelia 
.1. wife of Douglas Davidson; Olive M.. and Will- 
iam K. M, They have also laid to rest three chil- 
dren, Jolm M., Mary M. and Franklin E. 

Mr. Thompson has held the otficeof Ro-ad Over- 



to Maro.i, which w.as then a mere hamlet, and 
opened a general merchandise store, which he 
carried on successfully for many years. From 
the beeinuing his trade constantly increased and 
he had to proportionately enlarge his sto*"k, which 
thus kept gix^iwing until he was at the head of a 
large establishment. As the result of his indus- 
try, perseverance and good management he ac- 
quired a handsome property, and he and his wife 
are now living retired lives, enjoying the fruits 
of his former toil. He has reached the age of sev- 
enty years and his wife is about ten years his 
junior. 

The subject of this sketch was .quite young when 
the family removeil to Maroa, where he was reared 
to manhood and acquired his primary education, 
which was supplemented b\- a course in one of 
the excellent private schiwls of Cincinnati, Ohio, 



seer of South Palmyra Township, and .also that of j His business training was received in his father's 



Highway Commissioner for several years. For 
four years he was Road Overseer in South Otter 
Township, and has ever taken an active |)art in 
political affairs, being an ardent Democrat. Both 
he and his gooil wife are devotol members of the 
Baptist Church. 



T^ MANUEL FRIED.MAX. sole manager of 
») the banking interests of E. Friedman i 
''— ^ Co.. of Staunton, and one of the represent- 
ative business men of that place, is a native-born 
citizen of Illinois, and his entire life has been 
passeil within the borders of that State. H's birth 
occurred in Tazewell County on the 22d of Feb- 
ruary, 1854. and he is of German descent. His 
father, M.ayer Friedman, was born in Germany 
.and when a young man crossed the Atlantic to 
America, locating first in Cincinnati. Ohio, where 
he became acquainted with and wedded Mina Eich- 
berg. who was born in Wurlcmburg. Germany. 
and came to America during childhood. After 
their marriage they emigrated Westw.ard and be- 
came residents of Tazewell County. Hi., where 
Mr. Frie<lman embarked in merchandising on a 



store, which he entered at the .age of fourteen, and 
since that time has been ever connected with mer- 
i-antile interests. For some years he was employed 
as a salesman in Maroa and Paxton, and January 1, 
1S8S. came to Staunton. In the month of August, 
1886, S. A, Friedman established a private bank 
as a membe: of the firm of Eichberg. Friedman 
& Co,, under which style business was carried on 
until September. 1887, when a change in the man- 
agement occurred, the bank becoming the prop- 
erty of S. A. Friedman i Co. They i-ontinued 
business until February, 1891. since which time 
the b-ink h.as been the property of E. Friedman * 
Co. As before staled, our subject is sole manager, 
and under his able administration the bank has 
become one of the leading financial institutions of 
the community. It is established on a financial 
basis and represents a capital of about #40.000. 
Business is carrie<I on in the line of domestic 
and foreign exchange, "eceiving dc|X>sits, and in 
other branches of general banking business. It 
is located in the fine structure which was re- 
cently erected and is known as the Quade Block, 
being the finest business block in the city. The 
bank is complete in all its appointments and is 
equipped with an absolute burglar-proof Hall safe, 
which is placed within a fire-proof vault. 



874 



POKTttAlT AJSD BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



August 7, 1890, Mr. Friedman was marrieJ. in 
Staunton, to Miss JMame Ripley, who was burn in 
lliat city in 1869, and is a daughter of J. R. Rip- 
ley, a siietcli of wiioni ajjpears elsewhere in this 
work. The young couple hold an enviable posi- 
tion in social circles and are widely and favorably 
known throughout the community. Mr. Friedman 
is a worthy representative of that class of progres- 
sive and enterprising business men to whom the 
cHj' owes her prosperity and greatness. He is now 
serving as Citj' and Township Treasurer with 
credit to himself and to tiie satisfaction of all con- 
cerned. Socially he is a Royal Arcli Mason, be- 
longing to the Blue Lodge of Staunton, of wiiich 
he is Warden, and to the Chapter at Maroa. He 
also holds membership with Staunton Lodge, No. 
685, L 0. O. F., in which lie has filled all the chairs 
and is now Treasurer; and is also a member of 
Royal Lodge, No. 109, K. of P., of Moroa. 




^/BRAHAM G. KABLK. The original of 
^^1 this sketch is the owner of and resident on 
the fine farm located on section l:>, North 
Otter Township. He is a son of James 
and Susan (Garver) Kable, whose histjry will be 
found in the sketch of .lames Kable in another part 
of this Record. Our subject was the second son 
and fourth child born to his parents, his natal day 
being December 16, 1844. Ohio was bis native 
State. He grew to manhood in the State where he 
was born and just as the country was beginning to 
Ihink tiiat it could rest .-vfter the turmoil of four 
years of the most terrible warfare the world has 
ever known, our subject came to Macoupin County 
with his parents, settling here in March. 186.t. He 
belonged to the State Militia 147, Ohio Volunteers, 
and got a discharge when he left the State. 

Mr. Kable continued to live at home until his 
marriage, at which time he went back to Ohio for 
his bride. He was married in Troy, Ohio, Febru- 
ary 8, 1866, the lady's maiden name being Mattie 
C. Stafford, a daughter of George P. and Elizabeth 
(Pumphrey) Stafford. They were among the early 
settlers in Miami Count3-, Ohio, going there from 



West Virginia. The Kables came from Pennsyl- 
vania. The mother's death took place at her 
home, August 14, 1846, when only twenty-six 
years of age; the father still survives and had three 
children by his first marriage, Mrs. Kable being the 
youngest of the family. She was born in Miami 
County, Ohio, October 18, 1845. 

On the marri.age of our subject he lived on a 
farm given him b}' his father fourteen \'ears. 
Then he purchased the farm where lie now resides, 
and he is the owner of four farms. Mr. Kable has 
always been, engaged in farming, especially favor- 
ing tlie raising of slock. His farm comprises be- 
tween four and five hundred acres of land and his 
residence is a commodious and elegant dwelling. 
There are also other bnildings upon the farm in 
which he has invested a large sum of money. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kable are the parents of four 
children. They are George J., Mary E., Carrie 
J\L, and Eva M. The eldest daughter is the wife 
of William Wallace, and resides in North Otter, 
Carrie M. was united in marriage to William K. 
Alderson, and resides in North Otter. George J. 
was united in marriage to Minnie A. Ransom, of 
Pueblo, Colo., and resides at North Otter. 

Mr. Kable has held some of the minor ollices in 
the townshi|), but although he is public-spirited 
and generous, he thinks that his own business 
should receive attention before that of any oilier. 

"jll AMES KABLE, a well-known resident of 
section 4, North Otter Township, w.as born 
in Berks Cunnty, Pa., January 3, 1805, and 
is a son of Daniel Kable and Mary Rice, 
both natives of that State. They removed from 
the Keystone State to the Old Doniion in 1815 and 
there lived through the remainder of tbeir lives. 
Our subject was but ten years old when his parents 
removed to Jefferson County, Va., where he took 
the remainder of his education and grew up to a 
sturdy and self-respecting manhood. In 1829 he 
decided to move West and made his home in 
Greene County, Ohio. 

In this new home our subject was united in mar- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



875 



riage on May 14, 1837, with Miss Susan Garvt-r, 

daugbter of Aljraham and F^lizabelli Garver na- 
tives of Pennsylvania and Maryland respectively. 
This lady was born in Maryland and when fjuile 
j'oung removed with her parents to Virginia, and 
when she was about fifteen ^-ears old tlicy removed 
to Clarke County, Ohio, which continued the fam- 
il}' home until after her marriage. 

Thejoung married couple established themselves 
in Greene County. Ohio, and afterward removed to 
Miami County where tho3- lived until 1864, when 
they came to Macoupin County and settled upon 
a farm in North Otter Township, where thoy have 
since resided. The}' are the parents of seven liv- 
ing children, namely: Hannah, Benjamin F.. 
Eliza, Abraliam G., Henry C, Laura and Charles 
W. and they have twice had the grief which par- 
ents know when tlic}' have to lay in the grave their 
beloved children. The names of the two who have 
passed over the dark river are John and Isa.ac. 

Mr. Kable has throughout life engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits and with his good wife he is now 
living at an ad iranced age, both being members of 
the German Baptist Church. This venerable 
couple are spending their last days in quiet retire- 
ment surrounded by their children, and all the cit- 
izens of the towiishi]! unite in wishing for them a 
culm and peaceful peiiod as a closing epoch of their 
worth}' lives. 




ROF. B. F. PEADRO. This scholarly 
gentleman and ex-Superinlendenl of 
Schools in Macoupin County, closed his 
second term in that office in December. 
1890. He has been a teacher in the county since 
1871. having come hither in 1865. He received his 
education in this county and in the State Univer- 
sity at Ciiampaign, graduating with the Class of 
'81. He is a thorough student and iias been one 
of the leading educators of Macoupin County since 
the year of bis graduation, and in 1882 was efected 
County Sui)erintendent of Public Instruction. He 
has also been notable as a lecturer as he has a course 
of six illustrated lectures on European topics. 



which have won for bim favorable mention by the 
pre«s and an excellent reputation on the platform. 

This gentleman was born in Campbell Count}-, 
Ky., and is a son of B. G. Peadro and a grandson 
of John Peadro, both Virginians, of French ex- 
traction. The great-grandfather of our subject was 
a soldier and served througii the Revolulionary 
War under Gen. Washington. B. G. Peadro grew 
u[) in Virginia and there became an architect and 
mei'chant. but upon removing to Kentucky changed 
his occupation and became a farmer and merchant. 
After removing into the Blue Grass State he was 
married to Miss Katie Stilhvell, a Kentucky girl, 
belonging to an old and well known family of luat 
section, her father, Joseph Still well, having been a 
pioneer there. 

After marriage the parents of our subject made 
their iiome for a number'of years in Kentucky and 
later came to Illinois, whence they removed to 
Missouri, but they were not contented there und 
leturned to Kentucky and afterward came again to 
the Prairie Slate, where the father died after reach- 
ing the .age of three-score years. His faithful 
com[)anion is yet living on the old homestead and 
is now sixty five years old. These faithful parents 
were devoted niembers of the Baptist Church, and 
tlie father in Ir's political views was a tliorough 
Democrat. A thorough and liberal education was 
provided for our subject by his parents as we have 
already related. Prof. Peadro's lectures are highly 
appreciated by his audiences, as ho handles his sub- 
jects skillfully and describes his beautiful views in 
that easy conversational style which is always 
pleasing to listeners. 

iEORGE W. BOWERSOX. the genial Sup- 
ervisor of Grant Township, was born near 
Fletcher in Miami County. Ohio. March 26, 
1S51. His father. Jacob Bowersox. was born in 
Unionlown, Pa., October 15, 1803, and his father, 
Benjamin Bowersox. was a native of the same 
county. Our subject's great-grandfather was born 
in Germany and came to America and settleil in 
Pt-nnsylvania. A blacksmith by trade, our sub- 




876 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ject's grandfather removerl from Pennsylvania to 
Ohio in 1818 and settled in Miami County. With 
his family of six oliiidren he started out to Ohio 
by embariving on a flalboat and tiiey floated down 
the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. On arriving 
at their destination our subject's grandfather pur- 
ciiased a tract of timber land near the present site 
of Fletcher, at a time when there were but few 
white people, the Indians being tiieir most frequent 
callers. To guard .ngainst the hostilities of the red 
men, the settlers resided near block houses, to 
which they fled in time of danger. The old gentle- 
man turned his attention to trade while his sons 
cleared the farm and reduced the place to a good 
state of order. There tiie father remained until 
his death. 

Our subject's father had acquired considerable 
experience while still a young man in heavier farm 
work, having assisted in clearing the land of the 
homestead. He remained on the farm until grown 
and then commenced liTc for himself. He went to 
the Indian reservation and was there engaged as 
an Indian trader for a time, then returned to 
Miami County and in 1829 was married to Miss 
Sarah Scudder. She was a daughter of Jonathan 
Scudder and was lioin September, 1807, in Greene 
County, Pa. After marriage our subject's father 
entered a tract of Government land near the old 
homestead. There w.as no railroad at the time and 
he became engaged in teaming on the ruad from 
Toledo to Dayton and intervening points. In that 
way he earned money enough to enter a tract of 
Government land near the old home and then 
turned his attention to the improvement of the 
land he had purchased. 

Mr. Bowersox's father's house was eight miles 
from Piqua on the turnpike from Columbus to the 
last named place and his house was for some years 
a stage station. In 18b3 he sold this and removed 
to Maconpin Countj', where he secured a farm and 
remained until liis death, which occurred October 
17, 1876. The mother of our subject still survives 
at the age of eighty-three years. She has nine 
children still living. They are David, Rebecca, 
Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah, Margaret. Benjamin, Jacob 
and George AV. As will be seen, our subject is 
the youngest of these children. The major portion 



of his education was received in the public schools 
of Miami Township. He later attended school in 
Macoupin County and was graduated in 187:i. The 
following year he commenced teaching and in that 
way accumulated money enough to continue his 
education and entered the Indian Normal School 
at Valparaiso, from which he graduated with the 
Class of '79. 

During the time Mr. Bowersox was teaching he 
commenced the study of law and in 1881 was ad- 
mitted to the bar and in 1883 opened an office in 
Girard, wiiere he has practiced ever since. A 
Democrat in his political views, our subject has 
filled various offices. He served as Assessor of his 
township for two terms and also served as Super- 
visor. In 1883 he was appointed County Super- 
intendent of Schools and elected to that position in 
1884. In 1888 he was elected a member of tlie 
County Board of Supervisors representing Girard 
and in 1890, was again elected to the same posi- 
tion. He is a member of the Girard Lodge, No. 
171 A. F. & A. M. and Girard Chapter, No. 132, 
R. A. M., also Hiawatha Lodge of the Knights of 
Pythias. 




«iATHAN CHAMBERLIN,of Virden, whoso 
success in life has been such as to attract 
, the attention of all who know him, was 
iiorn in tlie town of Marcy, Oneida Count}', 
N. Y., July 30, 1825. His father, Hacbaliah Cham- 
berlin, was a native q)' New England and became 
a pioneer in Oneida County, where he bought a 
trrtcl of timber land, and having built a log house, 
commenced to clear a farm. He resideit there 
uiilil his death and had in tiie meantime put it in 
tirst-class order and erccle<l good frame buildings. 
His wife, whose maiden name was Hannali Delano, 
was also a New Englander and survived her hus- 
band for seven years. Their five children are: 
Hannah, David, Ira, Franklin and Nathan, our 
subject being the youngest of the familj'. 

Having received his early training upon the 
farm and in the district schools, he left home at the 
age of eighteen and came to Illinois in June, 1843 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



877 



traveling by tliu Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to St 
Louis, and tlien following the Illinois River to the 
mouth of Apple Creek in Greene County'. He 
found employment among the farmers near Rood 
house at ^8 a month, and was soon enabled to rent 
land, upon whicli he resided in Greene County 
until 1846. During August of that )"ear ho re- 
turned to his Eastern home to secure a bride and 
in the spring of 1847 returned to Greene County 
and spent a short time, and then went back to 
Marcy, where he managed the old farm until Sep- 
tember. 1848. He then returned to Greene County, 
but in the fall of 1849 came to this county and en- 
tered three hundred and twenty acres on section 5, 
of what is now North Otter Townsliip. This was 
prairie land and he bought it on Mexican land 
warrants, so that it cost him only $226. He built 
a frame house at once and prepared ten acres for 
culture. 

In those dajs there was no railroad here and 
Alton was the nearest market, as there was no house 
where Virden now stands, the greater part of the 
surrounding country being still owned by the 
tiovernment and the resort of wild deer. Our 
subject resided on this land until 1881, and dur- 
ing that time bad improved the eastern part of it 
and sold the other half, and bought another one 
hundred and twenty acres, upon which he built his 
home. In 1881 he rented the farm and went to 
California, where he spent one 3'ear in Sonoma 
County, after which he returned to Virden, but in 
the fall of 1882 went again to California, but re- 
turned to Litchfield in the fall of 1884, where he 
eng.aged in the grocery business for a year and a 
lialf and then sold out and came to Virden in Xo- 
veraber, 1880. 

Here Mr. Chamborlin bought an interest in the 
hardware and furniture business and also handles 
agricultural implements, carriages and wagons. 
He married Loretta Twitchell, who was born in 
llie town of Waybridge, Addison County. Vt.. and 
a sister of S. L. Twitchell. of whom more will be 
seen elsewhere in this volume. To this e.vcellent 
couple have been born five children, namely: Leo- 
nora. Anna J., Ella, Minnie and Carrie. Anna is 
now the wife of T. J. Turner and has three chil- 
dren — Mary, George and Lena. Carrie mariied 



John T. Ryan and has two children — Alma Louth 
and Henrj' Nathan. Our subject was bereaved by 
the death of his wife on October 18, 1880. He is 
a Democrat in his political affiliations and served 
for seven years as School Director, two years as 
Assessor, and five years as Collector in North 
Otter Township. 

The subject of this sketch is well known, not 
only in his township, but also throughout this part 
of the county, for his sturd\' integrity, industry 
and enterprise, and for the good success which 
has attended his efforts. He enjoys the unfailing 
confidence of the community and the social es- 
teem of his neighbors. 



^ --^ 



— ^ 



>ERDINAND WINTER, farmer .and slieep- 
^-1 raiser is located on section 1, where he to< k 
jts ^ up his residence in 1864. His earl}- life 
was passed in Brunswick, Germany, which place 
records the date of his birth, this important event 
occurring February 28. 1816. There is much in 
the life of Mr. Winter to awaken the interest of 
the biographical reader, for though he has seen the 
tide of fortune turn against him at times, he has 
also gained many signal victories in a hand to hand 
struggle with the woild. His father, Frederick 
Winter, who died in German^', was a prominent 
sheep-raiser there. Ferdinand was decidedly a 
precocious boy developing unusual activity, vigor 
and strength of mind. Until fourteen years of age 
he assisted his father and grandfather in the care 
of sheep and was then engaged by others until he 
reached his majority', at which time, obedient to the 
laws of the Fatherland, he enrolled his name as a 
member of the German Army, serving five years, 
a steady, faithful soldier ever at the post of duty. 

Just after his release from armj' scrvice^our sub- 
ject married Miss Elizabeth Korson, a woman both 
energetic and ambitious and together they launched 
into that branch of business with which they were 
most familiar, investing their money, over $1,.500 
in the purchase and care of sheej), carr3ing this 
enterprise successfully forward. 

Inspired with the idea of seeing the New World 



878 



POR'l'RAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



they disposed of their interests and came to Amer- 
ica, landing in New Orleans on July 4, 1845. From 
here they proceeded to St. Louis where they lived 
seven years. During this time Mr. Winter vigor- 
ously prosecuted the business of butchering but 
success refusing to smile upon him he closed his 
market. Nothing daunted by this turn of afifairs, 
he commenced the buying and driving of stock to 
the St. Louis markets. His success and increased 
finances led him into a plan by which he thought 
to still further enhance his wealth and in an evil 
moment he placed his capital in an enterprise 
which left his resources in an impoverished con- 
dition. This loss fell heavily upon him but he went 
bravely to work at whatever he could find to do, 
being engaged principally on a steamer plying be- 
tween St. Louis and New Orleans. In 1849 his wife 
fell a victim to cholera and sank into the grave, 
leaving her husband and two children, Fred and 
Austema, to weep over her loss. One child born 
to these parents died in infancy. 

In 1851 Mr. Winter went to Sangamon County 
where he was employed by Charles S. Hoppin as 
shepherd. The most important event of the five 
years of his engagement with that gentleman, was 
his marriage in 1854, in St. Louis, to Sophia Burg- 
doff, who diei ten years later. The story of licr 
death is a sad one. Possessing an affectionate heart, 
she was sincerely attached to Fred V.'inter, her 
step-son. On the outbreak of the Rebellion, Fred 
entered the army, enlisting in the Third Illinois 
Cavalry and passed three \'ears in the service. At 
Memi)his, Tenn., he received a wound from which 
he never rallied but died in the hospital at thai 
place, in 1864. Mrs. Winters, in her anxiety for 
his welfare, betook herself to Memphis to care for 
the wounded boy. While there an attack of swamp 
fever resulted in her death which look place a few 
weeks after her return to her home in Carliuville 
Township. She was the mother of two children, 
one of whom died while an infant; the other, 
Ernest F., is a farmer in South Otter 'J'ownship 
and inherits his father's propensity- for sheep-rais- 
ing. 

Upon severing his connection witii Mr. H., our 
subject rented a tract of land, occupying it iintil 
1864, when he removed to Macoupin Count3' and 



purchased an extensive farm in Carlinville Town- 
ship. Being a prudent man of frugal h.abits and 
living always within his income, he gained the re- 
spect and confidence of some of the Springfield 
bankers and they gave him such financial aid as 
enabled him to go to Michigan and make large 
purchases of sheep; and the ample competence 
which he now enjoys, shows that their faitii in his 

! integrity and executive ability was not misplaced. 
He commands the returns from seven hundred and 
thirty acres of land and is known to have some of 
the very best blood in his large flock of over 
six hundred sheep among them being pure Mer- 
inos and other high grades. Ddring the years 
1863-64, his profits amounted to over *.3-2,000; 

I #28,000 of this he used in buying land in Macoupin 
County. 

Ml. Winter's third marriage occurred in St. 
Louis, January 11, 1866, when he was wedded to 
Caroline Lutger, a native of Germany, born Octo- 
ber 22, 1840. Two children have graced this 
union, one of whom lived but a short time; the 
other, Henry H., remains under the parental roof. 
Mr. Winter and his estimable wife are members of 
the German Lutheran Church. His first vote was 
cast for Zachary Taylor, at which time he warmly 
advocated the measures of the Democratic party 
but upon the nomination of Abraham Lincoln who 
had befriended and advised him while in Spring- 
field, and for whom he had a strong attachment, he 
connected himself with the Republican parly to the 
principles of which he is strongly devoted. 



UILLIAM QUADP], one of the enterprising 
business men of Staunton who has been 
\J^/ prominently' identified with the upbuilding 
of the city, now carries on a hotel in a fine business 
block which he recently erected. He was born in 
Westphalen, Prussia, on June 23, 1833, and is the 
fourth in order of birth in a family of eleven 
children, numbering five sons and six daughters, 
whose parents were Henry and Sophia (Bocherman) 
t^uade. The father, also a native of Prussia, was a 
shoemaker by trade and followed that business 



PORTRAIT AND HIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



879 



tliroughout Iiis entire life. He died at the age of 
fifty-five years, and iiis wife, who survived iiim 
many years, departed this lif(^ in the seventy -fifth 
year of her age. They were consistent members 
of tiie Lutheran Ciiuroh. 

Only three of the family ever came to America. 
Mrs. Anna Steinman was the first to cross the At- 
lantic, coming in 1853, and she and her husband 
now live on a farm in Madison County, III. Ernest 
sailed across the Atlantic in 1867 and he is engag- 
ed in agricultural pursuits in Madison County. 
Next came our subject, who bade adieu to his nat- 
ive land in September, 1867, boarding a steamer in 
Bremen and landing at New York. Hence he 
made his way to St. Louis and a year later came 
to Staunton. 

On the voyage Mr. (^uade was accompanied by 
his wife. Her maiden name was Mar\' Vogelsang, 
and their union was celebrated in (>ermany. The 
lady was born and reared near the cliildhood home 
of her husband and came of Prussian parents who 
lived and died in We'Stphaleo. Unto Mr. i,)uade 
and his estimable wife have been born six eliildren, 
four of wlioin are yet living — Otto E. R. H., who 
aids his father in the management of his business; 
William G. H., who is at home; Hannah, the wife 
of Rudolph Dreibholz, who is employed as bar- 
tender in Mr. Quade's hotel and is a genial, jovial 
man; and Caroline who is still under the parental 
root. Mary and Carrie died in childhood. 

Mr. and Mrs. Quade are members of the P^van- 
gelical Church and in |)olitics he is a Republican. 
lie is numbered among the public-spirited citizens 
of the community and is found in the front rank 
of every enterprise calculated to upbuild Staunton. 
For a number of years he carried on a saloon in 
tliat place, and in 1890, he erected one of the finest 
l)locks in that city, which is known as the Quade 
Block. It is au elegant structure built of brick 
and stone with one hundred feet frontage and a 
depth of sixty-five feet. It is two stories in height 
with a basement and is occupied as an hotel and 
bar-roora managed by Mr. Quade, the dry-goods 
house of H. A. Jones, and the banking establish- 
ment of E. Freidman & Co. Mr. Quade carries on 
a good hotel, furnished with all modern improve- 
ments and conveniences, and supplied with every- 



thing neeessar3' for the comfort of his guests. He 
is a genial host who has won favor with the travel- 
ing public and has made many warm friends among 
those with whom he has come in contact. Full of 
push and energ}- he has made everything he pos- 
sesses and the competence which he has acquired is 
sufficient for his declining years. 



E.^ 



1 




ILLIAM H. CROMWELL, an intelligent 
and well-educated gentleman who takes a 
W^ true interest in all public affairs, resides 
upon his farm at Hone}' Point Township. Ho was 
born a few miles east of Dayton, Ohio, November 
11, 1836. His father Richard Cromwell was a 
native of Hagerstown, Md., and was of English 
descent, and his father was a farmer who worked 
his land b}' the help of slave labor, and died near 
Hagerstown. The father of our subject was quite 
young when he was orphaned by his father's death 
and he continued to live in Mainland with his 
mother until the family removed to Ohio, where 
the mother bought land in Greene County, near 
Xenia, and resided there until her death, complet- 
ing nearly a century of honorable and virtuous 
life. 

In 1842 the parents of our subject came to Illi- 
nois moving with a team and then by the way of 
steamer on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and 
made their first stopping place in Alton. They 
soon rented a farm in Hil3-ard Township, and later 
bought a tract of land here. Their first home was 
in a log house but afterward they^ put up a good 
farm residence and made their home there for a 
number of years, after which they lived for awhile 
at Bunker Hill. He was a hard worker and had 
e.\cellcnt judgment and thus gained a good prop- 
erty, having at one time four farms at Hilyard 
Township, besides his home in liunker Hill where 
he died June 5, 1889. 

The maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Caroline Eichelberger and she was a native of 
Hagerstown, Md., and now resides in Bunker Hill. 
Her nine children are our subject, Susan, Margaret, 
Comfort, Cynthia, Catherine, Mary, Joseph and 



880 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORD. 



William. Our subject was iu liis sixth year when 
he came to this county and in those diys the country 
was very new, as there was no railroad and the near- 
est market was at Alton twenty miles away. Me 
received his education on the farm and in the dis- 
trict school and as soon as old enough to assist 
in the farm work he became an efficient helper an 
this way. 

Upon attaining his majority ^U. Cromwell 
leased a tract of land in Ililyard Township, and 
farmed it for nine years and during that time pur- 
chased one hundred and twenty acres of fine timber 
land in Honey Point Township. In the year 1865 
he settled on this place and has aiUled to it until he 
now has two hundred and eighty acres all under 
cultivation. He was married on the 3rd of May, 
1868, to Mary C. Hiitton, who was born in North- 
ern Illinois and is a daughter of Danitl and Mary 
Hutton who were natives of Maryland. 

Our subject is a member of Charter Oak Lodge 
No. 536, F. A: A. M. of Litchfield and in his political 
views is a stanch Democrat having cast his first 
Presidential vote for James Buchanan. He served 
for two years as County Coroner and has been the 
Supervisor of Honey Point Township, besides serv- 
ing as delegate in many county, district and sena- 
torial conventions. 



•^-.-^&^ 



y^ ASPP:R .1. ,) ACOBY, a successful dealer in all 
[l(^l kinds of furniture and undertaking goods, 

■^^^ as well as in pianos and organs, sewing- 
machines and wall paper, established himself in 
business in October, 1883, in what is known as 
the Johnson Block, on tiie west side of Washington 
Street in Bunker Hill, and has proven himself a 
practical and successful dealer. He had come to 
this place from Brighton, where he had received 
his early education and training and where he be- 
gan life as a teacher, and later as a commercial 
traveler f"r a St. Louis house, which business he 
gave up before coming to Bunker Hill. 

Our subject was born on tne Mississippi River, 
between New Orleans and St. Louis, while his par- 
ents were emigrating from their native home and his 



birth occurred on Christmas Day. 1855. He is the 
son of Henrj' Jacob}', of Nassau. Germany, and 
comes of pure German stock. The father was ap- 
prenticed to the trade of a mason and in due time 
married Catherina Peiter also a native of Nassau, 
Germany. After the birth of five children, one of 
whom was called aw.ay by death, Henry Jacoby set 
out with his family for the United States, taking 
passage on a sailer from Bremen and spending 
seven weeks upon the water, coming to port in New 
Orleans. They there took a boat on the Missis- 
sippi River, with Alton as their destination, and on 
this trip, as we have said, our subject was born. 

Tiie family did not tarry long in Alton, but dur- 
ing the same year came to Macoupin County set- 
tling near Brighton. At that time Henry Jacoby 
was $6 poorer than nothing and h.ad a wife and 
five young children to provide for. He worked hard 
and saved his money and soon had a little estate of 
ten acres, to which he added from time to time 
until he owned one lundred and twenty acres, 
where he lived many years and made great im- 
provements. Death came to him December 9. 1 885, 
when he w.as sixty-six years old. He was a thor- 
ough Republican in his political views and in the 
old country' was a Lutheran in religion, but after 
coming here united with his wife with the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church. His faithful companion, 
who is still living and is now sixty -seven years old, 
resides at the old homestead at Brighton. 

Our subject is one of eleven children of his par- 
ents, nine of whom are living and eiglit of them are 
heads of families. He was married to Miss Anna 
D. Lippoldt, in Bunker Hill. She was born in Jer- 
sey Count}', this State, April 15, 1858, and was 
quite young when her parents, J. G. and Henrietta 
(Lippoldt) Lippoldt, came to Brighton, in this 
county. There they lived for some time and then 
removed to Hilyard Township, where they now re- 
side on a farm and are now sixty-four and sixty 
years of age respectively. They came to this coun- 
try from Saxony, Germany, where they were born 
and reared. 

Mrs. Jacoby received from her parents both 
careful training and a thorough education, and she 
was well fitted to take up life's work. She is now 
the mother of four children: Oscar K. L., Clare H. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



881 



E., Eltie E. and Edwin. Mr. and Mrs. J.acoby are 
members of the German Methodist Episeoiial 
Church, in which he is a Steward and has heen Sun- 
d.ay-scliool Superintendent for eight years. He lias 
two brothers. Revs. P. \V. and H. C. Jacoliy, who 
are in the ministry of tliis church in Missouri and 
the former is an eider in the St. Louis Circuit. 
Our subject is a member of the Blue Lodne, No. 
151. of the Masonic order at Bunker Hill, and is 
filling the office of City Treasurer, being a man 
of public spirit and an earnest and zealous member 
of the Republican party. 



/^\ HARLES W. SMrrH, one of the leading 
(l\ ^ grocers oi Gillespie and a wide-awake and 

^^^ enterprising young business man, establish- 
ed business in this line in the autumn of 1882, as a 
member of the firm of Ahrens <fe Smith. This 
partnership continued for a year, when Mr. Ahrens 
sold out, our subject becoming sole proprietor and 
under his able man.agement the business h.as thrived. 
He carries a full and complete line of staple and 
fancy groceries, glass, queensware and provisions 
and has a good trade, thereby securing an excel- 
lent income. He has been a close observer, thus 
having learned the wants and wishes of the public. 
Earnestly desiring to please his customers he sup- 
plies thoin with a fine line of goods, in manner is 
genial and pleasant and all of his business dealings 
are characterized by fairness. 

Mr. .Smith has spent his entire life in this coun- 
ty, his birth having occurred in Gillespie Town- 
ship, October 13, 1855. He is the eldest child of 
Wej'e G. Schmidt, whose sketch ap|)ears elsewhere 
in this volume. Upon his father's farm the days of 
his boyhood and youth were passed, he aiding in the 
cultivation of the land during the summer months, 
while in the winter season he attended the district 
sctiools of the neighborhood, where his education 
was acquired. As a helpmate on life's journey he 
chose Miss Minnie Mohlmann, who was born in Ger- 
many, in May, 1861, and when a child came with 
her parents to this country, the family settling in 



Macoupin County, III., where the death of her 
mother occurred. Mr. Mohlmann subsequently re- 
moved to Piatt Couul.y, Neb., where he is now en- 
gaged in fanning. 

By the marriage of Mr. niid Mrs. Smith, three 
children have been born but only Annie is now 
living. Christina and William both died of scar- 
let fever in 18'JO. The parents are members of 
the Lutheran Church, to the support of which they 
contribute liberally of their means and they arc 
numbered among the leading citizens of Gillespie, 
where they have a pleasant home, the abode of 
hospitalit}-, and are surrounded by a wide circle of 
friends and acquaintances who esteem them highly. 
In politics, Mr. Smith is a Democrat, having sup- 
ported that party since he attained his majority. 
He manifests a commendable interest in all that per- 
tains to the upbuilding and welfare of the com- 
inunity, identifies himself with its best enterprises 
and well deserves to be mentioned among the hon- 
ored pioneers and best citizens of his native coun- 
ty- 



AMUEL COJMER. A fine farm on section 
22, Bird Township, is the place that Sam- 
(j ael Comer calls home. It is a property of 
which he ma3f well be proud to be the 
owner, as it consists of a large and fertile tract on 
which good buildings of various kinds have been 
erected. The comfort of the occupants and the 
proper housing of stock and crops have been con- 
sidered in the erection of the house, barn, grana- 
ries and sheds, and in eveiy part of the estate order 
reigns and good judgment is shown. The estate 
consists of tliree hundred and sixty-five acres and 
is the source of a good income. 

The father of our subject was Aaron B. Comer, 
who was born in Virginia, and his mother was 
Lavina (Bell) Comer, a native of Tennessee. That 
worthy couiile came to this county from the Tur- 
pentine State in 1844 and settled in Bird Town- 
ship, this county. Here the V7ife died November 
23, 1873, leaving ten children, of whom our sub- 
ject was the second, three of whom are now liv- 
ing. The father is now living in Carlinville. He 




882 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORI). 



of wlioin wc wiito was born in Knox County, 
Tenn.. May 0, 1836, and was therefore about eight 
years olil wi)en lie came liither. He has since been 
a resident of Bird Township and he has long been 
thoroughly identifiod with its interests and prog- 
ress. Immediately after his marriage, which took 
place at the early age of nineteen years, he seltlcd 
on section 22, where he has remained, building up 
his finances and making his home the center from 
which good influences radiate. 

The date of the marriage of Mr. Comer was 
January 28, 1855, and his bride, Caroline Sells, 
daughter of Michael and Saraii (Brown) Sells. She 
was born in Johnson County, lud., July 9, 1837, 
and is the eldest in a family consisting of live sons 
and four daughters. She is a fltting companion 
for her husband, being well informed on general 
topics, a good housekeeper, and having a character 
worthy of esteem. The children of Mr. and Mrs. 
Comer are seven in numbei', but only four are liv- 
ing; these are Edmund, who married Anna 
Deeds; Mary E., wife of William Woods; Annetta 
F., wife of II. T. Benson; and Robert L. Clarinda 
and Lulu died in infancy. 

Mr. Comer is Postmaster of the mail station 
bearing his own name. He has been Highway 
Commissioner and lias done much to keep the way 
open for the traveling public, by working for good 
roads and convenient bridges. In politics he is a 
Republican. He and his wife belong to Charity 
Baptist Chui'L-h and he is a Deacon in the society. 



->*--»r 



^^^^^^^^^^^y^^^^- 



'^jOUy G. WEIDNER. One of the large 
I landowners and extensive farmers, stock- 
] raisers and dairymen of Hilyard Township, 
/ is he wlio resides on section 35, and whose 
name is at the head of this sketch. He here 
owns a large proijorly, which is highly improved 
and bears fine farm buildings. At one time he 
was the owner of about five hundred ncres of land, 
a part of which he has since given to his children. 
Mr. Weiduer came upon his farm in the spring of 
1872, and since that time has placed upon it its 
most valuable improvements. He came to this 



place from Jersey County, where he lived twenty- 
one years. His place there comprised two hundred 
acres of fine land, upon wiiicii he placed valuable 
improvements, and which is now owned by his 
son. 

On enteritig Jersey County, our subject began 
life as a farm laborer, sijending two years in that 
way. He had but 16 when he went there in 1852, 
and since that time by prudence and economy has 
accumulated the comfortable fortune vvhich he 
has. He has been successful to a wonderful de- 
gree. Mr. Wcidner was born in Saxe- Weimar, 
Germany, in 1827, on the 20th of February. He 
is a son of John G. Wcidner, Sr., a native of the 
same province, who there lived and died at the 
age of seventy-three years. He was a farmer and 
was fairly successful. 

Our subject's mother w.as a German lady, whose 
maiden name was Miss Rosena Jacob. She also 
was born and reared in Saxe- Weimar, and there 
died in the same week in which her husband's 
decease took place, her you, igest son also passing 
away at the same lime. She was then seventy 
years of age, the old people having lived together 
for fifty-three years, their marriage taking plate 
during the rebellion th\t extended from 1812 to 
1815; he was thus released from going into serv- 
ice. The senior Mr. Wcidner and wife were mem- 
bers of the Lutheran Church. They were both 
representatives of long-lived races. 

The orginal of our sketch was the youngest but 
one of a family of eight children. He has one 
brother now living in Germany, and one sister in 
this country, who is living in Brighton, this county. 
John G. Weiduer grew up a farmer boy, and when 
about of age enlisted in the rebellion between Den- 
mark and Schleswig-Holstcin. He afterward de- 
cided to come to the United States. August 10, 
1852, he left home and took uassage on a sailing 
vessel at Bremen, and after a voyage of thirty- 
seven days landed at New York City, coming soon 
after by way of the canal and lakes to the Illinois 
River, thence down to Alton, and later to Jersey 
County, this State. He had practically no 
monetary resources, but was willing to work. 

Soon after our subject's settlement in this coun- 
try he was married to his sweetheart, who had 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RKCORU. 



8 S3 



come to tliis countiv with lier hrotlicr six niontlis 
before our subject. Tlie^' were deterred from 
marrying in 'heir own country- because of their 
circumstances. Tlie lady's name was Ciistnioody 
Leippoldt. Slie was born in Saxe-AVeimar. Ger- 
many, Decemlier 25, 1830, and after being there 
reared and educated came with iier brother to tliis 
country in tiie spring of 1852. and liere lier pa- 
rents joined tliem later. Her father, Gustoph Leip 
poldt, died at the age (jf fifty-eight years. The 
mother survived him two years. 

Our subject and liis wife are tlie parents of 
twelve ciiildren, five of whom are now deceased, 
all of wliom died young. The living are Charles 
F.. Frank E., Emma, William, i\Iar3', Louisa and 
Lewis. 



c 



HARLES C. CAMPBELL, who for years 
has been one of the prominent business men 
of Bunlier Hill, is now living a retired life 
in the enjoyment of a well-earned comiietetice, In 
his beautiful home, surrounded by all of the com 
forts of life, he will probably spend the remainder 
of his days in the midst of friends who esteem him 
highly for his sterling worth. No man in this 
community is more worthy of a representation in 
this volume than the gentleman whose name heads 
this sketch. 

Mr. Campbell was born in Upper Alton, HI., 
March 11, 1835, and is of Scotch (iescent. His 
paternal great grandfather, Andrew Campbell, be- 
longed to the clan of Campbell, which w.as tliiven 
out of Scotland at the time of the religious troubles 
in that country. He and a brother emigrated to 
America prior to the Revolutionary War and es- 
pousing the cause of the Colonics, he served in the 
American army for eight years, three months and 
thirteen days. He died in 1833 at the advanced 
age of eighth-six. having been born in 1747. John 
R. Campbell, the grandfather of our subject, spent 
his entire life in New Jersey, dying in Trenton, 
when in the prime of life. He was a manufacturer 
of stoneware and was connected with some of the 
leading potteries of that city. His son, John A., 
father of Charles was also a native of New Jersey 



and followed the tr.adcof a potter. He married Eliza 
T. Cook, who was boiii in New Jersey of American 
parents who were of Fre.ich extraction, and immedi- 
ately thereafter the young couple started westward. 

They traveled \>y way of the canals, and the 
Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and landed in Alton 
in 1834. It was Mr. Campbell's intention to go to 
St. Louis and engage in the i)Ottery business but 
friends in Alton persuaded hin) to locate in that 
vicinity, as Alton was then the larger city of the 
two. He here abandoned his trade and embarked 
in farming, transforming from the wild and un- 
broken prairie an excellent farm which he made his 
homo lor a half century. .Such was the unsettled 
condition of the country at the time of his arrival, 
that wolves were still seen roaming over the prai- 
ries and the deer frequently appeared in such large 
numbers that the}' would destroy a corn crop. Mr. 
Campbell lived to see the wonderful growth and 
progress, witnessed the establishment and upbuild- 
ing of Bunker Hill and saw St. Louis transformed 
from a village into one of the leading cities of the 
West. He was born June 14, 1812 and died 
March 15, 1885, respected by all who knew him. 
lie was a local Methodist minister and his upright 
life proved oftentimes as potent as his preaching. 
In politics, he was a stanch Democrat, taking a 
leading part in |iolitical affairs. A man of strong 
convictions, he fearlessly expressed his views and 
his outspoken and u|)right manner won him the 
confidence of all. His wife survived him three 
j'cars and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. 
John Younger in Bunker Hill Township, October 
19, 1887. at the age of seventy-three years. .She 
was also a consistent Methodist and a most estima- 
ble lady whose many graces and excellencies of 
character won for her many friends. 

The family of this worthy couple numbered nine 
children, six of whom grew to mature years. Our 
subject was carefully and tenderly reared and early 
manifested a love of learning, and by extensive 
re.-iding has informed himself on all subjects of 
general interest. In his youth, he gained a thor- 
ough knowledge of the machinist's trade, having 
mastered the business at the .age of nineteen years, 
but since he has attained his majority, he has fol- 
lowed other pursuits. He began clerking in a 



881 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



mercantile store in 1855 and two years later, form- 
ing a partnership with W. II. Clark, one of the pio- 
neers of the city, he embarked iu business as a 
dealer in dry gooils and railline.-y under the firm 
name of Clark \- Carapbcli, which connection was 
continued until July, 1862, when our subject be- 
came sole proprietor, continuing alone until 1865, 
wl)cn W. H. Meldrura was ailcnitted to the busi- 
ness. After eight months, the style was again 
changed to C. C. Campbell ife Co. and the store was 
run under that name until 1867 when it became 
known as Davis, Johnston & Co., iMr. Campbell be- 
ing the silent partner. He continued his connection 
with the business until 1870, when he retired, and 
the firm was merged into that of Johnston & Burt- 
on. The store is now the property of David Joha- 
ston and is the oldest and hasalwa^'s been the lead- 
ing establishment of the kind in Bunker Hill. Mr. 
Cam|)bell possesss the qualities of a successful 
merchant, being pleasant and genial in manner, 
thrifty and enterprising and straightforward and 
honest in all his dealings. On quitting the store 
he engaged in the real-estate business for some 
years but is now practically living a retired life. 
He has been very successful in all his undertakings, 
having done business to the amount of '^100,000 
annually. About 1866, with a numlier of tlie lead- 
ing citizens of Bunker Hill, a public library scheme 
was put on foot as the result of a suggestion on the 
part of Mr. Campbell. For the jniri)ose of organ- 
izing a meeting was called and he was made its 
secretary. As the result Bunker Hill has now an 
excellent public library and of the association he 
has served as trustee and treasurer during almost 
its entire existence. 

On the 22nd of October, 1862, in the city where 
he makes his home, Mr. Cami)bell and Miss Henri- 
etta Williams were united in the holy bonds of 
matrimonj-. The lady was born in Covington, 
Ind., February II. 1843, and is a daughter of 
Abraham and Catherine (Luke) Williams, who 
were born, reared and married in Kentuck}-, and 
afterward removed to Indiana, from whence they 
came with their family to Illinois in 1850, locating 
in Alton, where the father died the following 3'ear. 
Mrs. Willliams afterward came to Bunker Hill, 
where she died October 12, 1870, at the age of 



seventy years, in the faith of the Methodist Church 
of which she had long been a member. Mrs. Camp- 
bell received liberal educational advantages, having 
p\irsued her studies in the academy of Lower Alton 
and the Bunker Hill Academy, and is an intelligent, 
refined and cultured lad^' who moves in the best 
circles of society and is held in high esteem. She 
remained at home until her marriage, which has 
been graced by three children — Roena Catherine, 
a graiUiate of Almira College, and wife of R. E. 
Dorsey, an attorney of Staunton; Charles Edward, 
a student of Sburtleff College and now connected 
with the Colorado Packing Co. of Denver, Col.: 
and Henrietta Maude who is a graduate of the Con- 
servatory and literar}- course of Shurtleff in Upper 
Alton. Mr. Campbell, his wife and children are 
members of the Baptist Church, in which he holds 
the position of Deacon and in the Sunday-school 
he has served as Superintendent for thirteen years. 
His life has been a busy and useful one, yet he 
has found time to devote to public interests, 
having serveil as Township Treasurer for some 
years and as city Councilman for two terms, lie 
has taken an active jjart in local political affairs 
and is a stanch advocate of Republican principles. 
His business associates speak of Mr. Campbell as 
an upright and progressive man but we learn of a 
different phase of his character from the poor and 
needy who number him among their best friends 
and his associates in the church know him to be a 
consistent Christian gentleman. 




BRAHAM G. KABLE. The owner of 
'ILM the pleasant farm located on section 15, 
li North Otter Township, is he whose name 
is at the head of this sketch. He is the 
son of James and Susan (Garver) Kalile, of whom 
a history' may be found under the sketch of James 
Kable, in another part of this Record. Our subject 
was the second son and fourth child born to his 
parents and his advent into the world was made 
December 16, 1844, in Ohio. He there grow to 
manhood, receiving the educational advantages to 
be acquired in the district schools of the vicinity 



rORTilAlT AND lUOGRAi'UlCAL RECORD. 



88;-) 



and in Mmix-Ii 1864. came to Macoupin County 
with iiis parents. 

(Jur subject continund to make his liouie under 
tiie paiental roof, helping his father wiiii tlie de- 
velopment of the new farm until lie was married, 
going back to the Buckeye State to get his bride. 
Their nuptials were solemnized in Tioy, Ohio, Feb- 
ruary 8, 1866, the lady beiiiii; Miss Mattie C. Staf- 
ford, a daughter of George P. and Elizabeth (Pum 
phrey ) Stafford. They were early settlers in Miami 
County, Ohio, going there from Pennsylvania and 
there the decease of the mother took place, August 
14, 1846, when only twenty-six years of age; the 
fathei still survives. That union was blest by the 
advent of three childien of whom Mis. Kahle is 
the youngest. She was born in Miami County, 
Ohio, October 18, 1845. 

Immediate!}' after the marriage of the young 
people they proceeded to this .State and settled in 
North Otter Tcwnship where they have ever since 
been residents. Our subject has always been en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits, his place being de- 
voted to general farming, although pa3'ing a good 
deal of attention to stock-raising. He is the owner 
of a fine farm comprising between four hundred 
and five hundred acies. His residence is commo- 
dious and comfortable. His barns are weatherproof 
and his granaries and outbuildings capacious. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kable are the parents of four 
children whose names are George J., Mary E., 
Carrie M. and Eva JN[. Mary E. is now the wife of 
William Wallace; Carrie M. married William Aide- 
son. Mr. Kable has been the incumbent of various 
minor offices in the township. He and his wife and 
their family are members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church. 



_ .^3.^ ^. 

(I/-^ENRY BAKER is one of the leading and 
l) most successful English-American farmers 

and stock raisers of Brighton Township. 

where he owns a very beautiful farm of 
one hundred and sixty acres, all of which is highly 
improved, and where he has a beautiful residence 
that is conspicuous for its completeness of finish 




and detail. There are also fine barns and outbuild- 
ings, which have been erected by himself, for this 
has been his home since 1860. He has besides 
some good land in Bunker Hill Township. Mr. 
Baker's advent to this county was made in 1856. 
He lived for one year in Chesterfield Township 
and three years in Woodburn. and then came into 
Brighton Township and pmchased the place where 
he now resides. Ho came from England to this 
country in 18.55. 

Mr. Baker was born in Somersetshire, England, 
at South Pelthering, M.ay 27, 1839. He comes of 
a good English family of pure stock. His father 
was Joseph Baker, a native of Somersetshire, and 
our subject's gran<l parents were natives of the 
same shire, being farmers, and there spending all 
their lives. His grandfather died when a very old 
man, upwards of four-score years. Our subject's 
grandmother was in her maiden days Miss Mary 
Pitlman, a daughter of William Pittman, an Eng- 
lish farmer, who lived and died in his native 
shire. He was a carpenter by trade, and having 
been four times married outlived all his wives. 

Mrs. Baker, mother of our subject, survived 
her husband. .Joseph Baker, and died a veiy old 
lady. Our subject is the 3'oungcst of the family 
born to his parents and one of three to emigrate 
to this country. His brother John is now in Texas 
and a sister, who is Mrs. Job Keirl, lives in Bunker 
Hill Township. The orginal of our sketch grew 
up in his native shire, and there received a good 
English education, after which he learned the 
baker's trade and worked at it until he came to 
this country, being eighteen years of age when he 
made the momentous decision to leave his home. 
He left Liverpool on a steamer, and landing at 
New York City, came thence to Illinois and im- 
mediately proceeded to Chesterfield Township, Ma- 
coupin County. 

In 1875 Mr. Baker returned to his old home in 
England and there enjoyed a delightful visit of 
six months' duration with the friends and relatives 
of his childhood. His marriage took place in Ma- 
coupin County and his bride was Mrs. Emma 
Lockyer, nee Barnstable. She was born in Somer- 
setshire, England, about 1826. Her i)arents lived 
and died in their native land, where our subject's 



886 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



wife was fir.sl. iii.iriied to Riclianl Lockgar, after 
which tlicy at once came to the United States anri 
loeattd in Woodliurn, this county, and there was 
liorn one child, a danifhter, who is now Mrs. Will- 
iam Heal, of whom a fuller sketch may be found 
in her hioijraphi' in another p()rtion of this Ri;c- 
oiti). Mr. Lockyer died in the prime of life, and 
some time after the death of her first husband she 
was united to our subject, and she was to him 
until death a dutiful and loving wife. Her de- 
cease occurred at their home in this tov.nship Jan- 
uary 27, 1835. She was well and favorably known 
here, and those who knew her the best were as- 
sured of her !iobility of character. Mr. and Mrs. 
lidcer were the parents of one son, William J. 

William J. Baker took to wife Miss Minnie 
Wayman, of this county. Tiiey now live in Ches- 
terfield Township, and are there orominent agri- 
culturists. Mr. Baker is a prominent member of 
the Congregational Church of Woodburn, this 
Slate, as was his wife during her lifetime. Our 
subject has been one of the Trustees for many 
years. A Roi)ublican in politics, the original of 
our sketch is not in any sense an olHce-seeker. 



^-*-^- 



c^^HEO. L. SPANG EN HP:RG. This gentleman 
((^^ is entitled to be called an old resident of 
^^^ Bunker Hill, as he took up his abode here in 
1859. For some years he was engaged in mercan- 
tile pursuits, but in 18(;6 he established an office 
for the Milwaukee Mechanics Insurance Company, 
which he still represents. After some years as a 
local agent he took the State agency and for fifteen 
years past his work has extended over the State 
and into Indiana and JNIissouri.. He acts as adjus- 
ter of claims for the conipan3-, and his continuance 
in their service is proof of his faithfulness, and his 
wisdom in regulating matters that come within his 
province. 

- Mr. Spangenberg traces his descent from highly 
respectable German families. His father, Col. An- 
ton Spangcnberger, a native of Hesse-Cassel, was 
in the employ of the German goverment, hav- 
ing control of the building of houses and making 



plans for the same in a large territory. His posi- 
tion was an important one. and he had a large corps 
of subordinates. He lived to an advanced age. 
dying in his native land when eighty five years old. 
He was a finely educated man, having received his 
instruction in the noted town of Jena. His father 
in turn was a prominent minister of the German 
Reformed C'hurch, and the name of the Rev. Mr. 
Spangenberg is recalled by the dwellers of Hesse- 
Cassel as that of one who did much for the people 
with whom he labored. Anton Spangenberg mar- 
ried Wilhelmina Heuser, a native of the same 
Duchy as himself and one who possessed the estim- 
able traits of ancestors of good blood. She died 
some ten years before her husband, when sixtv- 
scven years old. She was a life-long member of 
the Reformed Church. ^ 

The parental family consisted of five sons and 
daughter.**, and but two died before reaching matu- 
rity. Six arc still living, all in their native land, 
except our subject. Another son, Charles, came to 
the I'nited States, but died in Milwaukee, Wis., 
after his marriage. Another brother, George, a 
promising ^oung man, had just received a Gov- 
ernment appointment as architect when he was 
killed by falling from a sugar refinery he had in 
process of erection. His death at the early age of 
twenty -three ycirs, was the most severe blow that 
ever befell the parents. The father, while actively 
engaged in the Prussian army, participated in the 
Inst French War, from 181-2 to 1817, and fought 
against Napoleon's forces on several hotly contested 
fields. 

The subject of this notice w.ns born in Kschwege, 
Hesse-Cassel. German}'. July 1, 1833, and was care- 
fully reared and higlily educated. He took an 
advanced course of study in the University of 
Hanover at Goettingen, and after his graduation 
set out for America. He took passage at Bremer- 
Haven in March, 1852, and after a voyage of some 
two months on a sailing vessel, landed in New 
York City. He went directly to Ohio where he 
visited an old friend of his father's, who was an 
ex-minister from Hesse. Thence he came West to 
Milwaukee, Wis., and after some years made his 
home in this county. He has traveled quite exten- 
sively, especially over this State, and is very obser- 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



887 



ving of manners and customs wherever be goes. 
He is an excellent business man, a good citizen and 
one whose life is upiiglil and character excellent. 

In the town of fShelbyville, 111., the marriage of 
Mr. Spangenberg and Mi^s Theresa Ilhardt was 
solemnized. The bride was born in Prussia, Sep- 
tember 30. 1839, and was about seventeen years 
old when she came to America. Her parents were 
Ernest and Fredericka (Meisier) Illiardl. the lat- 
ter of whom died in the Fatherland, llie fatlier, 
after his emigration, made his home in Milwaukee, 
"AVis., and spent his last years in retirement there. 
In his early days be had been a man of prominence 
where he lived, and he a.w\ his wife were honored 
mem()ers of the Reformed Church. He was eight^-- 
six years old when called hence. His daughter, 
Mrs. Spangenberg was the recipient of good privi- 
leges and careful heme training, and is a bright, 
intelligent lady, refined and agreeable,and possess- 
ing all the housev/ifely ability of the race from 
which she sprang. She has two children — William 
E., now book-keeper for the Milwaukee Mechanics 
and German Insurance Companies, in Chicago, and 
Lulu M., an accomplished young lady, who bright- 
ens her parents' home. Both were educated in 
Bunker Hill, and the son completed the academic 
course. 

The firjt Presidential vote cast by Mr. Spangen- 
berg was for Gen. Fremont, and he has generally 
thrown his i'jfluence with the Republican p:u-ty. 
He is an Odd Fellow, belonging lo C barter Oak 
liOdge. No. 258, or Bunker Hill. 




jHiANK MERRILL. Among the energetic 



young citizens of Brighton prominent 
mention belongs lo this gentleman, who is 
well known as a member of the firm of Chapin & 
Men ill, editors and proprietors of the Brighton 
Neivs of Brighton. 111. Mr. Chapin, the senior 
member, resides in St. Louis and is district organ- 
izer of the fraternity of Financial Co-operation. 
Mr. Merrill as local manager and editor, is largelj' 
responsible for the success of the paper, and since 
his first connection with it, in 1891, he has made 



some valuable improvements and infused new ideas 
in it. The Brighton News is a five-column folio 
and having a good circulation, justly ranks among 
the most pi'ominenl loc!>l papers of the cinuity. 

Mr. Merrill is a i)raclical newspaper man and a 
printer, and while jet a minor has evinced the 
possession of considerable executive ability and 
goo<l ju<lgment. Pi ior to coming lo this place to 
enter upon his |)resenl enterprise be was employed 
on The Laffist, a Chicago paper published in the 
interests of the piinters' trade. Young and ener- 
getic, a close observer, quick in formulating plans 
and promj)! in executing them, he has a bright fu- 
ture awaiting him in the field of journalism. His 
political belief coincides with the principles pro- 
mulgated by the Democratic party, but his paper is 
independent. 




f/_j^ ENRY ARKEBAl'ER, a successful and 
|j thrifty German of the village of I^It. 
Olive and doing business as a dealer in 
yy wines and liquors, is located on the corner 
of Main and Oak Streets, at which place he buib, 
up his house and started in business in 1878 and 
has since remained at this stand. He is a thorough- 
going business man and has made of his calling 
a respectable one of the kind. Our subject has 
spent most of his life in this town and vicinity. 
He was born in Alton, III., March 1, 1852. 

Mr. Arkebauer's i)arents were born in Hanover, 
Germany. Mr. Arkebauer, Sr., was born of Ger- 
man parents, who lived and died in the Kingdom 
of Hanover and when he was a young man just of 
age he set out for the United States, crossing the 
ocean in a sailing ve.';sel, and in 184G landed in 
New Orleans. Thence he went ui) the Mississippi 
River to St. Louis and from that [)oint to Alton, 
where he was married to Miss Anna G. Gusthouse, 
who was a native of the same province as was her 
husband. She was the only mendier of her family 
who ventured to the United States, coming here 
in the '40s when quite young. 

After their marriage our subject's parents moved 
to Jersey ville, where the mother died in 1852, be- 



888 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ing then still quite young, only twenty-two years 
of age. She left two children — he of whom we 
write and a brother J. H., who died in 1851 while 
still a child. The husband was a second time mar- 
ried, his choice being Miss Anna C. Shaupff, a 
German Isdy who resided in Jerseyville. There 
she died about a year later, in 1854, while yet a 
young woman. .She left one child who is now iNIrs. 
Mary Schutt of Ramsey. 111. Mr. Arkebauer, Sr., 
died in 1858 at Jerseyville, being then only thirty- 
tw() or three years of age. 

The original of our sketch when six years of age 
having lost his mother and step-mother was brought 
to Mt. Olive Township, this county, and reared 
by kinsmen until he was fourteen years of age, 
when he set out on his own account and since that 
time has made his own livelihood. He was mar- 
ried in Montgomery County to Miss Minnie Milier, 
who was born in Madison County, but was reared 
for the most part in Montgomery County, where 
her parents now live and are engaged as farmers, 
being now aged respectively sixty-eight and lifty- 
four years. They were formerly members of the 
Lutheran Church but are now communicants of 
the Baptist faith. Our subject and his wife attend 
the Lutheran Church and are prominent young 
people who stand well in society at this place. Rlr. 
Arkebauer is an active member of the Republican 
party. Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
two children — George B. and Annie G. 

^fc ASHACK CROUCH. The calling of a 
/// l\\ fft'"UiPi"'i'*s been considered honorable from 
I I* the earliest da^s, .nnd it w!i.-s perhaps a mit- 
^ igation of the punishment by which our 

first patents were ejected from the garden that the 
tilling of the soil and the making of the land pro- 
ductive should be theirs, for surely there is no 
way of coming nearer to the great Creator than 
in watching the devebtpment of the small as well 
as the great things in Nature. A blade of wheat 
unfolding under the summer sun is a promise of 
the goodness and greatness of the Father. It is 
indeed a divine trust and he who dischara:e? the 



trust faithfully and well is as great as he who gov- 
erns nations. Our subject is one of the favored 
class, being the owner of four hundred and eighty 
acres of fine farm land on sections 23, 26 and 27, 
South Otter Township, which tract he has devel- 
oped until it is in a high state of cultivation. 

Our subject is a native of East Tennessee where 
he was born November 5, 1833. There he re- 
mained until he had attained to years of manhood. 
In 1850 he felt that a change of location would be 
beneficial in a pecuniary way, and came to Macou- 
pin County, where he has ever since resided with 
the exception of foui- years passed in Faye'te and 
Macon Counties. As a lad our subject was reared 
on a farm and brought up with more perfect 
knowledge of this pursuit than of any other. Nat- 
urally bright and intelligent he was quick to see 
what Nature made advantage of, and therein lies 
the secret of his success. 

Since coming to this State Mr. Crouch lias 
bougiil and sold several different tracts of lan*^. 
These he has successively improved and disposed 
of, and his present fine farm which is the site of a 
good residence and outbuildings in the best of con- 
ditions, is one of the most desirable in the town- 
ship. Before coming to this State Mr. Crouch was 
united in marriage with Malinda Rice, by whom he 
had one child, a son, named James H. who married 
Miss ISLartha Moore. Mr. Crouch's wife, Malinda, 
(Jied in Macoupin Count}', and he has a second 
time united to a lady whose name was Lucretia J. 
Hart. By her he had five sons and four daugh- 
ters. Their names are respectively: William N., 
Rebecca, Mary, John M., Albert M., Millard, 
Sarah M., Minda, Mashack. The eldest son was 
early married to a lady whose maiden name was 
Alice New. Rebecca became the wife of William 
Conley; Mary is the wife of Edward Clarady ; .John 
and Albert M. married respectively; Jane Lacock, 
and Jane Layer. Millard took to vvife Lena Wiz- 
zard; Sarah M., is the wife of A. Bnlier; Minda 
was united in marriage to Henry Campbell. 

Mrs. Lucretia J. Crouch passed awa}- from this 
life in South Otter Township, January 13, 1875. 
Mr. Crouch again contracted himself in marriage 
this time to AVinnie Clarady who died in South 
Otter Township, after but a short time of marital 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



889 



experience. The gentleman's present wife was 
Mrs. Margaret (Sliipp) Jeter, formerly wife of 
George Jeter, by whom she was the mother of two 
children, Noah, who died when six and one half 
years old and Ella. 

Mr. Crouch is an adherent of tlic Democratic 
party, favoring its platform of free trade as he con- 
siders that most favorable to the agricultural fra- 
teinity. I'nder his party he lia-i filled offices of Higii 
way Commissioner and School Director very satis- 
factorily to his constituents. Socially, he is a mem- 
ber of thr Farmers' Mutual lienefit Association. 
Mrs. Crouch is a member in good standing of the 
Christian Church. 

The father of our subject was William Crouch 
who was born in North Carolina and was married 
in Tennessee, his wife's maiden name being Ke- 
becca Tipton. She was the mother of our subject. 
Both parents passed away in Tennessee. They h.ad 
twelve children of whom our subject was one of 
the junior members of the family. Our subject's 
paternal grandfather was Solomon Crouch, who 
also died in East Tennessee. The home of tiie 
gentleman of whom we write is characterized by 
the geniality and hospitality that are always un- 
derstood to be inherent traits of Southern charac- 
ter. He is popular with his townsmen and is a 
useful and an interested member in the community. 






.1-^-9:^ ■ 



f AMES W. GIBSON. There is probably no 
family in ^'irden Township more thoroughly 
in s\-mpalhy with the most progressive 
/ movements of the daj', both social, religious 
and educational than that whicii is rcpresciitcd by 
the name which appears at the head of this sketch. 
Eor the early hislor}' of the family the reader is 
referred to the biogra|)hy of C. C. (xihson, of 
Girard Township whicli is to be found on another 
page of this Recokd. 

Our subject, who is the eldest son of his father's 
family w.is born in Morgan County, III., January 
9, 1817, and was about eighteen years old when his 
parents removed to Macoupin County, lie re- 



mained under the parental roof until the date of 
his marri.age and has conlinued to make his home 
in this county. Agriculture has ever been his life 
work and upon his father's farm when he was a boy 
he received that careful drill which has given to 
■ him tlie success which is now his. He received 
such educational advantages as his parents could 
give him and made such abundant use of them as 
to fit him for an intelligent manhood and a life of 
usefulness. 

The happy marriage day of James Gibson and 
Mary M. Wright, was F'ebruary 27, 1868 and this 
union was solemnized in \'irden Township at the 
home of the bride's parents, Preston and Susan 
(Dawson) Wright. The father of Preston Wright 
was Allen Wright, who was born November 26, 
1789, i)robably in Hart County, Ky., and died De- 
cember 17, 1855, in the same county. He took an 
active part in religious work and was an earnest and 
consecrated member of the Methodist Church. His 
wife, who bore the name of Hannah Peebles and 
was also a native of Kentucky, was born July 30, 
1793, and died in Hart County, Ky., September 
12, 1854, having been the mother of a large family. 
.She was a woman earnestly devoted to her relig- 
ious work and a consistent member of the Metho- 
dist Church. 

The father of Susan Dawson (the mother of ftlrs. 
Gibson) was Thomas T. Dawson, a native of Bed- 
ford County, \a,., where he was born February 19, 
17',)2. He was the son of a native of Normandy, 
France, who died in Virginia. Thomas Dawson 
was a man of wealth and his last days ended in 
Hart County, Ky., December 8, 1879. The mother 
of Susan Davvson bore the maiden name of Nanc}' 
Fitzhugh, and her natal day was August 4, 1794. 
She passed from earth in Hart Count}', Ky., June 
25, 1883. Mrs. Gibson is thus honorably connected 
with a number of the most liiglily respected and in- 
telligent families of Kentucky in the early days and 
it is not too much say that in her own life and con- 
duct she abundantly fulllils the record which might 
be expected of one who is so descended. Her par- 
rents were married in Kentucky and removed from 
that State to this in the fall of 1849, making iheir 
home in Virden Township, where the mother died. 
The father long survived but finally passetl away 



890 



POR'I'KAIT ANb BlOGKAPHiCAL RECORD. 



June 29, 1888. He was a prominent man in every 
circle anti for many years acted as School Director 
most efficiently and ad vantageoiisl}'. 

The German Baptist Brethren Church is the re- 
ligious body with which liiis couple have been 
long united and for a number of years Mrs. Gibson 
lias i)een largely connected withciiurch work in the 
direction of the development and religious training 
of the little folks. Her truly maternal heart has 
found in this work what she lov(S best and the 
sphere of activity in which she can do the most 
good and ii is indeed a blessing to the communit)' 
tiiat one so wise and juilicious should be bending 
her energies to the best method of developing the 
religious life of the children of the ciiureh that 
they may grow into systematic and beautiful Chris- 
tian lives. 

This family occupies the old homestead of the 
late Preston Wright, comprising some one hundred 
acres of finely improved land. Upon it is a beau- 
tiful residence that is delightfully surrounded and 
within the walk may lie found a harmonious homo 
and the abode of true hospitality'. This public- 
spirited man has ever taken a great interest in all 
matters of public note. 

In this connection we give more fully the ances- 
tral history of Mrs. Gibson. John Wright, her 
great grandfather, was born in 1760 ami died in 
1839, at the age of seventj'-ninc. His wife, Phebe. 
was born in 1754, and passed from earth in 18:!6 at 
the age of seventy-two. Their family comprised 
eight children — Vincent. Allen, Carter, John, Nic^-, 
Elizabeth, Sarah and Anice. The second son, 
Allen, was born November 26, 1789, and died De- 
cember 17, 1855. He married a lady whose maiden 
name was Hannah Peebles, and who emigrated 
from South Carolina to Hart County, Ky. She was 
born July 30, 1793, and closed her eyes on the 
scenes of earth September 12.1854. Eleven chil- 
camelo bless their home, viz: John, born October 
24, 1811 ; Elizabeth, July 15, 1813; Sallie, August 
9, 1815; Carter, June 9, 1817: Lewis, December 
14, 1819; Preston, June 8, 1822; Blatehley, Au- 
gust 31, 1824; Phebe, March 2, 1827; AVilli.am, Dc- 
cemljcr 29, 1829; Robert, February 2C, 1832. and 
David, April 29, 1835. 

Mrs. Gibson's great-grandfathers Wright and 



Lee, served in the Revolutionary War, and the 
former with his son owned mills and operated as a 
farmer. Great-grandfather Peebles and his wife 
reared a family of children whose nair.es were: 
Abrara, Jessie, Bird, John, Mary, Hannah and 
Betsy. Preston Wright, the fourth son of Allen 
and Hannah Wright, was born in Hart County, 
Ky., June 8,1822, and died January 31, 1888, 
aged sixt3'-five years, seven months and twenty -two 
days. A man of honest principles, he was liberal 
to the poor and kind to all His wife, Susan, was 
born in Hart County, Ky., May 3, 1822, near Mun- 
fordsville, in a two-story brick residence along the 
pike road leading from Louisville to Munfords- 
ville. She was a noble woman, with fine brain 
power, somewhat poetical, generous, kind-hearted, 
devoted to her husband and children, religious, 
temperate in all things, and naturally was highly 
esteemed by all who knew her. Her death occurred 
October 3, 18tj5, and was ver}' sudilen, with but a 
few moments warning to husband and children. 

Going back four generations in the Dawson fam- 
ily we find it originated in Normandy, a province 
of Fr;ince; Mrs. Gibson's gruatgreat-grandfather, 
Dawson was with William the Conqueror when he 
subdue<l England, and held high oflice in his army, 
for which hi.i skill and bravery especially fitted him. 
He possessed commanding talents, and was a Prot- 
estant. At an early day he settled in Bedford 
County, Va., and laid the first plank floor in Win- 
chester, Va, His occuiiation was that of a gun- 
smith, carpenter and warrior. Great grandfather 
Dawson was born in Bedford Countj', Va., and was 
a soldier in the Revolutionary War under Gen. 
Green. He was a Methodist in religion and lived 
to a good old age. He possessed a superb phy- 
sique, being over six feet tall and a well propor- 
tioned man. Late In life he removed to Kentucky. 
His wife bore the maiden name of Nancy Dollard, 
was of Scotch- Welsh descent and also attained to 
great age. Her temperament was poetic and lier 
intellectual abilities of a superior order. Their 
eight children were named — John, Susan, Thomas, 
Nanc}', Elizabeth, Malin(ia, Ransom and Boicy 
Ann. All were Methodists. 

Thomas Dawson, the grandfather of Mary M. 
(iibson, was a native of Beilford County*, Va., and 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



891 



was born in 1794. He accompanied liis father to 
Kentucky and married Nancy Fitzliugb. To tbem 
ten children were liorn : Elizabelh, born in 1812; 
Robert, 1814;Nancy, I81G; Mary, 1818; Jeremiah, 
1820; Susan, (Mrs. Gibson's mother) 1822; Mar- 
tha, 1824; Pt'tor. a physician, 1826; Malinda, 1828; 
Tliomas, 1830. Tlie mother of lliese chihlrcn was 
born in Hart County, Kj-., and her father, Peter 
Fitzliugb, served in the Revolutionary War under 
Gen. Green. Peter Fitzliugh's family comprised 
the following children: John, Gabriel, George, 
Robert, Saul, Patsey, Mary and Nancy. The Fitz- 
hugh family was Enghsh by descent, a noble race, 
lieroic and honorable, and several members were 
officers in the Mexican War and also served in the 
late rebellion. 

The ceremony which united the destinies of Pres- 
ton Wright and Susan Dawson was performed De- 
cember 14, 1841, and thirteen children were born 
unto them: Nancy Jane, born October 26, 1842; 
David Allen, January 2, 1844; Sarah Frances, No- 
vember 16, 1846; Carter E.. May 31, 1848; Mary 
Margaret. April 10, 1850; an infant unnamed, 
July 6, 1851; Malinda Darinda, July 26, 1852; 
Phebe C, April 5, 1854; Thomas Benton, April 16, 
1856; Almira Reed, June, 1858; a child unnamed, 
November 20, 1859; Arabelle, November 16, 1860; 
Carrie A., February 10, 1865. The parents re- 
moved from Hart County, Ky., to Macoupin 
County, 111., in the fall of 1849, accompanied by 
their four children. The fourth child, Carter C, 
died the day thej' arrived with friends and rela- 
tives at Chesterfield. After visiting there a short 
time they came twenty or tliirty miles northwest 
and settled upon the fine prairie land. Preston 
Wright and his brother purchased farms of one 
hundred and sixty acres each at $3 per acre and 
built log houses within a quarter of a mile of each 
other. 

At that time deer, wild turkeys and poisonous 
reptiles were in abundance, and I'reston AVright 
broke man}- acres of the prairie land in and around 
where Virden now stands. The nearest market was 
Alton; hogs brought from two to three cents per 
pound, and wheat from seventy five to eighty-five 
cents per bushel. The parents endured all the 
hardships incidents to frontier life and the present 



generation is now enjoying the rich blessings of 
the labor of their hands. Five children survive — 
Nancy Jane. Sarah Frances, Mary M., Malinda D., 
and Thomas B. The four daughters are farmers' 
wives. Thomas B. is a Methodist minister, and 
prior to beginning his ministry was a school teacher 
leceiving the highest salaries for country schools, 
$80 and $85 per month. He is a good exhorter, 
a splendid singer and a wise counselor among his 
flock. P'roin generation to generation the mem- 
bers of the Wright family have been good singers 
and zealous working Christians of honest princi- 
ples. 

The lad}' who became the wife of our subject 
was born April 10, 1850, and was united in mar- 
riage with James W. Gibson February 27, 1868.. 
This being 1891 is the twenty -third year of their 
wedded life and during the past ten years they 
have resided at the home of Mrs. Gibson's child- 
hood days, which is as lovely a spot as the eyes of 
our human nature may behold. Seven children 
have been born to bless this happy union, viz: 
Carrie B., born January 5, 1869; Laura E., April 
1, 1872; William E., November 27, 1873; Preston 
C, September 25, 1875; David C, September 20, 
1878; Lemuel E., December 7, 1880, and Eva 
Lena, September 29, 1884. Laura E. died at the 
age of ten m.onths. Carrie, the eldest child, com- 
menced teaching school at the age of nineteen and 
is now, at twenty-two, holding a first-grade certifi- 
cate with the honor of getting the highest grade of 
any one in the county. 

Mrs. Gibson has made it the object of her life lo 
work for Christ and Him crucified, striving to 
honor Him in word or deed. It was always her 
longing that Christ would give her a life-work for 
His sake, and this He did when she was thirty-six 
years old. In working in the Childrens' Mission 
in behalf of the German Baptist faith, in writing 
for the press, addressing the children, collecting 
pennies for the spread of the Gospel in its primi- 
tive purity and simplicity, her time is fully occu- 
pied and she may feel she is doing something in 
His name and for His glory. It is her prayer that 
the good work may go on and be kept sacred after 
all that is mortal of her shall be laid away in the 
silent earth. It has been her delight anil her hus- 



892 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



band's also to take into their home orphan children 
and rear them in the nurture and admonition of 
the Lord, together with their own children, all of 
whom accepted the cross of Christ in their joiilh- 
ful days. 



\f^ EV. A. ZURBONSEN is the spiritual direc- 

l^f tor placed over the St. Michael's Catholic 

!h\^ Church of Staunton, Macoupin County, 

^^ and has held the pastorate since .January 
12, 1888. The church has a following of about 
one hundred heads of families and is strong in every 
way, the parish being well looked after by its able 
young pastor. Both church and parsonage are first- 
class structures, perfect in ail their appointments, 
the former containing some fine works of art, whose 
subjects are of course taken from the Scriptures. 
The buildings were erected in 1867, under the di- 
rection of Father O'Hellenran, who founded the 
church and laid the corner stone, but the edifice 
was completed by his successor and has been in 
good running order ever since, altliough our sub- 
ject is the first resident priest stationed in the place, 
and the beautiful parsonage has been erected under 
his direction, as has also the parocliial school known 
as St. Michael's School. Tliis last named institu- 
tion has an enrolled membership of one liundred 
pupils in dail^' attendance. 

Father Zurbronsen, since coming heie, has estab- 
lished a new parish at Mt. Olive known as the 
Church of the Assumption, which was dedicated 
January 1, 181)1, with a charter membership of 
sixtj'-five families. The pastor has not spared him- 
self as a worker since coming here, having followed 
the precepts set b}' the Master. Although yet a 
young man our subject h.as entered his work with 
such a love and desire to accom|)lisb much that he 
has lived a long life as accounted by tlie amount 
lie has .accomplished. The property over which he 
has an ecclesiastic jurisdiction is now entire!}' free 
from debt and this is due to the eflforls of him of 
whom we write. 

Prior to coming here the original of our sketch 
was stationed at Grand Fork, Madison County, 



111., where he had charge of the St. Gertrude Church 
and also of the school of the same name and this 
was the first parish of which he took charge, hav- 
ing taken orders in 1885 under the late Arch- 
Bishop Heiss of Milwaukee after which he was at 
once assigned to the parish of Grand Fork, 111. 
Father Zurbronsen is a graduate in the classical 
course in the seminary at Metropolis, 111., finishing 
with the Class of '80. He later made a specialitj' 
of the study of philosophy at Montreal, Canada.and 
graduated in that branch in 1882. Later he entered 
the St. Francis .Seminary at Milwaukee and com- 
pleted his theological course in 1885, soon after 
taking orders and was licensed to preach the same 
year, as before stated. 

Our subject was reared and educated in this 
country, having come hither when a small child 
from Germany. The reverend gentleman is a 
skilled linguist, being master of French, German 
and English. He com.es of good parentage and has 
been well reared and carefully aducated. He is a 
broad-minded man to whom the dogmas of religion 
must appear broad before he can accept them. 
He is a genial, well-bred young man of more than 
ordinarj' ability as a church- worker. 




EY. Z. WATERS. Few citizens of Ma- 
coupin County were for a longer time or 
more closely connected with its growth, 
^0) both in a material and spiritual direction, 
than the gentleman whose name introduces this 
sketch and who was formerly a resident of Bird 
Township. He was born in Casey County, Ky., 
.lanuary 7, 1805, and there grew to a stalwart man- 
hood. When ready to establish a home of his own, 
he chose as his wife Miss Elizabeth Canaday, with 
whom he was united in marriage March 25, 1824. 
Mrs. Waters was born in Case}- Countj', Ky., May 
9, 1806 and passed her maidenhood amid the pio- 
neer surroundings of the Blue Grass State. 

In 1825 Mr. Waters, accompanied by his wife, 
emigrated to Morgan County. 111., where he re- 
sided until the fall of 1847. That date marked his 
arrival in this county and his settlement in Bird 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



893 



Towiiship, where he continned to live until called 
hence. Six children came to bless his home, four 
sons and two daughters. In July, 1828, he he- 
came connected with the Union Bajitist Church in 
Morgan Count}- and in May, 1840, he was or- 
dained to the ministry. In this work, which was 
very dear to him, he continued until a few months 
prior to his death. He was instrumental i)i the or- 
ganization of the Charity Baptist Church in Bird 
Township, as well as in the building of the house 
of worship located on section 14. Though passed 
from the earthl_y scenes long familiar to him, he 
has left behind him a memory which is revered by 
those who are enjoying the fruits of his labors. 



^ 



EP= 



t)OHN C. NIEMAN. Few residents of Ma- 



coupin Count>' have done more for its in- 
terests or been more closely connected with 
its growth than Mr. Nieman. As a general 
farmer and stock raiser he has been verj- successful 
and now in the evening of his days, has retired 
from the active labors which formerly occupied his 
time and is enjoying the accumulations of p.ast 
years. His history will justly live through com- 
ing years and his good work will be felt by future 
generations. His home lies within the limits of the 
thriving German town of Mt. Olive, where he is 
quietly passing his declining days surrounded by a 
host of genial friends. His has been a well-spent 
life and those who know him best love him most. 
With pride may he spe.ak of his efforts here and 
his success, wiiich is due entirely to his unaided 
exertions. 

Since coming to Maeoupin County Mr. Nieman 
has always resided in the village of Mt. Olive and 
has allied to make it one of the best towns in the 
county. He came here a poor man and endured 
hardship^ and vicissitudes common to old settlers, 
being one of the first settlers in this section and 
also the first German settler for miles around. At 
an early day he made his first wagon and in this, 
drawn b_y oxen, he journeyed to St. Louis with a 
few bushels of grain. The grain w.as made into 
meal of a coarse kind and then sifted throuah a 



poor sieve before it was made into coarse bread, 
the chief article of diet for the pionee'-s. Mr. 
Nieman is fond of telling how the neighbors la- 
bored together for their mutual good and how thej' 
would all meet in a log house to listen to the ex- 
hortations of the minister, who in his shirt sleeves 
with bare and sun-luuiil arms would proclaim to 
them the Gospel. 

A mere trail marked the roads across the prairie, 
which was inhabited by wild animals. Since Mr. 
Nieman came to Mt. Olive he has occupied the 
farm which he entered from the Government. He 
now owns large landed estates in this county and 
in Emmet County, Iowa, owning in the latter place 
nearly fourteen hundred acres. He built the first 
store in the village of Mt. Olive and was engaged 
in different enterprises there for many years. He 
belonged to the company that opened large coal 
mines in this place, now under the control of the 
Consolidated Coal Company of St. Louis. 

Mr. Nieman was born in Borgholzliausen, Ravens- 
burg Halle, Prussia, April 12, 1817. His father, 
Casper Nieman, was a German farmer of good 
standing, who lived and died in his native land. 
His mother was a good German lady, and with her 
husband a member of the Lutheran Church. Be- 
tween the ages of seven and fourteen our subject 
attended the public schools and afterward worked 
upon a farm. Tpon arriving at manhood he de- 
cided to come to America aiid accordingly took 
passage at Bremen and after a voyage of seven 
weeks landed in Baltimore May 13, 183fl. His 
capital consisted of $3.80, and after a few days in 
Baltimore he left on foot over the turnpike for 
Cumberland, Md. The canal along the Potomac 
was then being built and he worked for half a year 
upon it, receiving 11.25 per day. 

Later Mr. Nieman went to Hermann, Mo., to join 
some German people of his native Province, but 
not being satisfied with the country he returned to 
Louisville, Ky. After working on a farm near 
that |)lace for nearly two months without receiving 
any compensation he was taken seriously ill and 
remained so for five months. Without money or 
anyone in particular to care for him his situation 
was distressing, but he finally recovered and en- 
gaged to work upon the farm of William Edwards, 



894 



rORTKAIT AND BIOGRArHICAL RECORD. 



near Louisville. Witli lluit gentlera.an he came to 
Illinois in 1841, woridng for him on a farm near 
Carlinville for three years. In the meantime he 
saved 12.50 with which lie opened up a new farm 
in what is now Ml. Olive. From tliat small be- 
ginning he has attained to his present competency 
and furnishes an excellent exami)le to tliose just 
starting out in life of what may be accomplished 
by perseverance. 

Politically Mr. Nieman is a Republican and dur- 
ing the time of Llie Civil War gave material assist- 
ance to the suppression of the Rebellion. He is a 
[.illar in the Lutheran Church in Mt. Olive, which 
he has supported very generously ever since its 
organization. His first wife, Margaret Stulken, 
with whom he was united in marriage in 1847, was 
a native of Germany and died in September, 1854. 
His second marriage was to Miss Anna Stulken, a 
sister of his first wife, who was also born in Olden- 
burg, Germany, and there reared to womanhood. 
She is a true and devoted wife and mother, a kind 
friend, and enjoys the esteem of a large circle of 
acquaintances. The children born of the first mar- 
riage are: Mary C, wife of C. J. Keisei\ of whom 
sec biography on another page; Sophia, wife of 
William Nieme3'er, represented elsewhere in this 
volume; Henry, who died at the age of twenty-five 
in 1876, was a promising young man. Of the 
second union the following children have been 
born: Matilda, Lydia, Louisa, Edward, William 
and Anna. 



I^AVID W. RHOADS. The man who fur- 
I ]]] nishes good flour is supplying a need that is 
jlf!^ universal and is thus discharging one of the 
primal duties — that of aiding his fellow-men to 
promote physical well being. All must agree that 
there are none of the manufactures more important 
than that of converting grain into flour and that a 
good miller is entitled to the respect of his fellow- 
men. It is therefore plain to be seen that the gen- 
tleman above-named must fill a reputable place on 
the roll of residents of Palmyra, .is he has been en- 
gaged in milling there for sever.al years past and 



previously carried on a similar occupation else- 
where. 

Mr. Rhoads was born in DeKalb County, Mo., 
November 19, 1857. His grandfather, David 
Rhoads, was for some years a resident in Kentucky 
and removed from Ihat State to Illinois and was 
one of the first settlers in the vicinity of Medora, 
this couniy. After living there a few years he 
went to Missouri and bought a tract of land on 
which he made the customary improvements. After 
residing thereon some j'cars he returned to this 
State in 18(14 and settled upon a farm in Jersey 
County, four miles cast of Kane. There he spent 
the remnant of his dajs. 

His son, John V., father of our subject, was 
married in Jersey County and subsequently re- 
moved to DeKalb County, Mo., where he occupied 
a rented farm until 1864. He then returned to 
Jersey County, this State, and on a rented farm 
carried on agricultural woik until the following 
year, when he was called hence. His wife, Sarah 
M. Tatman, a native of McDonough County and 
dauglitei of Hiram Tatman, was left with three 
children. About 1868 she married John Costley, 
a resident of Greene County, and made that her 
home about two years. She and her husband then 
removed to Jersey County where Mr. Costley died, 
and she subsequently came to Palmyra, where she 
still makes her home. The children of her first 
naarriage are David W., Mordecai and Branic, and 
of her second marriage, Mary M.. .lolin W., J.acob 
E., Emma J. and Lucy B. 

The subject of this notice w.as in his eighth 
year when he came to Illinois with his itarcnts. 
Even in boyhood he assisted on the farm and when 
he left his mother's roof he worked at similar la- 
bors. He was nine years old when he went to live 
with Callow A. Farrow, a farmer of Jersey County, 
with whom he remained a jear, and he then spent 
two years with Charles Black of Shipman Town- 
ship, this count}'. From that time until 1874 he 
was engaged by the day and month for various 
parties and he then began working in a flourmill in 
Greene County. He continued his work there 
three years, becoming thoroughly conversant with 
the trade, and he then went to Medora and found 
employment in a mill owned by .J. J. lia^craft. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



895 



In 1881 he left that establishment and became a 
miller in Alscy, Scott County, where he operated a 
mill four j'ears. Returning to Medora, he rented 
a plant for a year, then in May, 1887, bought the 
Palmyra flourmill. A 3'ear later he sold a half 
interest to Frank Watson and the firm became D. 
W. Rhoads & Co. In 1890 Mr. Watson sold his 
interest to .John II. Hanshaw, but the tirm name 
remains the same as before. 

In 1882 in the month of August Mr. Rhoads was 
married to Miss Ella V. Haycraft, daughter of 
Tames J. and Matilda Haycraft of Jersey County. 
She was born in the village of Fidelity, received 
the usual advantages which are open to those of 
the present generation, and was also the recipient 
of careful home training and guidance. She is a 
member in good standing of the Baptist Church. 
Mr. and Mrs. Rhoads have one son, Wilber W., a 
bright, active little lad, whose increasing knowledge 
is a continual deliglit to his parents. Mr. Rhoads 
belongs to Palmyra Lodge, No. 463, F. A A. M., 
and Palmyra Camp, No. 149, M. W. A. In exer- 
cising the right of suffrage he joins with the Dem- 
ocratic party, believing that the prinei|iles they 
advocate are the soundest and most applicable to 
the National needs. 



<a I^ILLIAM H. CHAMBERLAIN. Within 
\\A/b ^'^*' bounds of Bunker Hill Township may 



yyf/ be found the homes of many successful 
farmers, but none more deserving of notice than 
Mr. Chamberlain. He is located on section 11, 
where he owns one hundred and sovent}' acres of 
highly improved and productive land. He has a 
full supply of farm buildings and « beautiful large 
residence of modern design. The residence takes 
the place of one which, with its contents was de- 
stroyed by fire in September, 1887, entailing a 
heav}' loss upon the owner. Mr. Chamberlain has 
his farm well stocked, chiefly with milch cows, 
from which he sends milk to the St. Louis markets. 
S. A. Chamberlain, father of our subject, was 
born in Massachusetts and was of English descent. 
After growing to manhood he carried on an inn for 



some years. In 1830, with his wife and two chil- 
dren, he removed to this State and made his first 
pause in Alton. Soon afterward he began to farm 
on a pre-emption claim in Godfrey Township, 
Madison County, and secured other land until he 
became the owner of a tract. He lived to see his 
home well improved and died in 1862 at the age 
of fifty-six years. He was a successful farmer and 
a good citizen. He was married in his native 
State to Betsey Nutter, whose parents were born in 
this country but whose remoter ancestors were 
English. She survived him and after his decease 
lived with her children, finally dying at the home 
of her son William H., August 16, 1872, when 
seventy-three years old. Husband and wife be- 
longed to the Unitarian Church and Mr. Chamber- 
lain was first a Whig and then a Republican in 
politics. 

The gentleman whose name inti'oduees these par- 
agraphs vvas born in Alton in 1835 and is the sec- 
ond member of the family who was born in this 
State. He has one brother, S. A. Chamberlain, 
now of Southern Missouri, living. His boy- 
hood and youth were passed in his native county 
and he was educated at Shurtleff College in Upper 
Alton. After his marriage he established his home 
in the same countv, whence he came hither in the 
fall of 1866. He has put the property in fine con- 
dition and year by year secures the reward of his 
industry. 

The wife of Mr. Chamberlain was known in her 
maidenhood as Miss Wilminia J. Dickerson. 
She was horn in Fredericks, Del., February 17, 
1812, and accompanied her parents. Deacon Nehe- 
miah and Aurelia (Hudson) Dickerson, to this 
State in 1844. They traveled with other families 
across the country, cam|)ing out where night over- 
took them, and after a journey of six weeks 
reached Alton. They secured improved land in 
Godfrej' Township, Madison County, and made a 
comfortable home, remaing there until early in the 
'70s, when they sold out and removed to Brighton, 
111. Mr. Dickerson is now seventy-nine and his 
wife seventy-seven years of age. The husband 
was formerly a Whig and is now a Republican. 
Both have been life.long members of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church. 



89G 



PORTRAIT AiNU BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



xMr. and Mrs. Cliaiubeilain have two children — 
lii-adley and Laura. The son was educated at Bun- 
ker Hill Academy and is a smart, enterprising 
young ra.\n. He is giving bis father valuable aid 
in carrying on the farm. Laura was also edu- 
cated in the Bunker Hill Academy and has made a 
S|)ecialty of music and is teaching both vocal and 
instrumental. >She still makes her home with her 
parents. 

Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain belong to the Metho- 
dist Episcoi>al Church in which he has been Trus- 
tee and Steward. Both are advocates of Prohibi- 
tion and the husband votes with that party. He 
is a heart3' supporter of and stockholder in the 
Bunker Hill Advocate the only frohibition paper 
published in the county. He would naturally be 
interested in matters pertaining to farm life and 
the progress of agriculturists, and he is a member 
of the Farmers' Mutual Benevolent Association. 



-^^ 



T^LISHA SMITH. The gentleman who resides 
^ on the fine farm located on section 25, 
La^ North Otter Township, is a sou of Moses 



Smith, who was born in Pennsylvania. His mother 
was Pamelia Aiken in her maiden days, and a na- 
tive of North Carolina. Our subject's parents 
came to Macoupin County from Tennessee in 1835, 
and settled in North Otter Township where they 
spent the remainder of their lives. They were the 
parents of seven children, there being four sons 
and three daughters, of whom our subject was 
third in the order of birth, his native jjlace being 
Murra}', Tenn., and his birthday March 29, 1817. 
Our subject came to Macoupin County with his 
father in 1835, and was married in North Otter 
Township, Julj' 20, 1837, to Miss Susan A. Eavs, a 
daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Clark) Eavs, 
the former a native of North Carolina and the lat- 
ter of Pennsylvania. They came from Kentucky 
to Madison County, HI., where the mother of the 
family died, and in 1834 the father came to Macou- 
pin County and settled in North Otter Township, 
which he made his home until his death, which oc- 
curred while on a visit to his brother in Madison 



County, this State. They had three sons and three 
daughters, and of these Mrs. Smith is the third 
child in order of birth, having been born in Madi- 
son County, this State, January 29, 1816. 

Elisha Smith and his wife settled on section 25, 
North Otter Township, where thej' have ever since 
been residents. Our subject has always followed the 
calling of agriculture. He has erected a good class 
of buildings upon his farm which comprises one 
hundred and thirt}--one acres. Of fifteen children 
born to our subject and his wife, four died in in- 
fancy, eleven living to be grown whose names are 
as follows: Elizabeth. Mar}', Laura, William B., 
George W., Fanny, Thomas M., Ella, Mattie M., 
AUie and Magnolia. The eldest daughter is the 
wife of Joel Horn; Mary married John A. WoUen; 
Laura died when twenty years of age; William B. 
was a soldier in the Rebellion, being a member of 
the One Hundred and Twenty-second Hlinois In- 
fantry. He died from disease contracted in the 
army at the age of about twenty years. George W. 
is a farmer in North Otter Township: Fanny is the 
wife of Joseph Coy ; Thomas is a farmer in North 
Otier Township; Ella married Jacob Botvcrsox; 
IMattie is the wife of Leander Ames; AUie married 
the late John W. Ross and died at the age of 
twenty-nine years. Magnolia is the wife of John 
Coots. 

Mr. Smith has always taken an aclive part in 
political affairs. He is a Republican in party 
preference. Both he and his wife have been mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a long 
term of 3ears. 

-l^^- 




NOCII HALL. The genealogy of our sub- 
jects family may be traced in the biograj)!!- 
cal sketch of Samuel Hall, our subject's 
father, which is given in another portion of this 
Record. He of whom we write is the second in 
order of birth of a family of nine children. He 
was born in Madison County, 111., July 12, 1818, 
and was an infant of only four months of age when 
his parents removed to Greene County, same State. 
There he grew to manhood on his father's farm, 
remaining under the parental roof until about 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



807 



twenty-one }-eni's of age, when he left home and 
engaged in farming for himself in (Ireene County, 
having purchased one hundred and twenty acres 
of land. 

Feeling' tiiat a helpmate and eom|)anion would be 
more than all else to him, our subject was married 
November 18, 1840, in Greene County, III., his 
bride being Miss Louisa Stone, who was a native 
of Tennessee, and whose natal day was .Inly 9, 
1818. The}' continued to live in Greene Count}' 
until the fall of 1857, when our subject with his 
family removed to Macoupin County, and settled 
on section 13, North Otter Township, wliere he has 
since been a resident. He there procured one hun- 
dred and sixty acres of land which he improved 
and upon which he erected comfortable and attract- 
ive buildings. 

Mrs. Louisa Hall was taken from her family by 
death November 29, 1879, and was laid away with 
great tenderness hi God's acre. Our subject has 
always engaged in farming and its attendant agri- 
cultural pursuits. He has held the office of Super- 
visor of North Otter Township for eight years, and 
has been Collector of the township for two years, 
and Township Assessor for one year. Onr subject 
formerly took an active part in all local affairs and 
is a member of the Democratic party. He united 
with the Missionary Baptist Church in (4reene 
County, in 1841, but seventeen years later severed 
his connection with that body and united with the 
Predestinarian Baptists in 1867 with which body he 
still worships. He is a man who has contributed 
liberally to the support of the (Gospel, especially 
during his early years of membersliip with the 
church. He has taken a gnat interest in school 
affairs and has iield various school offices. 

^ 1^; W. WILLIAMSON is the Secretary of 
\/\/// ^^^^ Staunton Milling Company, which was 
V^ organized April 29, 1889, at which time 
our subject was elected to the position he now 
holds. Mr. J. C. Panhorst is President. Mr. 
Ahrens Vice-president, and AVilliam II. Wall 
Tret,surer. The mill has a capacity of two hun- 



dred barrels per d.ay, and has fourteen pair of 
rolls for wheat and four pair for corn. The in- 
stitution is a very substantially Imilt place that is 
well equipped vvith all modern improvements in 
milling machinery. It w.as completed in December, 

1889, and began active oi)eration January 27, 

1890, since which time it has been running suc- 
cessfully and doing a large business, principally 
for local trade. The miller in charge is Mr. W. E. 
Simson, whose reputation is well-known in local 
mills in this part of tiie country. Our subject 
was formerl}' engaged in Staunton as a hardware 
merchant for some time and w.as also doing a busi- 
ness as coal merchant. 

The original of our sketch has been a resident 
of this cit}' and vicinity since 18G2, and was 
reared and educated on the borders of Staunton. 
He was born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1852, and is a 
son of Daniel Williamson, who was born in 
County Donegal, Ireland, and came of Scotch-Irish 
ancestry. He emigrated to the United States in 
1841, and settled in St. Louis, Mo., where he was 
engaged in business foi' some time, afterward com- 
ing to Staunton Township, Mafou[)in County, where 
be married his wife. 

Our subject's mother was before her marriage a 
Miss Matilda Patterson, a native of County Derry, 
Ireland, being a young lady when she came to the 
United .States and settled in Staunton, living there 
until her marriage. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Williamson lived in St. Louis, Mo., until 1862, 
when they cam.e to Macoupin County and settled 
on a farm, where thej' lived until the death of our 
subject's father, which occurred in 1875; he was 
then about fifty -eight years of age. His wife yet 
survives and makes her home in Staunton; she is 
now about sixty years of age and yet bright and 
active. She and her husband have been life- 
long members of the Reformed Presbyterian 
Church. 

Our subject is the eldest of his parents' children 
now living. On leaching manhood he soon after 
married in Sedalia, Mo.. Miss Esther Couslej', who 
was born in Alton, this State. She was reared and 
educated in Alton and there lived until about two 
yiars previous to her marriage, when her parents, 
James and Ella (McNeil) Cousley, removed to 



898 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Sedalia, where they now live. Mrs. Williamson, 
the wife of our subject, was well educated in the 
city of her birth, finishing at a well-known female 
seminary. She was afterward a teacher for some 
time. She is a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, and a most estimable and refined lady. 
Our subject is a member of the Reformed Presby- 
terian Church. Politically Mr. Williamson is a 
follower of the Republican party. Socially he 
is one of the leaders of life in Staunton. He 
has a bright prospect before him, and will 
doubtless realize his friends' expectation of him. 



^g^^m^^ 



■* p. RINKEL, M. D. The gentleman whose 
name is at the head of this sketch is of Dan- 
ish ancestry, the country of the people that 

_^ are better known to the majority through 
Shakespeare's decking of Holinsheds chronicles than 
even by the works of art with which the Capital 
City is now enriched by the sculptor Thorswalden. 
The original spelling of the name of our subject 
was Rinckel, but Sifter the American fashion, un- 
necessary letters were in time dropped. The orig- 
inal of our sketch is one of the leading ph^'sicians 
of Brighton, having come to this place in 1883 and 
since that time he has built up a large and lucrative 
practice in the city and a reputation of being a 
most skillful practioner. 

Prior to locating in Brighton Dr. Rinkel was in 
Buda, this State, for two years, having previously 
graduated with the Class of '83, taking his di- 
ploma at the St. Louis Medical College March 3, 
of that year. He left the institution with a fine 
record as a student. Prior to beginning the study 
of medicine he was a teacher in the public schools 
of St. Clair County and was a student at the Cen- 
tral Wesleyan College at Warrenton, Mo., from 
which he graduated when nineteen years of age, 
receiving his diploma for proficiency in the class- 
ical course. He graduated with the Class of '75, 
after which he was eng.aged in teaching until 1878, 
when he entered upon the study of medicine. 

Our subject had received the rudiments of his 
education in the public schools of the city of St. 
Louis and in St. Clair County, 111., in which he 



was a resident from 1865 to 1875, and while there 
was a student under Dr. Hugit, of Summerfield, a 
prominent local phj'sician and politician. He of 
whom we write was born near St. Louis, Sep- 
tember 26, 1855. His parents were of German 
birth, his father, Jacob Rinkel, being a native of 
Baden, Germany, and only thirteen years of age 
when with his parents he emigrated to the I'nited 
States, coming here in 1837 from Havre de Grace 
and landing after a voyage of several weeks in the 
port at New Orleans. The famil3' came from that 
point up the Mississippi River and found r home 
in St. Louis, and there the mother of Jacob Rinkel 
died of cholera during the epidemic in the latter 
part of the '40s, she being then in middle age. 
Her husband later came to Warsaw. 111., and there 
died when past seventy years of age. 

Our subject's parents were, while in the Father- 
land, members of the German Evangelical Church 
but after coming to '.his country' were communi- 
cants of the German Methodist Episcopal Church 
and died in that faith. On reaching manhood our 
subject's father met and married a lady wh(j was 
then residing in vSt. Louis, although of German 
birth. Her maiden name w.as Flora Grison; she 
was born in Bavaria, Germany, but came of French 
Huguenot stock. Her mother died in Bavaria aad 
after some years the father came to the L^nited 
States with his two sons in order to join his 
daughter. While on the sea the father sickened 
and died and was buried at sea. After Joseph 
Rinkel and wife were married they lived for a time 
in St. Louis and then moved to St. Clair County, 
111., but afterward returned to St. Louis and are 
now retired from active life. Mr. Rinkel had been 
a successful mechanic, his trade being that of a 
cooi)er, and for many years he was Superintendent 
of shops keeping this position until ten years ago, 
at which time he retired from business, and although 
he and his wife are becoming advanced in years 
they still preserve perfect strength of mind and 
body. In their church relations they have for 
many years been identified with the Methodist 
?]piscopal body, their membership extending over 
a period of fifty years, during which time the father 
has been one of the church officials. Politically he 
is a stanch Republican. 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RPXORD. 



899 



With a keen appreciation of the adyantages that 
au educated man possesses in America over one 
who is not so favored, our subject's father was 
above all ambitious tliat his sons sliouhl have every 
advantage. Of these three arc now living and all 
are higlil3' educated and cultured men. John M. 
is now Professor of German Literature in the Cen- 
tral Wesleyan College at Warrenton, Mo. ; he has 
a pleasing and helpful companion in his wife, who 
was formerly Miss Lottie Ney; Edward H. is the 
leading physician in Bunker Hill and a graduate of 
the Medical College at St. Louis; he took to wife 
Miss Annie Koenecke. 

Our subject was married in Missouri to Miss 
Julia B. Kessler; she was born in St. Louis Count}', 
Mo., November 2, 1858, and was carefully reared 
and educated in the public schools of that count}', 
finishing at the Warrenton Central Wesleyan Col- 
lege. Her parents are Louis and Emma (fToldman) 
Kessler, who are well known and [irominent people 
of that vicinity, where they were early settlers and 
are now regarded as pioneers. 

Dr. and Mrs. Rinkel are prominent young people 
of Brighton and are leaders in the society of the 
place. Both are active members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, of which our subject is the Re- 
cording Secretary. The Doctor is a Republican in 
his political faith and was at one time a member of 
the Council of Brighton. 



^>^^^t^t^)<^^^--^ 



^=^ ID EON 
(|| ,;— - head of 
^^i^l most SI 



^=^IDEON FOR WOOD. The name at the 
)f this sketch is that of one of the 
substantial farmers of the township. 
His place is located on section 2, of Shipman Town- 
ship. It is conspicuous for the class of good 
buildings that it has, and also for the manner in 
which it is improved. He was born in the State 
of Delaware, September 34, 1833, in Newcastle 
County, Brandywine Hundred, where he was 
reared until he reached manhood's years. When 
he reached his majorit}', in company with three of 
his brothers he came to Illinois and settled in Ship- 
man Township, this county. 

On coming into this State, the four For wood 



brothers clubbed their resources and engaged in 
farming, first renting land. They continued in 
this way for about six years, afterward purchasing 
eighty acres, which they together cultivated until 
our subject was married, October 19, 1865, to Miss 
Melissa B. Armour. The lady was a native of 
Madison County, where she was born November 
25. 1848. Her parents were John and Ann Eliza 
(Rhodes) Armour. Her paternal grandfather was 
William Armour, a native of Kentuck}'. and her 
grandmother, Elizabeth (Watkins) Armour, was 
also of Kentucky. Her paternal great-grandpar- 
ents came from Greyson County, Ky., to what 
is now Greene County, 111., early in the '30s. 
They then removed to Madison County, and thence 
to Macoupin County, where they passed away from 
this life. 

Mr. and Mrs. Armour had seven sons and one 
daughter; John was the fifth of the family and his 
birth took place in Hart County, Ky., August 1, 
1820. He started out in life for himself when six- 
teen years of age, and for eight years was employed 
in making brick at Alton, 111. He was married to 
Ann Eliza Rhodes who was the eldest daughter of 
the late Jesse Rhodes. In 1814 they settled in 
Chesterfield Township, where they remained for 
two years, then removed to a few miles distant 
from St. Louis, where they lived from 1846 to 
1849. John Armour w.as then persuaded to 
return to Chesterflcld Township, where he has 
since been a resident. His wife died in June, 
1887. 

After the marriage of our subject he settled in 
Chesterfield Township, where he remained for five 
years, aud then located on section 2, of Shipman 
Township, where he has since been a resident. Mr. 
and Mrs. Forwood have been the p::rents of six chil- 
dren. They are: Virginia, George, Anna E., William 
G., Oscar and Elmer O. Of these the eldest daughter 
died in infancy. George instituted his own home 
and fireside, making mistress of it Miss Maggie 
Rice. Anna E. became the wife of Hubert Hay- 
craft. Oscar died in infanc}'. 

The gentleman of whom we write has made agri- 
culture his calling during the greater part of his 
life. His farm has good buildings that are kept 
in excellent condition. He is the fortunate owner 



900 



PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of three hundred as fertile and well-cultivated 
acres as are in the county. In politics our subject 
is a Democrat. Both he and Mrs. Forwood are 
members of the Baptist Church, but are liberal in 
their views. 



<^ACOB M. RHOADS. This general farmer 
residing on section 7, Cahokia Township, is 
one of the most successful agriculturists and 
I stock-raisers and lias one of the most de- 
lightful homes in the township. His residence is 
commodious and attractive and his slock are all of 
best breeds and in excellent condition. He has 
lived here since February, 1859, and has made all 
the improvements which are to be seen on his 
estate of one hundred and sixty acres. 

When our subject came to this county he had 
been living in Greene County for a number of years 
although he was born in Macoupin County, and 
lived here in childhood. His birth occurred Octo- 
ber 24, 1835, and his father, Richard Rhoads, was a 
native of Kentucky and a son of .John Rhoads, who 
came with his wife and familj' to Illinois, when his 
son Richard was still a young man and unmarried. 
His first home was in Medora and he was the first 
settler of that place which is situated in Chester- 
field Township. It was there that .Tohn Rhoads 
died having reached a good old age; he had been 
twice married but had no children by his second 
wife. He was .an exhorter in the Baptist Church 
with which his wives were also connected. 

Richard Rhoads grew to manhood upon the farm 
and was married in this county to Hulda Stout, a 
native of Ohio, who came of pioneer stock and was 
no doubt related to the frontier family of that 
name who suffered so much at the hands of the In- 
dians. Miss Stout had come to Illinois with her 
parents wlio settled in Greene County at an early 
day, and there these parents, Elisha and Margaret 
Stout, died after reaching the ages of sixty -five and 



seventj' years respectively. They were Baptists in 
their church connection and devoted Chrisoians in 
life and belief. 

The parents of our subject moved from point to 
point during their early married life but spent the 
greater number of years, especially in advanced 
life, in Greene County, where they were living when 
called from earth's activities. They were well- 
known throughout that county as pioneers of cour- 
age and endurance, and as devoted Christians and 
efficient members of the regular Baptist Church. 
Mr. Rhoads was a Whig in his political views. 

Our subject is one of a large family and most of 
his boyhood days were spent in Greene County. 
After he became of age he was married to Miss 
Eliza Ward, a native of Tennessee who was born 
Jannarj- 12, 1835, and was but a young child when 
her parents William and Lucinda (Duncan) Ward 
moved from that State to Illinois about the year 
1838. They were a couple of truly religous faith 
and life and both died in middle life upon their 
farm in Greene County. Their daughter received 
every advantage which they were able to give her 
and was thoroughly equipped for the responsibil- 
ities of life and her work as a wife and mother. Sue 
is more than ordinarily devoted to her duties and 
efficient in their fulflllinent and conscientiously 
trained her children throughout childhood and 
youth. 

The children of our sul)ject are Alvin W. who 
married Mary Huddleston of DeWitt County, and 
assists his father in managing the home farm. Wil- 
liam M., who took to wife Nettie Stanton and is 
farming in Montgomery County; Lucy E. who is 
at home; Jasper M., who took to wife Mollie Cal- 
lenborn and lives in Missouri, and Lilla M. wife of 
John Mercer, a farmer in this township. Mr. Rhoads 
has been for some time both Steward and Trustee 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he 
and his wife are connected. In his political belief 
he is in sympathy with the Democratic party and 
while he has never sought office he has ever taken 
an active interest in public affairs and served at 
one lime as Townsliip Collector. 



I'ORTIIAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



901 



ARMON G. TALLEY, a retired farmer 
living at 81iipnian, Macoupin County, was 
'l\^^ l)orn January 20, 1828, in tliat part of llic 
l@) city of Wilmington. Del., then known as 
Braniiywine village. His father, whose name was 
Isaac Grubb Talley, was born four miles from Wil- 
mington. Del., in Bronriywine Hundred, and was a 
son of Harmon Talley, who was born in the same 
locality, his ancestors being among the first settlers 
of the State of Delaware. He resided near Wil- 
mington many years and tlien made an overland 
joiirne}- to Ohio, and became one of the early pio- 
neers of Muskingum County, where he resided 
until about 1850. In that year he came to Illinois 
and for a few j'ears was a resident of Ogle County. 
He then came to this county and spent his last 
da3s at Piasa, Macoui)in County-, and was buried 
in Piasa Cemetery; his age was about eighty-six 
years. 

Isaac Grubb Talley, the father of our subject, 
passed his early life in the State of his nativit\' 
and was there married to Mary Simmons, who was 
also a native of Delaware. She died in 1833 and 
was buried at the old Swede Church; she left two 
children — our subject and his brother John, a resi- 
dent of Wilmington, Del. Mr. Talley married a 
second time, Rachel Grubb becoming Ins wife; 
they had one child, Rebecca J., who married 
Alonzo Baylus, a florist. In 18.56 Mr. Talle}' left 
the home of his birth and came to Illinois with his 
family. He purchased a farm in Shipman Town- 
ship, near Piasa, which, he sold at the exi)iration of 
four years, returning to Wilmington. Del.; he 
bought a residence there and spent the remainder 
of his life in the city. He died February 22, 1888, 
at the venerable age of eighty-seven years and was 
buvied at old Bethel Church in Brandywine Han- 
dled. 

Harmon G. Tnlley, of whom this sketch is 
written, served five years in his j^outh to learn the 
trade of a blacksmiLh in the village of Centreville, 
Del. He actively engaged in that calling in his 
native .State until 1850, and in that year he came 
to Illinois, pursuing the most convenient Western 
route at that time, which was by rail to Philadel- 
phia, thence by canal and rail to Pittsi)urg, and 
from there by the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to 



Alton, III. He was a pioneer of the village of 
Piasa, and opened the first blacksmith shop there, 
which he operated until after the breaking out of 
the war. September 3, 1864 he cast aside his work 
to join the brave boys at the front and became a 

{ member of Company A, One Hundred and Forty- 
fourth Illinois Infantry. He joined his regiment 
at Alton and served with credit until after the vvar 
closed, being mustered out July 14, 1865. He 
proved to possess qualifications for responsible 
positions, anil he was promoted from Corporal to 

j be Sergeant of Provost Guard in February, 1865. 
After his discharge Mr. Talley returned to his 
home, and the following year turned his attention 
to farming a quarter-section of land that he had 
previously bought, that w.as advantageously located 
one mile east of Piasa. He devoted himself as- 
siduously to the cultivation of his land for several 
3'ears, and made many imiirovements that greatly 
increased the value of his farm. In 1887, having 
accumulated a comfortable competency, he left his 
sons in charge of his homestead, and removed to 
Shipman, where lie has a pleasant home. 

Harmon G. Talley has been twice married. In 
1851 Miss Louisa Ann Hodges became his first 
wife. She was born near Woodburn, Macoupin 
County, 111., coming of one of the old pioneer 
families of this State; she died on the home farm in 
1879, and was buried in the Piasa Cemetery. She 
was the daughter of L. W. and Mary Hodges, 
and had one brother, W. W. Hodges. Five chil- 
dren were born to her and our subject — Will- 
iam, Hattie, Dora. Lulu and Harmon Grubb. 
William married Laura Kelsey, and Dora mar- 
ried W. B. Waggoner. Lulu married Elmer Carter. 
Our subject's second marriage, which took place 
in 1885, was with Mrs. Mary (Martin) Quick, a 
native of the State of New York. 

I Mrs. Talley's father's name was Setli Martin, 
a native of the Green Mountain State, as was his 
father also. The former earl}' learned the trade of 
a blacksmith, and finally went from Vermont to 
Susquehanna County, Pa., where he followed that 
calling for a time prior to his removal to Woodhall, 
Steuben County, N. Y., where he bought a farm, 
which he operated while he engaged in blacksraith- 

I ing in addition. He died in Michigan, near Sagi- 



902 



PORTRAIT AND BJOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



iia'.v, in 1875. The maiden name of his wife was 
Lucinda Coleman. Slie was born in Vermont, and 
was a daughter of William and Hannah (Corse) 
Coleman. Thej' were li lie wise of Vermont birth, 
but they both died in the (State of New York. Mrs. 
Talley was first married when she was eighteen 
years old to Royal W. Bennett, a native of the 
State of New York, and a son of Egbert and Ger- 
trude (Rackmire) Bennett. He was a blacksmith, 
and came to Illinois in 1859 to engage at his trade 
in Shipman, Macoupin County-, HI., where lie died 
in April, 1865 and was buried in Shipman Ceme- 
tery. Two children were born to Mrs. Talley of 
that marriage — Gertrude, now the wife of Silas 



Webster; and Jerome C who married Sophia Kar- 
ris. Mrs. Tallcy's second marriage was to Parker 
Quick, a native of Missouri, and a farmer by oc- 
cupation. He died at Shipman in 1873, and was 
also buried in Shipman Cemetery. 

Our subject has a good record as a soldier, as a 
citizen, and in all the relations of life that he has 
sustained towards others, and his neigebors and 
friends hold him in high esteem for his genuine 
worth. Politically, he is a sound Republican, and 
his faithfulness to his part)- was rewarded by the 
position of Postmaster at Piasa, which he retained 
ten years. Religiously, both he and his wife are 
devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 





BIOGFJp^I^I^P^- 



Adams, Austin fi7n 

Adams, F. M »2S 

Adams, G.M 827 

Adams, G. W 817 

Adams, John 23 

Adams, John Q 30 

Adams, J. Q.... 372 

Ahrens.JohnM 228 

Ahrens, P. F 34!) 

Ahrens, Peter J 428 

Alderson.K. K S42 

Alderson, W. C 330 

Allen, Andrew 61*> 

Allen, Thomas B 395 

Alford.M.T 452 

AlUnond, R. J , M. D IIB 

Ames, Davis 362 

Anderson. C. H. C 215 

Anderson, M. M 261 

Anderson, K. P 417 

Andei-son, William 561 

Anderson, W. C .545 

Anderson, W.E.P 279 

Arkebauer, Henry 887 

Arkebauer, Meint 743 

Armstrong, C. C 38S 

Arnett, George W 389 

Arnett.J.H 453 

Arthur, Chester A 99 

Ash, John, M. U 210 

Atrhison, James M 847 

B 



Bacon, Robert 295 

Baird, William 634 

Baker, George 678 

Baker, Henry 88S 

Baldwin, J. B 400 

Ball, Henry 751 

Ball, Richard 399 

Ballard, Wiley 712 

Ballinger, Capt. Joseph F. ..351 

Bancroft, Erastus .504 

Barber, J. H 211 



Barnes, R. K 774 

Barnstable, R. R 416 

Bartels, William G :!42 

Bates, Mrs. Martha 461 

Bauer, Charles F 323 

Bauer,J.H 780 

Bechtel,E. A 200 

Becker, J.G .■594 

Becker.L.F 372 

Beckner, Benjamin A ?08 

Beeby , W. T 2.30 

Behme, Julius, Jr. 2':2 

Beldam, E.,M. D 4,53 

Bell, Alexander H 719 

Bennett, John 297 

Bernai-d, F 2.52 

Beverldge, John L 171 

Bielby , Thomas 737 

Binney, J. P., M. D 371 

Bird, Joseph 19j 

Bissell, William H 151 

Black, Charles 227 

Bley,R. E., M. D 612 

Blocher, Eli F 431 

Blodget, Daniel 248 

Blome, FredL 871 

Boggess, Mrs. Eliza J 460 

Bond, Shadrach Ill 

Boosinger, George F 298 

Bowcr.sox, B. F 24(! 

Bowersox, George W 875 

Bowu.H. J 286 

Boy d , S . L 385 

Boyle. Arthur 289 

Braley , Ellison 305 

Braley, George 296 

Brandenburger, John 540 

Brinkman, Henry 384 

Bristow, W.T 443 

Bronaugh.J. M 515 

Brown , George L 584 

Brown, George S 665 

Brown, J. H 290 

Brown, Robert :!87 

Brown, S. J 519 

Brubaker, Jacob 422 

Brubaker. Jonathan 509 

Brubaker. John 695 

Brubaker, Closes 468 

Bruce, W.H 719 

Buchanan. James 75 



Budd.H.R 820 

Budd, William N .580 

Bumaun, Frederick 590 

Burgdorir, W. F 759 

Burton, F. W 689 

Butters, Alex 864 



Cain . John T 201 

Caldwell. H.J 718 

Campbell, C. C 883 

Oapps, Caleb 8,57 

Carlm, Thomas 135 

Carling, William, Sr 819 

C'arrico,N 805 

Carter, A. F 2.50 

Carter, A. S 587 

Carroll, T.J .517 

Case,G 554 

Casteel, Joseph M 220 

Castle, Hon. George J 196 

Challacombe, N 706 

Chamberlain, W. H 895 

Chamberlin, N 876 

Chapman , M<aj . F. H 6.56 

Chappell, Israel 8.55 

Chiles, Capt. James S 730 

Chiles, W.M W2 

Chisholm , William 637 

Chism , William 833 

Clark, B.F 256 

Clark, George H 604 

Clark, Henry 744 

Clark, Joseph F 356 

Clark, Randal .577 

Clark, Saumel 209 

Clark, S.S 564 

Clemmons, J. R 701 

Cleveland , S. Grover 103 

Clower, L. C. M 788 

Cogswell, C. H 601 

Coles, Edward 115 

Colman, \V. G 249 

Combes, D. H 527 

Comer, Samuel 881 

Converse, Jeremiah ,. . . .811 

Cooper, R. R 662 



Corr, A, C, M. D 757 

Corr, Mre. L. H., M. D 767 

Coultas, T. F 465 

Cowan, K. S., M. D 320 

Cowen, Hon. Balfour 235 

Cox. J. J 230 

Cramp, A 869 

Crandal, A 570 

Cromwell, W. H 879 

Cromwell, Richard 490 

Crouch, M 888 

Crum, A. J 340 

Cullom, Shelby M 175 

Culp, W.N 322 

Cummings, Capt. J. F 635 



D 



Dalby, J. W 707 

Dams, William 394 

David, A. G 217 

Davis, E. H 208 

Dawson, E 290 

DeahI,A 867 

DeBuhr, H. H 641 

Deck. L.C .688 

Delano, J. A., M. D 255 

Denby, P. L .525 

Dews, William H 368 

Dey, Rhuliff 408 

Dickerson, J. T., M. D 431 

Dickerson, Martin .573 

Dilliard, Rev. Luke 198 

Dix, Charles 481 

Dodson, Joseph. . . 697 

Doi-sey, William M 801 

Dowzer, John 003 

Drake, W. C 292 

Drennan, W. M 832 

Drew, George 723 

Dripps,C. T., M. D 602 

Droke, James W 5.S8 

Drury, Robert 8.54 

Duckels, Henry C .528 

Duckels, Richard 227 

Dagger, Dred 276 

Duncan, G. W., 409 



INDEX. 



Duncan, James W 2fll 

lluucan, John W 277 

Duncan, Joseph 131 



Easley,Mrs. M. A -fSl 

Eddinprt-on.S. D MS 

Edwards, CM Sfili 

Edwards, Ninian 111' 

Eilei-s, Heye 33.^ 

Eldred, A. H B5S 

EIdi-ed,E.B 300 

Ellet, E. C, H. D -ifii 

Eiumerson, William 50(i 

England, Joseph S37 

England, Samuel 711 

English, L. N 'i»> 

Enos.H. M liSS 

Etter, Henry i'i-t 

Etter, James 302 

Ewing, William L. D 127 



F 



Fahrenkrog, H. L 22! 

Fansler,E 246 

Ferguson, David 770 

Ferguson, Henry 483 

Felter, A 077 

Fifer, Joseph W ........IS3 

Fillmore, Millard 67 

Fischer. C. J. C, M. D 211 

Flood, Philip 6ti8 

Foltz.H.D 402 

Forwood, G 899 

Forwood, O. C 237 

Ford, Thomas 129 

Foster, J. L 269 

Francis, Charles .')72 

French, Augustus C 113 

Frey,A 619 

Friede, Frank 839 

Friedman, E 873 

Fry, William N 792 

Fnllington, J. A 242 

Fia-ber, James K 672 



G 



Garfield, .Tames A 95 

Gai-st, S. S 686 

Gates, Frank W 421 

Gates, W. 1 868 

Gehrig, Frank 811 

Oelder,r. A 366 

Gcldei-, John ;M0 

Gibbs, John C C22 

Gibson, C. C 8;J4 

Gibson, James W ... .§89 

Gibson. Rev. Javan 7I;J 



Gilbert, Hon. S. S 259 

Gilson, George H., M. D 307 

Gooch, U. W 444 

Goodell, Daniel D 423 

Goodhead , George E :S84 

Goodwin, John 484 

Gordy , George Q 411 

Gore,F.D 840 

Gosch, John 728 

Gosch, Thomas .ill 

Grant, Ulvsses S •'^7 

Gray C. W 271 

Gray, William fJ06 

Grove, H.H 691 

Groves, Sampson 831 

Gulick, M.N 219 



H 



Hackney. Joseph B 4.M 

Haggard, John 649 

Hagler, James G 282 

Hagler John G 355 

Hall. Enoch 896 

Hall, Mrs. S.J 319 

Hall, M. V 430 

Hall, Samuel 708 

Halliday, William 2(i7 

Hamilton, John M 179 

Hamner, .lames H 593 

Hankins, J. W., M. D .'i32 

Hanshaw, 0. T 610 

Hanshaw.J. H 516 

Hanshaw, J. M 242 

Harlan, Kev. L. h 629 

Harris, G. F. \V 439 

Harris, Sidney T 270 

Harris, Z 482 

Harrison, Beniamin 107 

Harrison, J. W 281 

Harrison, William Henry 51 

Harshbarger, Joseph W 822 

Hart, J. E 579 

Hartke, F. W 434 

Harlwick, W. S 778 

Hauschild .J .199 

Haycra ft , Kev. James J 451 

Hayes, E. W 412 

Hayes, Rutherford B . 91 

Hays,S. J. las 

Head,M. H., M. D 212 

Heal, William 777 

Hebenstreit , J . 1' 712 

Heidemaim, C. W 455 

Heinz, Peter 472 

Hendei-son, J. P ,557 

Hensen, C. E 804 

Hess, C'apt. L. M 841 

Hettick, J. B 660 

Hettick, J. W 466 

Hettick. S.E 465 

Hilyard, William 530 

Hintz, Charles H. A 405 

Hiutz, Otto.E .1)78 

Hochreitner, Mrs. M 110 

Hoecker, John 176 



Hoecker, Peter 311 

Hoellmer, Henry 698 

Holfmann, Charles 632 

Holliday, George P 3S0 . 

Holloway. J. C SJl 

Hopson.S. T 781 

Horine, William H. H 64S 

Hornsby, R. J., M. D 206 

Horton, Robert 868 

Honnsley, William 641 

Howell, J 850 

Howser,D. N 600 

Huber, Andrew 28S 

Huber, Anton 591 

Huber. John 633 

Huddle.ston. Daniel 705 

Hudd lestun . R. W 535 

Huggins. Maj. P. C 722 

Hupp.E.L 386 



Immenga, Henry 500 

Ingold. Amos 195 

Isaacs, Abraiii 740 



Jackson, Andrew 43 

Jack.son, George 731 

Jacoby. C. J 880 

Jarman, Robert 285 

Jell'ersoii , Thomas 27 

John, George W 813 

Johnssen. John F 512 

Johnson, Andrew 83 

Johnson, Jacob T 731 

Johnson , Lewis 312 

Johnston, D. H 677 

Johnston, 1. N 791 

Joiner, Mrs. M. A 702 

Joiner, Solomon 405 

Joiner. William 8.59 

Jones, H. A 299 

Jones, James 396 

Jones, John 440 

Jones, Thomas J 272 

Jones, William 301 

Jones, William M 312 



K 



Kable,A.G 874 

Kable, B. F 462 

Kable.H. C 967 

Kable, James 874 

Kahl, F. R 5.52 

Keirle, Gilbert 432 

Keiser. A. J .598 

Reiser, C. J 2U") 

Kelsey, J.J ChSO 



Kelse.v, John ,526 

Kent, Perrin 3.52 

Keplinger, Peter 627 

Kerr, Capt. Henry W 317 

KeuncF.C 379 

Killam, George M 366 

Killam.S. E 401 

King, J. C 818 

Kitzmiller, D. M 505 

Kitzmiller, Rev. M. V 449 

Klauenberg, C. H .579 

Klaus, George 628 

Klein, Jacob P 671 

Knapp, John 764* 

Koch.T.H 742 



Lancaster. Francis .3.39 

Lancaster, John 793 

Laiick, Philip 407 

Lee, John A e:W 

Lee, Joseph 687 

Lee, Samuel 424 

Lemons, Henry 614 

Lincoln, Abraham 79 

Lind, J. W 380 

Link, J. Joseph. M. D .373 

Lippoldt, J. Q 445 

Liston, J. B 797 

Loehr. J. C 518 

Loper, Mrs . Susan 567 

Lorenz, Bernhard 438 

Lorenz, Peter W' 478 

Lotter. Joseph 433 

Love, William 488 

Love, Samuel 742 

Loveless, H. F 843 

Loveless, J. H 361 

Loveless. S. L .504 

Lowdermilk, J &I5 

Lumpkin, J. W m> 

Lyons, John 365 



M 



Madison, James 31 

Mahan , Thomas 393 

Mason, VV'illiam 232 

Masters, John B ,;{15 

Matlack, CO 275 

Matteson, Joel A 1 17 

Matthews, J. P., M. D 696 

Maxfleld. Mrs. S. J .593 

McAlister, A. H 666 

McClure. James A 639 

McClure, Milton 783 

McCurdy, A 2,58 

McDonald, A 848 

McKnight, Col. S 752 

Meatyard, E. B 321 

Meenen, H. O .537 

Meinecke, Henrv T 296 



\ 



INDEX. 



Merrill. Frank B87 

Merrill, W illlani C S2S 

Messick, James F 30li 

Metcalf.T. M 8*5 

Miller, Henry 804 

Miles, Uol. J. R 225 

Mills, J.M «H5 

Minilrup, E. W 538 

MiU-hell, Mrs. Hannah 578 

Mitchell, R. J., M. D 459 

Mitchell, T.M 197 

Mitchell. W.T 661 

Moehrniaii, Jacob 239 

Motfett, A. C 829 

Montgomery, .Tohll 814 

Montgomery, Joseph 739 

Monroe, James 35 

Moore, Thomas E 493 

Moore, T.G 682 

I'lorrell, John L 727 

Morris, A. E 611 

Morris, George 733 

Morrison, George 853 

Morrison, Henry 794 

Morrison, James 582 

Mounts, VV. L 658 

N 



Nail, Henry T 657 

Nevins. James 503 

Nieman, John C 893 

Niemey er, William 799 

Nifong, J.F 779 

Nighbert.N. A mi 

Noel, J. L 487 

Noel, J. Q 440 



o 



(iglesby, Richard J 163 

O'Neal, Mrs. E. C 787 

ONeil, Henry D 630 

Osterkamp, George 638 

Ostrop.Rev. F. A 692 



Paden, J. D 669 

Palmer, John M 167 

Parke, A. B :»3 

Parker, B. E 527 

Patchen, C. S 681 

Patrick, John 599 

Patter.son . J. O 865 

Peadro, Prof. B. K 875 

Peck, Charles 474 

Pearson, James P 617 

Peebles, L. M 427 

Penn.Capt. B. H 700 

Perrine, Daniel 717 

Perrottet, J. E 450 

Pierce, Franklin 71 

Pierson, Thomas 702 



Plain. J. h 1.56 

Poh Iniann , Cliarles .571 

Polk, James K .W 

Prange.H OT 

Prange, H.J «13 



Q 



Quade, W 878 

Quick, C. V. A 536 

Quigley, R. D 849 



R 



Ragan, R. R 631 

Reader. Alfred 594 

Reder, W. D .521 

Reineke, F 473 

Reynolds, John 123 

Rhoads. C. C 729 

Rhoads.D. W 894 

Rhoads, J. M 900 

Rice, Rev. S.F 608 

Richardson, F...; 568 

Richie, E.W .539 

Ridgley, Richard 406 

Riffey, F. R 780 

Rigby.T. S 597 

Rinkel, J. P., M. D 898 

Ripley, J. R 191 

Rives, George W 839 

Robertson , Charles 858 

Rohrer, J. H .5.59 

Robs, Mahlon 613 i 

Ross, W. G 638 

Rovie, William 511 

Rowett, Gen. Richai-d 205 

Reuter, Frank H 497 

Rumbolz, James G 670 

Ruther. C.H 499 



Sandei-s, Rev. George 778 

Sandei-s, H. C 418 

Sanders, W. E .3.57 

Sanner, S. P 785 

Sanford, S. N 870 

Sawtell, Albert 821 

Saw.ver, S. B 685 

Saunders, Dudley .546 

Scheurer. Philip 377 

Schmidt, George W 836 

Schmidt, John M 303 

Schmidt, M. L 377 

Schmidt, VVeert 692 

Schmidt, W. G 830 

Schroeder, J. D 589 

Schwab, John 829 

Schwertfeger. Henry 572 

Searcy, J. B .547 

Sewall, George H 720 

Shirley, R. B 584 



Shriver, William A.. M. D. ..7.50 

Shultz, M 199 

Shutt, Mrs. E 3.50 

Sievers, A 798 

Silsby,B. F 646 

Sloman, John 437 

Smalley, J. H 837 

Smith, Charles E., M. U .569 

Smith, C. W 881 

Smith, Elisha 896 

Smith, Mrs. Eliza 660 

Smith, G. V 857 

Smith. George W 324 

Smith, N. R 667 

Smith, Vincent 621 

Smith, William M 226 

Snedeker.I.S 748 

Sneeringer, I. . ^ 738 

Snell, Guy A 773 

Snell, H 619 

Solomon, A. M..- 552 

Solomon, C. J 494 

Solomon, D. N 620 

Solomon, F. M 761 

Solomon, John L iX> 

Spangenberg, T. L 886 

Stead, David 367 

Steidley, F 2.38 

Steidley, Mrs. CM 202 

Steidley, Samuel R 650 

Steward, William.. 647 

Stiver, Rev. S. 1. 762 

Story, Wilham 793 

Storz. Fred G 784 

Stratmann, F 222 

Stutsman, H. B 541 

Stutzman, S. W 5:10 

Surman. William 724 

Swenk, M 855 

Switzer, C. W 5(0 



Taggart.F 327 

Talley, H. G 901 

T.iy lor, James 358 

Taylor, William E 193 

Taylor, Zachary 63 

Teaney , E. A . C 823 

Teaney , T. J 840 

Thacker, L. S 522 

Thacker, T. W 335 

Thacker, John W 676 

Thacker, Zachariah 171 

Thode, Clau.s 519 

Thomas, M., M. D 287 

Thompson, Alexander 574 

Thompson, J. S 872 

Tiet.sort, O. W.... 823 

Tiet.sort, James L 860 

Tompkins, R. R 844 

Tongate, Elias 314 

Towse, Charles :M6 

Towse, lion. W. A :»0 

Trible, Samuel, M. D 278 

Trout. William A., M. D 7.54 

Tucker, James 314 

Tucker. R 812 



Turner, Thomas J 374 

TwitchelhR. L 379 

Twitchell, S. L .562 

Tyler, John .55 

u 

Uehtmann, W. F 529 

Uhler, C. H 771 

Ut z, Joseph «S 



Van Buron. Martin 47 

Vaniman. George 581 

Vanorsdal, Thomas .521 

Varble, Mrs. Rebecca .588 

Virden, Mi-s. H. E 476 

w 

Waggoner, J. E 8.59 

Wagner, J. D 802 

Walker, Hon. Charles A 806 

W^alker, James 495 

Wallace, John A 714 

Ward, Owen ...591 

Washington, George 19 

Waters, Rev. Z 892 

Way, George B 782 

Weidner, F. E 631 

Weidner, J. G 882 

Westermeier, C, Jr 753 

W^estrope, M. H 516 

Weyen, W. H 842 

Wheeler, C 415 

Wheeler, John 429 

Wheeler, William 652 

Whiteley. Robert 345 

Whitfield. W. H 520 

Whittler, H. E 603 

Williamson, John 679 

Williamson, W. W 897 

Wilson, Hon. J. B 336 

Wilson, James 489 

Winter.F 877 

Wirt, James 330 

Witt, D. E :i44 

Wood, James E 863 

Wood, Jolin 155 

Wood, J. L 618 

Wood, Samuel 747 

Woodward , S. S .582 

Woolley, C. A 732 

Womaek, John J 313 

Y 

Yates, Kit-hard Iftlt 

York, James W 'MV.i 



Zimmermann , F. W 3<>8 

Zurboiisen, Rev. A HU2 



INDEX. 




'*sy>fv^ 



"^7 



JL. 



■-^^^ 



)(^(^^ 



■A^t^C^ 




-4-H-i.=^^€-M- 



Ailams, Ci. M 8-2C 

Adams, G.W Slfi 

Adams, Jolin 22 

Adams, John Q '^ 

Adams, A 074 

Alliens, P. F 348 

Anderson, C. H. C 2U 

Anderson, W. C f»44 

Arthur, Chester A 98 

Baeon. Kobert 2!)J 

Beveridge, John L 170 

Binney, Dr. John P 370 

Bird. Joseph 100 

Bissell, William H l.iO 

Braley, Ellison 304 

Bond, Shadrach 110 

Broiiaiigh, J. M 514 

lirown , George S iilU 

Buehanan, James 74 

C'arlin, Thomas 134* 

Carter, A. S 58(i 

Clark, Randal ttlK 

Coir.Dr. A.C 750 

Corr, Mrs. L. H 7(^) 



Cleveland, S. Grover 102 

Coles, Edward 114 

Cowen, Hon. B 2:i4 

Cullom, Shelby M 174 

Delano, John A., M D 254 

Denby,P. L 524 

Dix, Charles 480 

Duncan, Joseph 130 

Edwafds, Niniaii 118 

Eldred, A. H 6,54 

Ewing. William L. D 12fi 

Fifer, Joseph \V 182 

Fillmore, Millard > I'O 

Ford, Thomas 138 

French, Augustus C 142 

Garfield, J. A 91 

Grant, U.S 86 

Hamilton,. Tohn M 178 

Harrison, Benjamin 100 

Harrison, VV. H ,=)0 

Hayes.R.B OU 

Henderson, J. P .550 

Hnddlcston , Daniel 701 

Huddlestnn , R. VV .5:;i 



Jack.son, Andrew 42 

Jarman, Robert 284 

Jederson, Thomas 26 

Johnson, Antlrew 82 

Joiner, Solomon 404 

Keiser, C. J 2i4» 

Keplinger, Peter 626 

Kerr, Capt. Henry W 316 

Kitzmlller, Kev. M. V 448 

Lancaster, F 338 

Lincoln, Abraham 78 

Liston, J.B 706 

Loper, A. W .560 

Loveless, J. H 360 

Madi-son, James 30 

Malian. Thomas 302 

MatlackjC. O -274 

Matte-son, Joel A 146 

Miles, Col. J. R 224 

Mills, J. M M4 

Mitchell, Dr. R. J 4.58 

Monroe, James 31 

Mooro. Thomas E 492 

Monoll, John L 726 



Nevins, James .502 

Oglesby , Richard J 162 

Palmer. John M 166 

Parke, A. B :!82 

Pearson, J. P 616 

Peebles, L. M ; 426 

Perrine, Daniel 716 

Pjerce, Franklin 70 

Polk, J. K 58 

Prange,H 606 

Reynolds, John 122 

Rowett, Gen. Richard 204 

Sawyer, S. B 681 

Sloraaii. John 436 

Taggart, F 326 

Taylor, Zachary 62 

Thaeker, Z 470 

Tyler, John 54 

Van Buren, Martin 46 

Washington, George IS 

Wheeler, Columbus 414 

Whiteley, Robert 244 

Wood, John 154 

Yates, Richard 1.58 




Al.lerson, W. C 331 

Ballard, Wiley 70!) 

Barnes, R. K 775 

Beckner, B. A 809 

Bielby, Thomas 735 

ilark, Henry 745 

Clower, L, C. M 789 

Coultas.T. F...., .463 

Eddington, S. D 549 



Emmerson, William 507 

England, Samuel 70!) 

Gates, Frank W 419 

Gehrig, Frank 809 

Goodwin, John 485 

Gray, William .507 

Hagler, John G 353 

Hall, Samuel 709 

Hartwick, W. S 775 



Hauschild. J 3!)7 

Heal, William 775 

Hoecker, Peter 309 

Jackson, George 7;15 

Johnston, I.N 789 

Jones, James 397 

Jones, John 411 

Kable, B. F 163 

Kahl, F. R al'l 



Kent, Perrin :i53 

Noel, J. L 485 

Noel, J. Q 441 

Sanders, H. C 419 

Scheurer, Philip 375 

St. Joseph Catholic ainrcll..693 

Turner, Thomas J 375 

Wirt, James 331 

Wood, Samuel 745 

Zinimermaiin , F. \V 30!) 



